Flute

Flute and Clarinet Learn More

unaccompanied

Black Pearls presents the feelings of anxiety and sorrow that I had after reading The Pearl by American author, John Steinbeck.

The story features a poor Mexican pearl diver, Kino, and his wife and son. One day Kino’s son, Coyotito, became very ill from a scorpion sting. Kino rushed his son to the doctor, however, the doctor would not treat Coyotito because the family had no money. Kino had discovered a very large black pearl, and had hoped to sell it for money to pay the doctor. Little did he know that possessing the enormous black pearl would cause him so much trouble.

Steinbeck’s story explores man’s nature, as well as greed and evil.

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2 Flutes, Alto Flute and Bass Flute

The fourth part of the Chthonic Flute Suite commissioned by Areon Flutes in 2012. This suite has two main inspirations: ideologically it draws guidance from the book The Dream and the Underworld (1979)by James Hillman (1926-2011) and musically it explores the textural possibilities of a flute ensemble within the context of the “heavy chamber music” style I have developed with Edmund Welles: the bass clarinet quartet since 1996.

The quartet is divided into three sections: Thymos—Phrenes—Chthonios.

Thymos means “blood vapour” and is one of the elements that souls of the dead in the underworld completely lack, therefore they crave it and seek it out; they also lack “breath consciousness” or phrenes.

The term “chthonic” [thon-ik] generally means “underworld.” However, Hillman thoroughly elaborates that its true meaning extends “below the earth and beyond it” (p.36) into invisible, non-physical and far distant psychic realms as opposed to being limited to a “primitive earthiness” that limits us to the physical and fertile “underground.” Hillman weaves a captivating and expanded perspective on “chthonic” and the deeper mysteries of the invisible, drawing from such sources as Greek and Egyptian mythology, Freud, Nietzsche, and more. “The underworld is a realm of only psyche, a purely psychical world…underworld is the mythological style of describing a psychological cosmos. Put more bluntly: underworld is psyche.” (p.46)

 

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A Bonbon is a candy treat, or something that is pleasing. These 5 short character pieces are treats for the ear. The titles are: Reflections, Butterflies, On Tiptoes, A Little Blues, and Dances. The movements may be performed individually or in any grouping. Learn More

Picc, 3 Flts, Alto Flt, String Bass and Piano Learn More

CANZONA by Florentio Maschera (1540-1584) transcribed by Howard J. Buss. This late Renaissance work is written in a stirring imitative style and makes a memorable feature number for a recital as well as a wonderful musical offering in church. Learn More

UIL Prescribed Music List: 234-2-11617 Learn More

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Dedicated to flutist/piccoloist John Bailey. Chutzpah! is an audacious “tour de force” with exciting contrasts, zesty rhythms, and passages featuring elaborate and dashing technical prowess. "A great concert feature, contest piece, and is an excellent choice for an audition." Learn More

opt. Alto Flt Learn More

with Piano; An Ancient Saga Learn More

Recommended for a college level ensemble, this is sure to be a nice challenge for any group.

3 Flutes and 1 Alto Flute

I. BAREFOOT ON THE BEACH (a march)

II. SUNRISE SOLILOQUY (an air)

III. DOLPHIN DANCE (a bourree)

IV. WAVE PLAY (a rondo)

Dauphin Island is a barrier island on the gulf coast of Alabama.  It remains a quiet community populated by fishermen, locals, teachers and students at the Sea Lab facility, without the plastic gristle of so many near-by tourist spots.  People do visit the town and old Fort Gains on the east end of the edge of Mobile Bay.

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with Piano: An colorful engaging work that evokes a fantasy world in which a dragon awakens and takes flight. Looking for a work that can showcase your technical prowess and musicality to dazzle an audience? This is it! Learn More

unaccompanied

Damian Montano enjoys a career as both a bassoonist and composer. He has been funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and his compositions have been performed by ensembles across the country. As a bassoonist, he is a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and has performed with many other orchestras. He is also an active recording artist for film, television and commercials.

Montano’s Dragonfly was written for Jenni Olson.

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unaccompanied: The composer wrote this work while studying the Taegum, the Korean bamboo transverse flute. It was originally written for the Taegum, but here is adapted for the modern flute. "Music with a distictly Korean flavor." Learn More

This well-known African American spiritual (the foot bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bone's connected to the...), arranged by Howard Buss, makes a memorable concert feature as well as a rousing musical offering in church. Multiple players may be used on each part to expand the ensemble. This arrangement is hugely influenced by jazz. The extended two-part introduction begins hymn-like and then breaks out in a jubilant jazzy section. This is followed by a more traditional rendering of the spiritual; however, as the music reaches its climax, the jazz "licks" from the introduction are brought back as counterpoint against the main melody of the spiritual. The result is exhilarating, and for a bit of humor, just as the work ends, there is a "tongue-in-cheek" plagal cadence. Learn More

opt. Alto Flt: Easter Triumph, Easter Joy; Souviens toi de Jesus Christ; The Day of Resurrection!; Forth He Came at Easter, Like the Risen Grain; Christ the Lord is Risen Today Learn More

with Piano or Concert Band; This composition was originally written with concert band accompaniment. This piano reduction of that accompaniment makes this flute solo available to the soloist for concert and contest without having to assemble a large group of musicians. Learn More

2 Flutes with Piano; 8 movements Learn More