SELECTED QUOTES FROM REVIEWS:

Flute Loops (the CD)
"Flute Loops is a 77-minute excursion into Folio's creativity over a period of nearly 30 years. Each of the eight works on this CD has its own personality... If there is, however, a thread that connects these pieces together, it is Folio's craftsmanship, which skillfully interlaces tonal and linear textures into a whole that seems logical, and almost inevitable. Every work on this recording has an individuality that provides and intriguing view into the mind of this fine composer."
"This CD is extremely well presented–varied works and exceptional performances. For flutists looking for new, challenging, and creative music in widely diverse styles that are very personal and also accessible, this is a 'must' recording."
(Brooks de Wetter-Smith, Flutist Quarterly, 2006)

A Matter of Honor: A Portrait of Alexander Hamilton
"In effect, Folio created her own viable form—more theatrical than Aaron Copland's piece for recitation and orchestra, A Lincoln Portrait—with consistently inspired music, coming together in a psychological mosaic of late-in-life Hamilton."
(David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2005)

When the Spirit Catches You . . .
"[Cynthia Folio] produces consistently high-quality works."
"Folio writes music that is appropriately disturbing . . . with a haze of colorful, often-melodic meanderings . . ."
"The piece is imaginatively scored -- using steel drums in a non-Caribbean context, for instance—and ends with an eerie touch of a dozen music boxes winding down as the instrumentalists wander off stage."
(Peter Dobrin, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2004)

Through Window's Lattices
" . . . a variegated and engrossing work."
(Samuel L. Singer, Main Line Times, 1998)

Trio for flute, cello, and piano

"Folio's Trio for flute, cello, and piano should become a standard work for that combination, alongside the Weber and Martinu trios. It is lyrical, yet has a wonderful rhythmic life of its own that reminds one at times of the energy of the Martinu trio."
(Brooks de Wetter-Smith, Flutist Quarterly, 2006)

" . . . confident and musical in expressing ideas of great substance . . . kept interest high with its atmospheric, driving and completely unpredictable nature."
(Peter Dobrin, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1994)

Developing Hues
". . . a very striking piece, delightful for both player and listener."
(The Clarinet, 1995)

"Folio's three-movement piece for flute and bass clarinet was the most cheerful and, perhaps, the least self-conscious work on the program. . . . it developed a couple of simple structural devices into a delightful romp."
(Joan Reinthaler, Washington Post, 1990)

". . . a winning work . . ."
(Paul Turok, on Capstone website)
http://www.capstonerecords.org/CPS-8615.html

One for Four
". . . intriguing and enjoyable."
(Peggy Vagts, The Flutist Quarterly, 1990)

Sun Dagger
". . . an intense six-minute vision of heat and history."
(Wayne Lee Gay, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1990)

Photo by Patrick Snook

CATALOG OF COMPOSITIONS
(See list of publishers below, with links and addresses)

I. LARGE ENSEMBLE

A Matter of Honor: A Portrait of Alexander Hamilton (full orchestra and narrator)

Music Box (for SATB choir, doubling on music boxes, and piano), 2005

• Poetry by Susan Albertine
• Commissioned by Alan Harler for the Temple University Concert Choir
• With funds from Laura H. Carnell Professorship
• Premiered by the Temple University Concert Choir, directed by Alan Harler
• Hildegard Publishing Company
  
  Click here to listen to the premiere of Music Box

At the Edge of Great Quiet (for SSAA choir and piano), 1998

• Commissioned by SAI Philanthropies, Inc. And Temple University's Delta Mu chapter of SAI
• Winner in the 1999 New Music Delaware Contest
• Texts from poetryALASKAwomen: Top of the World (edited by Suzanne Summerville):
  Mary Kancewick, "Roads"
  Leah Aronow-Brown, "There Were Suddenly Two Stones"
  Louise Gallop, "On a Day of White Trees" and "Out of Wind, Out of Sun"
• Portfolio Publications

