The Birds of Prophecy for Two Flutes and Piano, Op. 37

This is a powerful work for 2 flutes and piano, composed in 2022. Takako Ono (b. 1972) is a Japanese composer, pianist and teacher, who studied in Germany. The Birds of Prophecy is around 10 minutes long, and draws on the powerful emotion of conflict. The birds of the title are represenatative of the birds the composer saw in footage of the Ukraine war: "I saw birds on a battlefield destroyed by artillery, flying around the building in the same arc."

The contrast between birds and war is stark, and the music provides a clear narrative. We hear birds in the forest, followed by sirens, and then eventually calm, following the destruction. Towards the end of the piece, the birds return, providing us with a new perspective on the world.

There are moments of lyricism, interspersed with high energy, repeating articulations and minimalist patterns which persist. The language is tonal and overall relatively consonant; the dissonance comes largely from intelligent rhythmic writing and the flow from calmness to anguish. Ono makes excellent use of the space within the ensemble; the flute parts are sometimes close together and sometimes playing two octaves apart, which provides an impressive timbral contrast. The piano also has some wide spacings to give a sense of expansiveness.

The flute parts are evenly matched and not hugely difficult; there are some moments of technical work for the fingers but the main challenges are in control of rhythm, dynamic and articulation. Expression is an important aspect of this work, and with fully committed players I can imagine this would be a hugely powerful work which could have quite an impact on the listener. A great addition to the repertoire.