compositions

I.  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)

Z3 for 2 flutes and piano
"Folio's Z3 was an energetic and fascinating three-movement work..."
(Caitlin Flood, IAWM Jounal, 2010)

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
" . . . 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)

"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)

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)

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)

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II. Large Ensembles

Lydia’s Giving (for choir, instrumental ensemble, narrator, soprano solo, and dancer), 2021

—Commissioned by the Women’s Sacred Music Project and dedicated to Lisa Neufeld Thomas, Founder and President Emeritus of the WSMP, and who had the idea of creating a piece for ensemble and dancer on the topic of Lydia from the New Testament. Text by Susan Albertine, choreography by Kun-Yang Lin. Premiered at the Daylesford Abbey November 7, 2021: Grace Stern (dancer) Diane Rotwitt (narrator), Cara Latham (sop solo), David Brown (conductor).

Between Angels (for flute choir), 2019

REVISED in 2023

—Commissioned by ZAWA! (flute duo) for the celebration of Angeleita Floyd’s retirement. Premiered at the University of Northern Iowa May 4, 2019.

Pentaprism (for string orchestra), 2015

—Commissioned and Premiered by James Freeman and Chamber Orchestra, FIRST EDITIONS (COFE)Premiered by COFE February 21, 2016 at Swarthmore College and February 26, 2016 at Haverford College.

SOON TO APPEAR on a Centaur Records CD!

Winds for Change (Concerto for two flutes, string orchestra, percussionist, and video, with live electronic manipulation of the flutes), 2014

—Commissioned by the ZAWA! flute duo (Claudia Anderson and Jill Felber, flutes). Premiered November 15, 2014 at Grinnell College, Iowa by ZAWA! and the Grinnell College Orchestra, directed by Eric McIntyre.Video is by Jude Rouslin (supported by a Subito grant from the Philadelphia chapter of the American Composers Forum)Computer programming of electronic sound manipulation is by Aleck Brinkman. The piece can also be performed in a version for string quintet and percussion.The topic of the piece is climate change.

We The Poets (SSAA choir and small percussion instruments), 2012

—Commissioned and premiered by the Anna Crusis Women's ChoirThe poems were chosen from the We The Poets Project"Harmony" was premiered June 2, 2012 and will be performed on the GALA convention in Denver; the others will be premiered soonIn four movements:
I. She Sang Hope
II. Harmony
III. Recipe for Poetry
IV. We are the Dancers

Voyage: I Too Can Sing a Dream (three choirs, four percussionists and piano), 2009

Commissioned by The Mendelssohn Club, The Gay Men's Chorus, and the Anna Crusis Women's ChoirEvent was part of the Equality Forum.

A Matter of Honor: A Portrait of Alexander Hamilton (orchestra and narrator) 2007

Originally commissioned as a chamber music piece by Astral Artistic Services, with a grant from the Presser Foundation 2007
The orchestrated version was supported by a summer research grant from Temple University.In Four Movements (20+ min.):
I. Publius
II. An Odd Destiny
III. Why, Soldiers, Why?
IV. A Happy ImmortalityPremiered by the Temple University Symphony Orchestra, with William Stone as narrator and Luis Biava as conductor, Sept. 30, 2007 at Centennial Hall at Haverford College.

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 ChoirWith funds from Laura H. Carnell ProfessorshipPremiered by the Temple University Concert Choir, directed by Alan Harler; Hildegard Publishing Company
Listen to Mendelssohn Club rehearsal here.

When the Spirit Catches You… (for flute, alto sax, bassoon, viola, bass, percussion, piano, with video and voice-overs by my daughter, Lydia Thompson) 2004

Commissioned by the Relache Ensemble and premiered at the Prince Theater in 2004. The piece is about what it feels like to have a seizure, with artwork by people with epilepsy (Jude Rouslin, Patricia Bernard, Betsy Zukin, and Vincent Buchinsky). View a performance at the Hoyer Keynote Lecture at the American Epilepsy Society 2011 conference, with a keynote address by Stephen Schachter and a live performance by the Relache Ensemble: Click here to listen.

