FAIRYTALE ADVENTURES
by SONYA LEoNORE STAHL
*FOR FLEX Quintet*

Grade 3.5 | 8:30 | © 2019

I. Dragon Test-Flight
II. Tiara

As you might expect from the titles, the movements of Fairytales Adventures (2019) are both broadly programmatic – “Dragon Test-Flight” evokes the first time someone – a warrior, a young queen, a humble farmer – climbs on board the back of a dragon and lifts off into the sky. Exuberance, joy, serenity, fear, but most of all: newness and thrill. As for “Tiara” – a crown is a symbol of power, but a tiara, in contrast, combines that power with elegance and intricacy. Think court intrigue and masked balls, or even, as one music teacher friend of mine pointed out, pirate ships. (Maybe somebody stole the tiara?) Sometimes this one reminds me of an angry princess, although there are moments in the middle where she is definitely being consoled.

Recorded December 2020 by the Western Illinois University Faculty Quintet:

Dr. Suyeon Ko, flute
Dr. Bruce Briney, trumpet
Dr. Jena Gardner, horn
Prof. John Mindeman, trombone
Dr. James Land, tuba

Fairytale Adventures is available for purchase as a suite, individual movements, and also for string quartet on Sonya’s website.