Reflections: Ten Pieces for Flute Alone

From the Publisher

These ten compositions for flute alone are in contrasting styles to reflect the scope and expressive range of this special instrument and its long history. They contain echoes of some of the rich musical traditions that are represented in the extensive repertoire for the instrument, as well as some of the musical styles and composers that have influenced me. The pieces have been written to appeal to players of from intermediate upwards.

Notes on the compositions:

Written in 3/4, Late at Night is based on a single whole tone scale and uses varied rhythmic patterns and melodic devices to shape the piece. 

In the Moment is based on a single pentatonic scale to evoke the haunting quality of Eastern meditative music as well as the timeless, universality of so much world music. 

The contrafact in this collection, All the Things You Might Have Been, takes the underlying harmony of Jerome Kern’s All the Things You Are and reimagines it as a mock-Baroque piece in a style typical of that period. 

JJQ is dedicated to Johan Joachim Quantz, an early champion of the flute from the baroque era.

The ballad, Way Above the Clouds, conforms to a standard AABC structure found in many Great American Song Book tunes. In common with Floating in the Air and other pieces in this collection, it is predominantly diatonic. By contrast On the Edge explores a more atonal soundscape to create its own special mood. 

Irish music is another genre that showcases the flute extensively. Mayo Capers is a lively gig that was inspired by a memorable visit to County Mayo. 

Tango for Astor is a more brooding piece that evokes the mood of the tango exemplified by the compositions of Astor Piazzola. 

Bea’s First Waltz is a gentle, mid-tempo jazz waltz written for my first grandchild, Beatrice. 

Contents

1. Late at Night
2. In the Moment
3. JJQ
4. All the Things You Might Have Been
5. Way Above the Clouds
6. On the Edge
7. Mayo Capers
8. Floating in the Air
9. Tango for Astor
10. Bea's First Waltz

Item Details

Instrumentation

• Part 1: Flute