The Colour of Pomegranates for alto flute and piano was composed for flautist James Dutton and pianist Mark Kincaid and received its first performance in 1995 at the Purcell Room at London’s Southbank Centre. The 7-minute piece takes its title from a film by Armenian director Sergei Parajanov (1924-1990). In one scene, a peasant sits on a cupola playing his flute to the sound of church bells. In Anderson’s piece, the alto flute reflects this image in a slow lyrical melody, whilst the piano part invokes the tolling of bells.

 

“…A beautiful, intense little nocturne…”
The Sunday Times (Paul Driver), 15 January 1995