This diptych is for flute (or txistu or recorder) and piano (harpsichord or organ). The Cantilène is based on a melody of the 18th century, probably by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710- 1736), popular in several countries with different texts: “Que ne suis-je la fougère”, “Bonne nuit les petits”, “Adieu, pauvre carnaval”, “San Pantzar” and “Wa habibi” among others. The Humoresque is a varied rondo using the characteristic tonalities of the txistu (a basque flute with three holes): it moves through F major, D minor, C major, A minor, B flat major, G minor, Eb major, C minor, Ab major and F minor. The World premiere was performed by Garikoitz Mendizabal, txistu, and Ana Belén García, organ, in Sanctuario de Torreciudad, Spain on 5th August 2016.

from notes by Naji Hakim © 2017