Living Legacy (for band, organ, and optional heraldic trumpets), 1998

• Commissioned and premiered by Girard College to celebrate its 150th anniversary
• Portfolio Publications

Pentacle (full orchestra), 1996

• Commissioned and premiered by Main Line Symphony Orchestra for its 50th Anniversary Season
• Portfolio Publications

Touch the Angel's Hand (choir, soprano solo, string orchestra & timpani), 1994

• Commissioned and premiered by the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia conducted by Alan Harler
• Text is a letter by Fra Giovanni (c. 1523) about hope in the face of hardship
• Dedicated to my daughter, Lydia Thompson
• Available also for choir, soprano solo, and piano or organ
• Hildegard Pulishing Co.

Desert Winds (concert band), 1993

• Commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity
• Premiered by Temple University Collegiate Band
• Cimarron Music & Productions

Sun Dagger (chamber orchestra), 1989

• Composed at Yaddo Artist Colony
• Premiered by Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra
• Portfolio Publications

Timepieces (wind ensemble), 1988

• Premiered by Texas Christian University Wind Ensemble
• Four movements, 9 minutes
• First Prize in New Music Delaware Competition 1994
• Recorded on CD (Mark Records, 2877-MCD) by the Depauw University Band, Craig Pare, director
• To hear an excerpt from this CD, near the opening of the fourth movement, click here to download an aif sound file (1.6 MB).
• Portfolio Publications

Photo by Patrick Snook
(at the National Constitution Center;
Hamilton left, Folio right)

II. CHAMBER MUSIC

A Matter of Honor: A Portrait of Alexander Hamilton (narrator, alto sax, 2 violins, viola, cello, contrabass, piano, percussion)

• Commissioned by the Relache Ensemble
• In Three Continuous Parts (20 min.):
  I. Aura (& MRI)
  II. Ictus
  III. Post-Ictus
• Premiered Feb. 21 & 22, 2004 at the Prince Theater by the Relache Ensemble
• Portfolio Publications
• For an article about the conception of the piece, click here.
  
  Click here to see the score and hear an excerpt from When the Spirit Catches You....
  (A 2-minute excerpt from a 20-minute piece that attempts to depict the complex sensations and emotions that persons with a seizure disorder experience)

Two Songs on Poems by Stephen Dunn (soprano, flute, viola), 2003

• Commissioned by Network for New Music
• Two Songs (9:30):
  I. The House Was Quiet
  II. Circular
• Premiered March 21, 2003 at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia by the Network for New Music Ensemble
• Portfolio Publications

Seven Aphorisms (woodwind quintet), 2001

• Commissioned by Pi Kappa Lambda
• Seven movements (10 minutes):
  I. Good Things, When Short, Are Twice As Good (Baltazar Gracian)
  II. All Rising to a Great Place is By a Winding Stair (Sir Francis Bacon)
  III. Hope is a Waking Dream (Aristotle)
  IV. A Man With a Watch Knows What Time It Is; A Man With Two Watches Is Never Sure (Mark Twain)
  V. Plain Clarity is Better Than Ornate Obscurity (Mark Twain)
  VI. You Can Straighten a Worm, But the Crook is In Him and Only Waiting (Mark Twain)
  VII. What Happens to the Hole When the Cheese is Gone? (Bertold Brecht)
  
• Premiered Dec. 8, 2001 at the PKL National Convention in Philadelphia by the Del'Arte Quintet.
• Click here to hear and see the score to Movement VI.
• Portfolio Publications

Flute Loops (4 C flutes, 2 alto flutes, and piano), 2001

• Commissioned by Laurie Benson and funded by Meet the Composer and the Brannen-Cooper Fund
• Premiered July 21, 2001 by the faculty at the Northern California Flute Camp in Carmel, CA.
• Portfolio Publications

Through Window's Lattices (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion), 1998

• Commissioned and premiered by Network for New Music and the Hildegard Chamber Players
  with funding from Anni Baker Wolman
• Hildegard Publishing Co.

