Heim Duo Annette Heim, flute Bret Heim guitar

Since his earliest New York reviews, critics have noted Robert Baksa’s (b. 1938) melodic gifts and the harmonious nature of his music. Born in New York City of Hungarian parentage, Baksa grew up in Tucson, Arizona, earning a degree in composition from the University of Arizona. He returned to New York City in the early 60s and is currently New Music Coordinator for the Pleshakov Music Center in Hudson, New York.

Baksa’s music has fresh appeal. His style is expressive and romantic, with clear melodic lines and a sense of instrumental color reminiscent of Debussy. Baksa has written extensively for the flute--his Sonata No. 1 was 1994 winner of the National Flute Association newly published music competition. He has also written two sonatas for solo guitar, and a Duo Concertante for guitar and harpsichord.

Celestials (1996) is a musical journey through the heavenly and the earthly. Each of the five movements is a miniature “song without words,” by turns joyous, affable, mischievous, and contemplative. “Moon Drifts” is expansive and serene. “Sun Tones” is bright, airy, flying music. The flute’s double-tonguing in “Rain Shapes” evokes a shower of raindrops. “Star Drops” is an ethereal, celestial aria for the flute--harmonics in the guitar add a twinkling of starlight to the shimmering texture. “Wind Hues” is tempestuous, characterized by soaring flute gestures and virtuoso guitar scaling. The two roles are carefully sewn together in precarious, thrilling counterpoint.

Baksa’s catalog includes numerous works for solo flute and for solo guitar. His duos for flute and guitar, Celestials (1998) and the Sonata (2003) are exquisite marriages of the expressive capabilities of both instruments. Baksa does not torture the instruments by making them do unnatural things. Rather, he delights himself in composing works in which both instruments are allowed to do what they do best. In the first movement of the Sonata, clear and comprehensible melodic lines unfurl in classic sonata form. Very Smoothly is beautiful, lush, romantic even—full of tenderness. Lively is ‘tarantella’ like—breathlessly fast with rhythmic bite and witty interplay.

The Heim Duo commissioned Baksa's Trio for flute, viola, and guitar, Journeys, in 2005 and gave the world premier performance March 11, 2007 with violist Jim Lichtenberger.