Blog for Flutists and Composers
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Gaudeamus Interpreter’s Competition
Here are, I hope, some useful ideas for those wanting to make a program for the Gaudeamus Interpreter’s Competition in Holland. Bear in mind I took part in 1996, and things may have changed, but the basis of putting together a successful program remain true for all competitions. This competition has a different jury every…
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Piccolo Pickles
Here’s a comparison photo of three piccolos: (left) a Pearl Grenadite, (center) a Philipp Hammig with an August Richard Hammig headjoint, and (right) an Anton Braun. The photo is pretty bad and overexposed, but you can see the difference in length and taper. Notice that although each piccolo was built to A= 442 specs, that…
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Non vibrato and the Book of Disquiet
Still from the film projection “Book of Disquiet”Michel van der Aa On the first of August this year (2010) I had the privilege of performing Michel van der Aa’s “Book of Disquiet” , a multi-media work based on texts of Fernando Pessoa’s “factless autobiography”. We even shared the stage with Klaus-Maria Brandauer , who gave…
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Small-Interval Multiphonics
On the occasion of the publication of my article on Kazuo Fukushima’s Shun-San in Flute Talk May/June 2010 and Robert Dick’s upcoming masterclass in Bremen (July 6, 2010), I’d like to elucidate some ideas about multiphonics. Working on Shun-San got me thinking about small-interval multiphonics (those with an interval of an augmented second or less).…
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Paradies Remembered
It’s been over a month since the marathon premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Klang cycle. I have been wanting to share the experience here, but I survived the project with too many mixed feelings. However if I don’t get it out, my blogging energy may get permanently clogged. Also, Robert Bigio, the editor of Flute (the…
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Low Register: Descending to Paradise
Countdown: just about one month before my performances (8 in two days!) of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s PARADIES for flute and electronic music. Am I panicking? No. But I have been soundly kicked in the butt. This piece allows for absolutely no technical weaknesses. In addition, I’ve been challenged to really expand my stability, dynamics, and coloristic…
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Just Intonation: Thirds and Sixths, an exercise
I’d like to take the opportunity to write about the benefits of doing intonation exercises with 3rds and 6ths using just intonation. To refine the ear. These are simple intervals, and the difference tone (or combination tone) is strong enough to easily adjust. Flexibility. To make these adjustments, a flutist must be willing to make…
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Tips for Complex Rhythms à la Ferneyhough’s Superscriptio
Below is some advice for works by composers (such as Brian Ferneyhough) who use complex rhythms not based on pulse-centered activity. I spoke with Mr. Ferneyhough about this subject and he was very clear that in his music, the measure is a “domain of a certain energy quotient” not related to a pulse. In other…