Ronda Winter-Eldridge

This piece was written by Ronda's daughter, Charlene Gilstrap, when she was 12 years old.  She was 14 at the time of the recording and plays piano on this recording.  The piece was inspired by a dear friend and fellow musician, Harriet "Emilie" Erwin who was the founder of the Tule River Ensemble, a Celtic ensemble from central California.  After many years of following her passion for music, Harriet was diagnosed with Lyme disease.  It was heartbreaking to watch this dear friend go from being so active to being wheelchair bound and crippled from this horrible disease.  Throughout all of it, Harriet maintained a wonderful attitude that was inspirational to those around her.  She passed away in December of 2012.

This haunting piece is written in a lyrical Celtic folk style and evokes a feeling of reflection, sadness, and beauty.

Charlene Gilstrap

Autumn Leaves was written by Ronda’s daughter, Charlene, when she was 14.  This piece reflects the changing seasons and the vibrant changes that come with it.  Charlene plays piano on this piece which was also recorded when she was 14.

Scarborough Fair is Ronda’s favorite piece for flute choir.  Its simple beauty and flowing, rolling rhythm, are well-captured by Ronda’s daughter, Charlene who plays the alto and bass flutes on this piece.  This beautiful arrangement is by Amy Rice-Young.

Reflecting her passion for collecting and playing flutes from all over the world, Ronda plays Before on a Shakuhachi made by the popular Shakuhachi maker Perry Yung.  Click here to see Perry’s website: http://www.yungflutes.com

While the Shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese instrument, Ronda uses it here to emulate a Native American sound.  This short piece came about while Ronda spent time playing flute next to the river and wondered about the grinding holes made long ago by Native Americans and their life by the same river so long ago. If you don’t know what grinding holes are, you can click here to learn more: California Capitol Museum

One of Ronda’s favorite hymn tunes is the theme by Jean Sibelius known as Be Still My Soul.  The lyrics that normally accompany this hymn speak of change and trust in God.  This beloved hymn has comforted many during times of grief in their lives.  Ronda chose to play this piece on a solo alto flute.  Listen quietly at the beginning and you will hear her whisper the phrase “Be still”.  The recording of this piece is dedicated to Ronda’s dear friend Kate Adams.

Written for two flutes by award-winning composer Christopher Caliendo, Ardiente combines elements of Bach, Spanish rhythms and milonga.  This insistent tango captures the ambition of a man for the woman he desires.

Learn more about Chistopher Caliendo's enchanting music at www.ChristopherCaliendo.com

A Gypsy caravan

Written for two C flutes, this music caputres the journeying spirit which brought the gypsies into the more civilized world.

Want to learn more about gypsy caravans? Click here.

Ronda & Amanda Friedhoff

 An example of a Milonga

Flutist Brittany DeLaVergne

is Ronda's student

Amor Perdido (lost love) represents the composers personal reaction to 9/11. Ronda has combined two different arrangements of the piece, using the flute part from the flute & guitar version and the alto flute part from the two flutes version.  Ronda recorded this version with Amanda Friedhoff and was invited by the composer to perform the piece at the National Flute Convention in 2006.  The lament of the flute cries out for the loss experienced that day while the alto flute speaks to the frantic reactions and heroic efforts of those who tried desperately to help.

The MUSe recording of this piece is used as the example version for Mr. Caliendo's soundbyte catalog.

The version heard here was performed live in April of 2011 with Ronda playing the alto flute and her student, Brittany DeLaVergne playing the first flute.