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Cross-Talk (5') 2008
flute ensemble (6 performers minimum)
for the Redshift Music Society, Vancouver Canada

Sample Audio - Derek Charke, flutes (opens in new window)

Notes

Flutists are to be positioned around the hall or space. There are 3 groups of any number of flutes. Each plays the exact same material but slightly out of time from the others therefore creating a blurred effect. Group 1 (piccolos and flutes) performs a 2 minute melody, Groups 2 and 3 answer after this first statement of the melody with jet whistles, slowly taking more time until the end. Group 1 repeats the melody again, after a minute rest, over the jet whistles for the last 2 minutes.

Performance Instructions

- Flutists should be spread apart, situated throughout the venue.
- Stopwatches will be helpful, but not necessary.

Group 1 (any number of piccolos and flutes)

TECHNICAL
- Perform the first page twice, once at the start and again at 3 minutes.
- Start at the same time but do not coordinate; the resulting sound should be blurred.
- Tempo is a strict quartet = 120 No rubato!
- It takes approximately 2 minutes to complete the page

TECHNIQUE
- Tongue all notes, legato
- Dry, with very little expression or vibrato
- Loud at all times!

Group 2 (any number of flutes) & Group 3 (any number of flutes)

TECHNICAL
- Perform the second page
- Start at 1:50, this will overlap with the final measures of group 1
- Repeat until the end
- Gesture is always in tempo, quartet = approx. 120
- Initially allow 3 seconds of silence between each gesture
- Gradually increase the duration of silences until the end

TECHNIQUE
- Always use a jet whistle; blow a solid stream of air directly into the flute
- Aim for the resulting harmonics to go up and down on each note
- Loud at all times!