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 SAIWinner in the 1999 New Music Delaware ContestTexts 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"
Hildegard Publishing Co. Recorded in Cuba on PARMA records

Through Window’s Lattices, 1998

Commissioned by Network for New Music And Hildegard Chamber Players
Hildegard Publishing Co.

Living Legacy (for band, organ, and optional heraldic trumpets), 1998
Commissioned and premiered by Girard College to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

Pentacle (full orchestra), 1996

Commissioned and premiered by Main Line Symphony Orchestra for its 50th Anniversary Season.

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

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

Desert Winds (concert band), 1993

Commissioned by Kappa Kappa Psi Band FraternityPremiered by Temple University Collegiate Band. Cimarron Music & Productions

Sun Dagger (chamber orchestra), 1989

Composed at Yaddo Artist Colony
Premiered by Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra.

Timepieces (wind ensemble), 1988

Premiered by Texas Christian University Wind EnsembleFour movements, 9 minutesFirst Prize in New Music Delaware Contest 1994Recorded on CD (Mark Records, 2877-MCD) by the Depauw University Band, Craig Pare, directorRecorded on CD (BCM+D Records, ©2011) by the Temple University Wind Symphony, Art Chodoroff, director.

The Elements (flute choir), 1985

Premiered by the flute choir at Texas Christian University, conducted by Folio.
Listen here.

Published by Alry Publications

III. Chamber music

Western Winds, Eastern Roots (Trio for flute, clarinet, and piano), 2023

• Commissioned by the Tiger Lily Trio (Eileen Grycky, Christopher Nichols, and Christine Delbeau)

• With support, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts

• Premiered at the Clarinet Fest in Denver (2023) and the National Flute Association Convention in Phoenix (2023) by the Tiger Lily Trio

• Published by Alry Publishing

Love in the Midst (cycle of five songs for soprano and piano), 2023

• Poetry by Susan Albertine:

  • Ocean City: Childhood

  • Love in a Mist: Midlife 1

  • Hot Flash

  • Pruning: Midlife 2

  • Brush: Age

• Dedicated to Lisa Willson DeNolfo; premiered by Lisa (soprano) and Michal Schmidt (piano) Nov. 29 at Rock Hall, Temple University

Musical Vistas (for flute and guitar), 2022

• Commissioned by the Eastman School of Music for its Centennial Celebration

• Premiered by Bonita Boyd and Nicholas Goluses in Kilbourn Hall Mar. 19 at Eastman

• Published by Alry Publications

• Click here to listen.

between the road and railroad track (for violin solo), 2017

• Commissioned by Network for New Music

• In coordination with the Marvin Puryear Exhibit at the Print Center in Philadelphis

• Premiered by Hirono Oka Nov. 12 at the Print Center

Café au Triolet (for flute, violin, and harpsichord), 2016

• Commissioned by Beryl and Murray Zankel for Ensemble Triolet

• Premiered August 13, 2016 at the National Flute Association Convention in San Diego, by Ensemble Triolet (Wendy Stern, flute; Shelby Yamin, violin; Joyce Lindorff, harpsichord).

• Two movements: I. Caramel Macchiato and II. Café do Brazil

• Click here to listen.

Mad Dog Raga (an improvisatory composition for chamber jazz ensemble), 2015

• Premiered October 2, 2015 at Theater Horizon, directed by Elijah Thomas.

• Program was called "East Meets West"

• Performers were Elijah J. Thomas, flute & alto sax; Cynthia Folio, flutes; Elliott Levin, flute & tenor sax; Kristal Pacific, soprano; James Collins, piano; Max Kraus, double bass; and Ben Singer, drums.

Playing in the Pocket (a pocket concerto for flute, with clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion), 2015

• Premiered April 27, 2015 by the Temple University New Music Ensemble, directed by Jan Krzywicki and featuring Christopher Schelb, flute.

Lilacs! (for solo flute), 2014

• Invited composition for a CD, Robert Morris at 70

• Performed on CD by Cynthia Folio

• Published by Alry Publications.

