Steeples in My Soul

Also available: McBirnie: The Moon by Night

Andrew McBirnie's The Moon by Night for alto flute and piano is wonderfully atmospheric and colourful. The entire range of the instrument is used including a fourth octave D flat and there are some contemporary techniques such as key slaps and flutter tonguing. Complex rhythms, extreme dynamics and subtle tempo changes together with free piano writing make this a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. Steeples in My Soul by the American composer David Bennett Thomas for solo alto is less technically demanding, and has a more easily definable rhythm structure but is equally effective. The alto flute repertoire is greatly enriched by these two compositions.