David Volpe (1983)

Gwinna (2008)

duration: 7:50

Gwinna is based on the children’s story of the same name written by Barbara Helen Berger. In the composer’s words, “The main character, Gwinna, is a girl born with owl wings who is started on a quest to discover her origins and purpose when she begins to hear music on the wind. She follows the melodious tones to the source and ultimately acquires a harp on which she learns to play the very songs that drew her there. Gwinna brings the harp back to her home and discovers the healing powers of the music she creates.

The idea of a flute, viola, and harp trio came from three core elements of the story: the harp of course being Gwinna, the flute being the hooting of the owls (which Berger actually describes as flutes), and the viola being the tree from which Gwinna’s harp is made.” ~ D. Volpe