Fiddle Fest (for Scottish fiddle and string quartet), 2014

• Commissioned and premiered August 16, 2014) by Hanneke Cassel (fiddler) and the resident quartet at the Newburyport Chamber Music Festival; David Yang, artistic director.

• Click here to listen to the premiere.

Quintlexia (for 5 flutes: piccolo, 2 C flutes, alto, bass), 2013

• Commissioned and premiered (November 23, 2013) by members of the Oklahoma Flute Society, at the Oklahoma Flute Fair in Norman, OK.

• Published by Alry Publications

Philadelphia Portraits: A Spiritual Journey (piccolo and piano), 2011

• Commissioned and premiered (August 13, 2011) by Lois Herbine, flute and Matthew Bengtson, piano, at the National Flute Association Convention in Charlotte, NC.

• Movements: I. Vincent Persichetti II. John Coltrane III. Marian Anderson IV. Benjamin Franklin V. Betsy Ross

• Supported, in part, by the American Composer's Forum (ACF) Composer's Assistance Program (CAP) grant; a Subito Grant from the Philadelphia Chapter
  of the American Composer's Forum (ACF), and a Dean's Grant from Temple University

• Finalist in the National Flute Association's Newly-Published Music Competition, 2012

• Click here to listen to Lois Herbine perform Marian Anderson.

• Published by Alry Publications (with an introduction by Lois Herbine, who commissioned the piece)

Sonata for flute and piano, 2011

• Commissioned and premiered (March 12, 2011) by Julie Hobbs, flute and Michael Keller, piano

• Supported by a faculty research grant from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

• Winner in the National Flute Association Newly Published Music Competition 2012

• Click here to listen to Folio & Yiming Zhang perform the Sonata.

"Iconic Inversions" (flute, clarinet, cello, and piano), 2010

• Commissioned and premiered by Network for New Music

• One of 25 variations on the Diabelli Theme (by 25 different composers)

• Entire set of variations is available from Theodore Presser Music

Elegy (2 flutes and piano—published by Alry); also arranged for flute choir), 2010

Z3: I. Zephyr; II. Zenith; III. Zawa! (two flutes and piano), 2008
Cover design (pictured at the left) by Jude Rouslin

• Commissioned by the PA Music Teachers Association

• Dedicated to ZAWA! (Claudia Anderson & Jill Felber)

• Premiered November 9, 2008, at Temple University by ZAWA! and Charles Abramovic on piano

• Published by Alry Publications

Two Songs on Poems by Stephen Dunn for soprano (doubling on triangle), flute, viola, 2003; Commissioned by Network for New Music

• 1. The House Was Quiet

• 2. Circular

Seven Aphorisms for Woodwind Quintet, 2001; commissioned by Pi Kappa Lambda and premiered at their convention in 2001

1. Good things, when short, are twice as good; Listen here.

2. All rising to a great place is by a winding stair; Listen here.

3. Hope is a waking dream; Listen here.

4. A man with a watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never sure; Listen here.

5. Plain clarity is better than ornate obscurity; Listen here.

6. You can straighten a worm, but the crook is in him and only waiting; Listen here.

7. What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone? Listen here.

Flute Loops for 6 flutes (3 fl; 3 alto fl) and piano, 2001

• Commissioned by Lori Benson

• Premiered at the California Flute Camp, 2001

• Click here to listen.

Four ‘Scapes for flute quartet (fl/picc, fl, fl/alto, fl fl/bass fl), 1998

• Commissioned by the Kirkwood Flute Ensemble

• Published by Alry Publications

• Click here to listen.

Arca Sacra for solo flute, 1997

• Commissioned by the National Flute Association for their High School Solo Contest

• Published by Hildegard Publishing Co.

• Click here to listen.

Trio for flute, cello, and piano, 1994

• Premiered by and Recorded by Folio on flute, Jeffrey Solow on cello, and Charles Abramovic at the piano (on Fluteloops CD).

• Published by Hildegard Publishing Co.

Developing Hues, for flute and bass clarinet, 1989

• Composed at Yaddo Artist Colony

• Premiered and recorded by Folio on flute and Larry Thompson on bass clarinet.