Four 'Scapes (for four flutes, doubling on picc, alto flute, bass flute), 1998

• In 4 movements: I. Cityscape; II. Seascape; III. Landscape; IV. Escape (15 minutes)
• Commissioned and premiered by the Kirkwood Flute Ensemble with a grant from the Brannen Cooper Fund
• Received Honorable Mention in the National Flute Association Newly Published Music Contest, 1999
• To be performed by Flauto Dolce at the NFA National Convention, August 16 (see upcoming performances)
• Portfolio Publications

Arca Sacra (for flute solo), 1997

• Commissioned by National Flute Association for its High School Soloist Competition
• Hildegard Publishing Co.
• Recording on Vox Novus by Nina Assimak (due for release 2005)

Trio (for flute, cello, piano), 1994

• If you have the QuickTime Plugin you can download a high quality mov file (194K) of the opening of the first movement of the trio. Those who lack QuickTime may choose to download an aif sound file (980K).
• Winner of National Flute Association Newly Published Music Contest, 1995
• Premiered by Temple University New Music Trio
• Performed Dec, 2000 by the Azure Ensemble (Susan Glaser, coordinator) at Merkin Recital Hall
• In 3 movements, 12 minutes
• Explores aspects of rhythm, including jazz, isorhythm, and polyrhythm
• Hildegard Publishing Company (#09514)

Contemporary Etudes (flute solo), 1991

• 6 Etudes (total of 8 minutes)
• An introduction to contemporary scales, rhythms and extended techniques
• Portfolio Publications

Jazz compact disc, Portfolio, 1990

• Five original compositions: Kokopelli, Portfolio, Naropa, Floating, That Feeling, Papa Pulido
• Also featuring Waltz for David (Steve Larson), Sambossa (Larson), Floating (Louise Mygatt) and
  Round Midnight
• Cynthia Folio, flute; Steve Larson, piano; Ed Wise, bass; Harrell Bosarge, drums
• To listen to the tune "Portfolio" (composed by C. Folio and S. Larson), click here to download an aif sound file (1 MB).
• Nebula label (division of Centaur) NU 5009.

Three Songs (med. voice, piano), 1990

• Portfolio Publications

Developing Hues (flute, bass clarinet), 1989

• Composed at Yaddo Artist Colony
• Commissioned by and dedicated to Larry Thompson
• Recorded by me and Larry Thompson on CD #4 of the Society for Composers Series (entitled Contra-punctus); Capstone Records (CPS-8615)
• In 3 movements, 10 minutes:
  I. Satin White explores contrasting colors and registers
  II. Cerulean Blue is a passacaglia with a blues flavor
  III. Cadmium Red Light uses a heterophonic texture
• To visit the Capstone Records website and listen to the opening of I, click here.
• To listen to the opening of III, click here to download an aif sound file (935 K).
• Seesaw Music Corp.

Sketches (flute, piano), 1988

• Portfolio Publications

The Elements (flute choir--10 parts; doublings on piccolo, alto flute, optional bass flute), 1986

• In 4 movements (Earth, Air, Water, Fire), 10 minutes
• Portfolio Publications

One for Four (4 C flutes), 1985

• Composed for Texas Christian University Flute Quartet
• Shawnee Press (LD340)

Moonlight Serenata (clarinet solo), 1985

• Portfolio Publications

Flute Fantasy (flute solo), 1976

• Portfolio Publications

LIST OF PUBLISHERS

Portfolio Publications:
c/o Cynthia Folio
25 Rolling Rd.
Wynnewood, PA 19096
610-649-9119
cfolio@temple.edu

Cimarron Music
8585 Stemmons Frwy M17
Dallas, TX 75247-3820
214-634-3403

Hildegard Publishing Company
Box 332
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
610-649-8649

Most flute works are also available through Flute World
Flute World Co.
P.O. Box 250248
Franklin, MI, 48025

Capstone Records
252 DeKalb Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11205

Mark Records
10815 Bodine Rd.
Clarence, NY 14031