Sunday, June 12, 2022 @ 5PM
Orvis Auditorium at University of Hawai’i, Manoa
Thank you so much for joining me this evening! It is an honor to perform for the community which helped me grow into the musician I am today.
-Alyse (more about me here)
Inspiration
I have been working on a flute duet arrangement of the Reinecke flute concerto, a piece that I fell deeply in love with. Never having had the opportunity to perform this piece before, I decided not to wait until the NY Phil invites me to solo with them… 😅
I also really wanted to perform a couple of Hawaiian songs that I love and have performed a number of times with my husband and our Hawaiian band.
In order to tie those two very different styles together, I googled “Hawaii flute music” -and every variation of those search terms. I came up with two classical pieces inspired by Hawai’i- the Windweaver Trio (Barbara Eberhart) and Ali’i Suite (Eric Ewazen).
The songs will be sung by the multi-talented Emily Tsuhako, with myself on harmony vocals and piano, and my husband Robert Hokamp on guitar.
There’s something about the intimacy of singing that really makes audiences feel connected to performers, more so than with instruments. I also think people really respond to the unexpected element of switching instruments in a classical music setting.
Music
Windweaver Trio (2007)
Barbara Eberhart
Written in the Ka’u District on the Island of Hawai’i, this piece for flute trio captures the sound of the wind rising in the distance off the ocean and whispering through the old growth ohia trees.
-Barbara Eberhart
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, Op. 283 (1908)
Carl Reinecke (1824-1910)
My favorite piece of solo flute repertoire right now. I am in love with the melodies, harmonies, and intertwining lines of this beautiful concerto.
-Alyse Hokamp
Ali’i Suite- Visions of Hawai’i) (1994)
Eric Ewazen (b. 1954)
I. Sunrise (Haleakalā)
On the island of Maui, it is a tradition to visit the top of its highest volcanic peak, Haleakalā, at sunrise… Slowly, magically, colors start to emerge even before sunrise. In this silent, awesome spot, the black sky starts to have a faint glow, and colors gently start to emerge and grow ever more warm and rich, from deep purples to magenta, as a faint yellow glow begins to warm the sky, growing ever more vivid, and the colors, like a kaleidoscope in slow motion, growing ever more intense.
-Eric Ewazen
II. Mist (Waipi’o Valley)
On the “Big Island” of Hawai’i, Waipi’o Valley is an extraordinary spot, nestled along the coast. Filled with lush vegetation… nestled between the cliffs, with a beautiful surf, it is truly magical.
-Eric Ewazen
III. Sunset Chants and Dances (Anaeho’omalu Bay)
This movement takes its inspiration from the extraordinary, rich culture of the Polynesian people. The traditional Hawaiian music is so beautiful and so exciting, combining hypnotic, visceral chanting with exhilarating, gutsy rhythms.
-Eric Ewazen
E Hihiwai
Words and music by Dennis Kamakahi
Aia i ka nani o Molokaʻi lā
I nā pali weliweli o ke koʻolau
Hea mai ka leo hone
I ke ahiahi lā
I ka makani ʻekepue o ke awāwa
Hui:
E hīhīwai lā lae lae
E ho’i mai kāua lā
I ka ʻāina uluwehi o Wailau
Hanohano wale nō
Ka wailele Kahiwa lā
A me ke kuahiwi ʻo Olokuʻi
Mele kākou nei a pau
I ka mele ʻāina lā
ʻO ka nani mae ʻole o ke ola mau
ʻO ka makani kuʻu leo
ʻO ke kai kuʻu puʻuwai
ʻO ka ʻāina uluwehi kuʻu nui kino
(Translation)
There in the beauty of Molokaʻi
In the fearful cliffs of the windward side
The sweet voice calls
In the evening hours
In the cold wind of the valley
Chorus:
O hīhīwai tra la la
Come back to me
To the lush and beautiful land of Wailau
So glorious
Is the waterfall Kahiwa
And the mountain, ʻOlokuʻi
Let us all sing together
The song of the land
Of the never fading beauty of life eternal
The wind is my voice
The sea is my heart
The lush and beautiful land is my whole body
Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai (Plants of the Sea)
Words and music by Edith Kanakaole
He hoʻoheno kē ʻike aku
Ke kai moana nui lā
Nui ke aloha e hiʻipoi nei
Me ke ʻala o ka līpoa
He līpoa i pae i ke one
Ke one hinuhinu lā
Wela i ka lā kē hehi aʻe
Mai manaʻo he pono kēia
Hoʻokohukohu e ka limu kohu
Ke kau i luna ō nā moku la
ʻO ia moku ʻula la e hō
ʻOni ana i ʻōi ʻaneʻi
Haʻina mai ka puana
Ka līpoa me ka limu kohu
Hoapili ʻoe me ka pāhe’e
ʻAnoni me ka līpalu
(Translation)
Such a delight to see
The great big ocean
So familiar and very cherished
With its fragrance of the lîpoa
It is lîpoa which washed ashore
Onto the shiny white sand
Hot from the heating sun as you step on it
Don’t think that this is fun
How enticing is the display of limu kohu
Atop the rocks
Enticing one to pick them
As they sway to and fro
Let the story be told
Of the lîpoa and the limu kohu
Close companions of the pâhe`e
Intermingled with the lîpalu
Performers
Megumi Pulido, piano
Emily Tsuhako, flute and voice
Ellie Lundberg, flute
Robert Hokamp, guitar
This is a free concert!
Donations are gratefully accepted on Venmo @Alyse-Hokamp, or PayPal alysehokamp@gmail.com.
Keep up with me on Instagram @alysehokamp!
Alyse Hokamp 