Staff Pick
“Great Value!”
This is a very impressive flute quartet from the imaginative pen of the American composer Marilyn Bliss. Flute players are no strangers to portraying birds but the sonorities and textures used here mean that this piece completely avoids any hint of cliche. The piccolos are used sparingly but to great effect, there is a surprising amount of alto flute writing which adds a darker and more ominous colour, and inevitably there are a lot of notes. Yes, it's challenge to play and yes it's expensive, but the success of the work is the painting of the migration of a flock of birds through the medium of wonderful flute writing. It's worth every ounce of your practice time and every penny out of your wallet - great value!
From the Publisher
Flocks, for flute quartet, was inspired by the annual migration of flocks of birds from their summer home in the North to their winter home in the South. The piece is loosely programmatic, beginning with the first restless urges of some, then even the most reluctant birds, to leave their northern home, through their joyful flight south -- often flying in parallel or similar motion --, to the sighting of their southern home, and finally the quiet of sleep after the long journey.
Performance duration (approx): 9'00
Item Details
Instrumentation
- Part 1: Flute
- Part 2: Flute doubling on Piccolo
- Part 3: Flute doubling on Piccolo
- Part 4: Alto Flute
Publisher: American Composers Alliance
Publisher's reference: ACA-BLIS-003
Our Stock Code: 1650686
Media Type: Paperback - Score and parts (27 pages [score])
