Here’s some collected advice on how to compose for the bass flute.

Please realize that the bass flute is not a true bass instrument. It won’t honk unless you amplify it or use its third octave. Both can be very effective, but I often wonder why composers don’t take advantage of the beautiful acoustic sound of the instrument’s first octave more often. What it lacks in carrying power, it makes up for in soulfulness.

When composing extended techniques – some are very effective! All the percussive tricks like tongue or lip pizzicati and tongue rams work very well in the first octave. Be aware though that they too can get lost in an ensemble situation, especially if you have percussion or bass clarinet also doing slaps. It’s difficult to match the dynamic impact of a good bass clarinetist doing slaps.

Key clicks – as with the C flute – fall under my category of “why bother” techniques. I almost always find I need to supplement the key sound with a tongue or lip pizz. They can be effective though if not much else is going on. And please (this is almost a no-brainer, but I have to repeat it all the time) when you write a fast passage, bear in mind that you’ll only get key noises on the notes that require you to ADD a finger. Logically, descending passages work better than ascending.

Multiphonics work on the bass flute – fingering charts can be found in Carin Levine’s book The Techniques of Flute Playing vol. 2. Basically, you can use most C-flute multiphonics that don’t require half-holes. Again, though, there are acoustical considerations. Quiet dynamics, please! with the exception of high overblown harmonics. Multiphonics can be tricky on the bass flute, so don’t be disapointed with an airy, unstable result. If that’s the effect you wish to create – all the better! To seek a stable, dynamically viable multiphonic, work with the individual player. Each player will have his/her own set of multiphonics which come easier.
It’s less of an issue nowadays, but beware that some cheap instruments are still being made without trill keys – so multiphonics using trill keys will not work on them.

Whistle tones work well but are difficult to control. Sweeping through the overtone spectrum on a fingered low note can be effective. Again – as you all probably know – this is easier for the player when it’s just an atmospheric effect. Longer notes please! Or if they need to be short, it’s best to have a free or undefined rhythm as the response time may vary.

Air/aeolian sounds. This is a great, if perhaps overdone, effect on the bass flute. Toshio Hosokawa uses it often in his ensemble works to good effect. Beware though that young or inexperienced players will need some time to develop when it comes to producing louder dynamics.

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Click here for more information through Carla Reese’s excellent website.

Click here for repertoire for bass flute (add filter “solo bass”)