PAULA GUDMUNDSON

• Laura Netzel: Humoresque, Op.37 (excerpt)

"Thanks to these two for introducing us to unfamiliar music... The full-bodied sound of both flute and piano come partly from close recording. At its best, Gudmundson’s tone is radiant and clear... Tracy Lipke-Perry is consistently interesting, expressive, and accurate."

Gorman, American Record Guide [May/June 2020]

“So this is a disc featuring discovery or rediscovery of music by three female composers who, like so many male composers of their time, were certainly competent and capable of producing well-crafted works that skilled performers such as Gudmundson and Lipke-Perry can play with dedication and involvement. … This is an enjoyable enough disc, to be sure, and flute players in particular may welcome the chance to expand their repertoire by considering the performance of some of this material.”

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad [March 2020]

“[Breaking Waves] consists of fascinating  pieces of chamber music that flow together while showcasing the flute... While all the pieces are poetically and energetically played, the recording reached a height to my ears in the duo’s rendition of Amada Rontgen-Maier’s Sonata in B Minor...  Gudmundson’s gorgeous flute playing and Lipke-Perry’s lovely, supportive pianism make it worthy to be heard multiple times."

Joel C. Thompson, Cherry Grove Music Review [February 2020]

Breaking Waves is inspired by women dedicated to the musical craft despite attempts to diminish, ignore and prohibit its study, publication and performance. The title comes from a work of the same name for orchestra by Swedish composer Helena Munktell. This album focuses on the compositions of three women, Laura Netzel, Elfrida Andrée and Amanda Röntgen-Maier, each of whom represents the continuing evolving role of women in music. My colleague and I discovered these works through the Swedish Musical Heritage organization (www.swedishmusicalheritage.com), an amazing resource that provides access to scores of rarely performed music and biographies of numerous “unknown” women composers. The three women whose music is represented here are of three eras of musical transition in Sweden (1830-1930), beginning with music composed by the nobility represented by Laura Netzel; by formally trained women such as Elfrinda Andrée; and internationally trained and active performers like Amanda Röntgen-Maier. The majority of these women’s compositions were originally written for violin and piano, but work beautifully for flute and piano, allowing for the continued expansion of the flute repertoire of the 19th century. Netzel’s Suite, Op.33, dedicated to flutist Paul Taffanel of the Paris Conservatory, is the only work here originally scored for flute and piano. [Paula Gudmundson]

Flutist Paula Gudmundson has performed at numerous music festivals and events, including regional and national conferences of the College Music Society, National Flute Association conventions, Minnesota Public Radio’s Class Notes Artist, International Flute Festival of Costa Rica and La Côte Flûte Festival. In 2011, Gudmundson received an Artist Initiative Grant from Minnesota’s State Arts Board for research of flute music in Latin America, searching for neglected early 20th century music. As a result of her discoveries in Argentina, Gudmundson recorded her debut album in 2014, La Flauta of Buenos Aires, which featured works by Amancio Alcorta. One of the pieces, Gran Fantasia, received an Honorable Mention from the National Flute Association’s Newly Published Music Competition. Dr. Gudmundson, currently Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Minnesota Duluth, earned a Master’s degree from the University of North Texas and a DMA from the University of Minnesota as a Berneking Fellow. Her principal teachers include Immanuel Davis, Terri Sundberg, Ernestine Whitman and Adrianne Greenbaum. [ www.paulagudmundson.com ]
 
Pianist Tracy Lipke-Perry is a versatile performer, teacher and coach. Also an enthusiastic collaborator, she recently commissioned and premiered new music by Libby Larsen, John Luther Adams and Gwyneth Walker. Perry’s research interests focus on under-represented pedagogical and concert repertoire and enhancing understanding of piano technique. She has performed and presented her work across the country and around the world, most recently in Ireland, Australia and Scotland. Dr. Perry holds a DMA degree in piano performance from the University of Arizona, a Master’s degree from the University of Utah. Perry is Assistant Professor of Piano at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.
 

Recorded 8-9 January 2019 at Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Recording Studios, Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, Minnesota. Producers: James Devoll and Paula Gudmundson. Recording engineer: Cameron Wiley.
  LAURA NETZEL (1839-1927)
TARENTELLE, OP.33

HUMORESQUE, OP.37

SUITE, OP.33
Andante – Allegretto non troppo vivo – Allegro

ELFRIDA ANDRÉE (1841-1929)
SONATA IN B-FLAT MAJOR
I. Allegro con spiritoso
II. Andante
III. Allegro

LAURA NETZEL
LA GONDOLIERA, OP.60

BERCEUSE ET TARENTELLE, OP.28

AMANDA RÖNTGEN-MAIER (1853-1894)
SONATA IN B MINOR
I. Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Allegro molto vivace

All works except Netzel’s Suite, Op.33, are transcribed for flute by Paula Gudmundson and Carol Wincenc [Röntgen-Maier]



MSR Classics