But Not Forgotten for Bass Flute and Piano

Gary Schocker's writing for the bass flute shows a player's understanding of the instrument and here he has given us a lyrical piece which really highlights it's singing qualities. Starting in the lower register, the opening semiquavers lie well under the hand and the slightly restless quality of this melody is interwoven into the accompaniment. The notes then start to slow, firstly to quavers and then to crotchets as the writing reaches ever higher towards the climax. The semiquavers return before the piece ends slow, low and soft. The bass takes a lot of air to play successfully so it's great that there are plenty of places to breathe. This minimizes any disruption to the direction of the phrases and allows the performer to support the high notes freely. This is a beautiful piece both to play and to listen to, and is an ideal addition to a recital programme. It also sounds great on a normal flute!