As a fourth grade student in the Massapequa Schools music program, Kristine Dougherty was pushed by her mother, Kathleen, a professional musician, to keep practicing her flute. Thanks to her mother's persistence, the young girl knew that the more she played her instrument, the better she would get - even though she'd often rather be playing games outside with her friends. What she didn't know, however, was that her biggest source of musical inspiration would one day become her musical partner.

Since forming a musical duo known as Momentum in 1997, Kathleen and Kristine Dougherty, of Massapequa, have carved a niche for themselves in the chamber music world, largely through their unique mother/daughter charm. With Kathleen playing horn and Kristine on flute, accompanied by pianist Henry DeVries, the group has performed at churches, libraries and other venues throughout Long Island, and has rapidly gained a large following. Women's clubs are also among those who have responded to the Doughertys' mother-daughter appeal, often hiring them to perform at special occasions.

The duo came about while Kathleen was playing as a guest soloist with her parents' group, Celebrations Brass, recalled Kathleen. "And then we came across one piece for flute and French horn, and so then we programmed that on one of the concerts. And, we did it a couple of times and got such wonderful feedback," she said.

At audience members' requests, they continued finding and performing pieces suited for the unique combination of French horn and flute, and ultimately, decided to make a go of their mother-daughter appeal.

"We just kept looking at each other and saying 'Well, maybe we should do this,' and we'd laugh and say, 'Yeah, one day we're going to do this,'" said Kristine. "And then finally we looked at each other one day and said, 'Yeah, maybe we should.' So we just got started."

Specializing in the performance of music for flute, French horn and keyboard by such composers as Quantz, Devienne, Telemann, Pachelbel, Muller and Graun, Momentum also presents solo repertoire written for these instruments by Mozart, Bach, Strauss, Chaminade, Dukas, Faure, Doppler, Saint Saens, Dauprat, and others. The group is frequently accompanied by guest artists who perform flute, horn, harp, guitar or voice, and occasionally features strings for the performance of chamber music, or other woodwinds.

Individually, the performers also have impressive musical accomplishments. Kathleen, 49, has been a free-lance hornist in the New York Metropolitan area for more than 25 years. In addition to her work with Momentum, she is the hornist with Celebrations Brass, and has performed on natural horn with some of the country's leading early music ensembles, including Clarino Consort, Concert Royal, Portland Baroque Orchestra, New York Grand Bande, 18th Century Ensemble and live National Public Radio (NPR) broadcasts. Daughter Kristine, 27, has performed solo recitals in New York, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, played on NPR, performed at Lincoln Center and toured Europe.

The mother-daughter duo are not only musically, entwined, they are close friends. Kristine and her husband even own a home next door to her parents in Massapequa, which she said, adds to the fun of working with her mother. "Everybody laughs. A couple of times I was on the phone trying to book a recital; it's very hard to get everyone who's playing available on the same day. So I say, 'Oh, okay, let me just make sure my mom is free,' and I just take my cordless phone and go into their house," Kristine said, "It's definitely a lot of fun, and with rehearsing, you can't beat it. We don't even bring our cases - we just take our instruments out of the cases and go right next door."

Mother and daughter also have a common interest in antique instruments and furniture, and travel to antique shows together.

"It's neat. We get along very well, and unfortunately, there are a lot of people who don't," noted Kristine. "A lot of my friends don't even get along with their parents. So, it's unusual to find families that are this close."

Momentum's next concert will take place on Sunday, Sept. 26, at St. Anthony's Church, 110 Anchor Ave., Oceanside. Peris Alban will perform as guest harpist. The music of F. Strauss, Saint Saens, Barboteau, Telemann and others will be featured. A $10 donation is requested ($8 for seniors). For further information about that event, one may call 764-0048. The group hopes to perform in Massapequa soon.

Momentum also just produced a CD, which will be released in October. As for their long-term aspirations, the Doughertys want to expand their performances into Manhattan.

"You keep practicing, you keep trying to improve yourself, and looking for new things to do, and there is no perfection. There is no point where you can say, 'I've made it,'" said Kathleen.

As they strive for perfection in their music, the Massapequa residents plan to remain a mother/daughter duo, and to bring local audiences the unique charm that comes with it.

Editors Note: For further information about Momentum, one may contact the group by mail: 44 Nassau Road, Massapequa, NY, 11758; by phone/FAX: (516) 598-0306; by e-mail: phlewtst@optonline.com; or through their web site: www.momentumchambermusic.com.