Harrison-Praise for the Beauty of Hummingbirds (5S)

Praise for the Beauty of Hummingbirds is a chamber work by Lou Harrison composed in 1975 and published by Peer Music. Scored for two muted violins, solo flute, celesta, and percussion, the piece reflects Harrison's characteristic sensitivity to timbre and texture, combining the delicate coloring of muted strings and celesta with the airy clarity of solo flute and the rhythmic grounding of percussion. Harrison was one of the most distinctive American composers of the twentieth century, drawing on influences ranging from early Western music and just intonation to Indonesian gamelan and East Asian musical traditions. Praise for the Beauty of Hummingbirds sits within the more intimate, lyrical side of his output, making it a compelling and accessible work for chamber ensembles looking to program something outside the standard contemporary repertoire.

Work Details

• Composer: Lou Harrison (1917–2003)
• Number of players: 5

Instrumentation

• Violin I (muted)
• Violin II (muted)
• Solo Flute
• Celesta
• Percussion