WARNING! Gustnadoes Ahead (2008)
duration 6:00
flute and cd (EA)
Commissioned by The National Flute Association for the 2008 High-School Soloist Competition in Kansas City, Missouri August 7-10, 2008
Listen to the entire work played by Derek Charke
Gustnado—Colloquial expression for a short-lived, shallow, generally weak tornado found along a gust front. Gustnadoes are usually visualized by a rotating dust or debris cloud." The soundtrack is made up mostly of transformed flute sounds, some of which emulate sudden swirling figures, others a sudden explosion and some granularised: sounds that are stretched in time, or are granules, short and fast. And there are many other transformations, plus a few electronic sounds. The solo flute interacts with these sounds. The score includes the solo flute part and a representation of the soundtrack with timings and other important information. The flute part includes extended techniques such as multiphonics, aeolian sounds, timbre trills, over blowing on harmonics, harsh Ch K Ch k sounds, and of course, ordinary tone production. The piece is loosely in variation form with a flurry of sound in the introduction, then a presentation of the main thematic material, which is further altered and developed. A quasi recapitulation of the opening ends the piece.
Recommended Setup
Amplify the solo flute using one or two condenser microphones. Add some reverb to the solo flute (not the soundtrack). Some small mixers such as the Yamaha MG8/2FX have built in reverb. This might be the simplest and cheapest alternative if you wish to acquire your own setup. Mix the amplified flute and soundtrack through a mixer. Send the mix to two high quality powered monitors on either side of the stage. The flutist should be standing in the middle just behind the monitors.
CD Player or Laptop computer
Audio Interface (computer)
Mixer
2 Monitors
Microphone for the flute
Basic Setup
Play the sound track on a CD player with decent speakers. Solo flute plays with or without amplification, and with or without additional reverb.
You will not need a stopwatch to coordinate with the soundtrack, however, timings are given if you wish to. The performer needs to hear the soundtrack while they are playing! Make sure the soundtrack is not too quite. (Alternately it shouldn’t be so loud as to obscure the soloist!) Ideally the sound of the flute and the soundtrack should blend together so the audience can’t really tell the difference. It should sound as if the soloist is interacting with, and instigating the sounds on the CD.
::: Official Weather Bulletin :::
This is a warning that unexpected Gustnado conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions. Listen for updated statements.
Please take shelter if you experience sudden explosions of sound, twirling figures or any other unusual sound formations. Expect some isolated electronic by-products. Above all take shelter from the eye of the storm.
Gustnadoes, short-lived, shallow, generally weak tornados found along a gust front, are usually visualized by a rotating dust or debris cloud.
Please refer to the latest public forecasts for further details.