Flute and Symphony Orchestra 2222 | 3221 | 1 perc | strings
(2016)
11 minutes
The title, House of Doors, comes from a meditation exercise in which you imagine walking through a hallway full of doors, choosing one, and exploring what's inside. The exercise is designed to increase creativity and the ability to make positive changes. To me, this meditation is fun, like being in a dream where I can make some choices. The starting point for the Concerto came from three different "rooms" I encountered, and each is translated into sound. The piece is divided into two continuous movements.
Piccolo, 4 C-Flutes, Alto Flute, Bass Flute
(2024)
5 minutes
Dog Days is a set of four short, fun movements for flute choir. It was composed for Merrie Siegel Parmley and the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra Flute Choir. In four movements: Morning Stroll, The Doorbell, The Perfect Sun Spot, and Zoomies!
Four C-Flutes
(2024)
6 minutes
Nightsong is the gentle, subdued fourth quartet in the Echoes of the Ancients series. The other three are Echoes of the Ancients, Voices on the Wind, and People Who Grow Flowers in the Desert. The first quartet is inspired by the flute playing of Doc Tate Nevaquaya, and the sounds he produced on the native Comanche flute. The middle two quartets explore more energetic, bright, and dissonant harmonies, including microtones and whistle tones. With this quartet, my hope is that it is soothing and atmospheric, a sort of meditation on the feelings and sounds we might experience at the end of a good day. The music doesn’t really revolve around a tonal center, although there are moments that emphasize the note ‘a’ and other moments that emphasize ‘d.’ The flutes lowest registers is present most of the time, and the harmonies are rich and warm. The bird calls heard throughout, which are in a distant tonal center, are inspired by field recordings of nightingales.
Solo Flute (left-hand alone)
(2021)
8 minutes
I was approached with the idea of composing a piece for solo flute using only the left hand. This could be played by someone with a right-hand or wrist injury, or for anyone interested in trying a new flute adventure. My first thought is that the options would be very limited, and then I thought of something Stravinsky said that has rolled around in my head for years: "The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one's self. And the arbitrariness of the constraint serves only to obtain precision of execution." He spoke often about the necessity of imposing restrictions to creating great music.
Solo Flute or Alto Flute (optional drone)
(2020)
5 minutes
Amhrán na hEascainne (Song of the Eel) is based on the old Irish song of the same name. My introduction to this song came in the form of Sean-nos, a style of unaccompanied Irish vocal music. This piece can be performed in a few ways: as a solo C-flute piece, as a solo alto flute piece, and either of those with a drone. The drone itself can be done a number of ways. If it's a one-note drone, then any E will work (lower than the flute is optimal). If possible, a two-note drone is even better, and should be E and B, (again lower than the flute is best). The drones could be played by a keyboard, by a cellist, by other flutists (as in a flute choir performance), or other possibilities that I haven't thought of.
The style of this piece is very free, expressive, improvisatory, and dramatic. Most of the barlines have been removed to help prevent a strong sense of pulse. There are a small number of extended techniques for the solo C-flute version, including pitch bends and color tones.
Flute Choir (flexible)
(2020)
3 minutes
Q for Quarantined Flute Choir is a response to shelter-in-place limitations amidst the 2020 pandemic and the difficulties of playing and recording as an ensemble. Each player records their part, eventually to be combined into a whole; coordination is achieved through using time markers instead of measures or ensemble direction. However, Q can also be performed in a live concert setting, again using stopwatches (timers), or with a leader cueing when to move on to the next musical cell.
Flute and piano
(2016)
11 minutes
The title, House of Doors, comes from a meditation exercise in which you imagine walking through a hallway full of doors, choosing one, and exploring what's inside. The exercise is designed to increase creativity and the ability to make positive changes. To me, this meditation is fun, like being in a dream where I can make some choices. The starting point for the Concerto came from three different "rooms" I encountered, and each is translated into sound. The piece is divided into two continuous movements.
Flute choir (flexible)
(2013)
5 minutes
Composed for students of the composer in 2013, Water Tower Music I was intended to be played and was ultimately premiered in the water tower of Volunteer Park in Seattle. With all the players reading from the same score, the piece can be played with any number and type of flutes and is designed to be played out-of-sync. Five additional copies of the score are included with the printed version, and performers can make as many more additional copies as needed.
4 C-Flutes
(2012)
6 minutes
Voices on the Wind (Flute Quartet) by Sarah Bassingthwaighte, Published by Alry Publications.
Intended as a follow-up to "Echoes of the Ancients", this work is slightly more adventurous and is a great introduction to extended techniques. With full explanations in the notes, players will experience timbral trills, microtones, as well as some pitch bending and harmonics.
Scored for four C Flutes.
4 C-Flutes or 4 Violins
(2006)
3 minutes
Commissioned in 2006, Echoes of the Ancients was first composed for four C flutes, based on Native American themes. For students, it is a good introduction to pitch bending and tremolos. Very free in nature, this work can be played in a variety of venues ranging from an echoing cathedral, to the middle of the forest. In 2023, it was adapted by the composer to be played by four violins at the American String Teachers Association National Conference.
No results match your search. Try removing a few filters.
