Repertoire examples

Claes Biehl evocazione del mare (2008-09)

For Kingma System bass flute and electronics
Published by Tetractys
Duration 9'00

evocazione del mare ('evocation of the sea') marks the first of three pieces to be written for the ensemble rarescale. It received its premiere at the 'UK Microfest 3' at Walton-on-Thames on 7 March 2009.

One of the principal ideas behind this work is to explore different stages of interaction between two diverse characters, the flute and the electronics. The main dual function of the flute is to both trigger and articulate responses from the initially separate entity represented by the electronics. As the title suggests, this entity stands for an abstract form of ocean, which for me represents a mystic encompassing force rather than a real or concrete ocean.

Regarding its form, the piece could be subdivided into four major sections. The first section explores the flute´s attempts to interact with the electronics. By responding to the flute´s agitated impulses the electronics begin to gradually enclose the flute sounds. The second section then shows the two forces in conjunction: the flute has become integrated into the electronics. The third section depicts various types of conflict between the two entities eventually resulting in their separation. An electronic interlude leads to the final section of the piece in which the flute excitedly reflects upon its multifaceted musical material while the electronics gradually withdraw.

The musical material for this piece is organized following two main principles: (1) fractal methods provide self-affine structures on micro- and macro-levels in order to establish an organic discourse of the work; (2) the pitch material is based on two spectra complementing each other which both become subject to processes of Frequency Shifting. These processes result in complex sequences of gradually descending harmonic fields that can be heard throughout the entire piece.

evocazione del mare (excerpt)

composer's website

Dan Di Maggio Same Old Monsters (2009)

For Kingma System bass flute and electronics
Published by Tetractys
Duration 9'00

I'm going to record a concept album called Monsters, someday. Same Old Monsters will be the main composition, along with Bardhezi, for unaccompanied voice, with which it forms a diptych. The title suggests that the characteristics of human violence, oppression and malice are the same over the centuries. The idea of the piece is an activity that requires attention, delicacy and commitment (the bass flute part, with its rhythmic intricacies, quartertones and multiphonics), opposed to the obtuse brutality of the Same Old Monsters. Our antihero tries to resist and to fight back, but at the end gives up, and his voice becomes nothing but an inarticulate babble. The final version of the score was made with technical supervision by Carla Rees.

Same Old Monsters (excerpt)

Michael Oliva Bereft Adrift (2007)

For Kingma System bass flute and electronics
Published by Tetractys
Duration 6'00

Bereft Adrift is a solo for Kingma System bass flute and electronics which comes from the material of the multimedia opera, The Girl Who Liked To Be Thrown Around. The mood and atmosphere of the work is based on Emily Dickinson's I felt a funeral, in my Brain, which forms part of the text of the opera.

Bereft Adrift (excerpt)

composer's website

Marc Tweedie Zoli (2009)

For Kingma System bass flute
Published by Tetractys
Duration 6'30

Written in 2009, Zoli was inspired by the novel of the same name written by acclaimed Irish author Colum McCann, which tells the story of a Slovak-Romani woman, from the 1930's to her death.

The influence of folk-song on the narrative of the novel was a starting point for the work, drawing on instruments (particularly the Bulgarian kaval) and techniques found in Bulgarian music.

Timbral, microtonal, ornamental and contrapuntal devices exert their influence on the piece, as do the developmental and structural preoccupations of Varèse and Debussy.

Zoli (excerpt)