Miniature for solo flute

This is a miniature for solo flute. I actually enjoyed working on this. Tell me what you think.

Miniature for solo flute

Ah ha.

What would've helped the piece is a way to tell apart the sections. As it is, the material doesn't really change throughout the piece enough and it somehow feels like you're trying to compensate (with those jumps) for the fact that you're only writing for one melodic instrument.

But here's the thing, this would be a good opportunity to expand a little more on the color repertoire. Think of using frullato and working more with pauses. Remember, since you can't rely on harmony to give you the piece's development, etc, you have to rely on what harmony actually represents and that is color contrasts.

Say, you could have one part be linear, but how about thinking more in terms of old vocal polyphony modality then? Mix it up some, after all there are many many things you can do with melodies and intervals across a line. Speaking of which, also try to think of it in terms of lines and dots or points, like morse code. These are all analogues to other elements that are present in music where there's more voices, but in here you have to figure out how to work in those same dimensions, but only with what the flute can do.

And remember, the flute has a lot of techniques for a lot of different effects and colors. And since I have this laying around I'll post it as reference for anyone interested in what those techniques are, etc:

http://cnx.org/content/m14066/latest/

http://cnx.org/content/m14069/latest/

http://cnx.org/content/m14065/latest/

Quick and handy reference. How about checking this out and giving it another shot?

I like this, but it's toooo short! I hope you will continue this idea, it needs continuing! I like this a lot, though.

Keep working!

Hey Jason,

So naturally, as a flutist, I decided to take a look at your piece...can't say I was extremely impressed though. :/ The ideas are kind of bland, making the writing a bit bland as well. I agree with what SSC said; it does feel like you're trying to compensate for the fact that you're writing for one instrument, with those jumps. This is what makes solo writing so hard...lack of other definite voices to interact with.

However, again as SSC said, it is a good time to practice coloristic writing. Extended techniques don't necessarily have to be used for this; simply thinking about the coloristic aspects of the instrument's registers and tone qualities will make the work much more interesting. :] In the solo flute repertoire I'd suggest listening to the following:

Syrinx by Claude Debussy (ESPECIALLY THIS ONE, A SOLO FLUTE CLASSIC. :D)

Partita for solo flute by J.S. Bach

Eight Pieces (Acht Stucke) by Paul Hindemith

Afterlight by Robert Dick

rapid.fire by Jennifer Higdon

Density 21.5 by Edgard Varese

Hope I've been helpful...best of luck!

- T

Let's not forget the first sequenza from Berio. It's almost an encyclopedia of stuff you can do with the flute.

I liked this, I didn't particularly love it. In response to Heckelphone's comment about this piece being to short, the title says Miniature, so logic would dictate that this piece wouldn't be very long, so you shouldn't worry about length. I suggest working on putting some "spice" into this.

Thanks guys. Thomas, I will listen to those pieces you posted.

I actually liked the leaps and felt that it is what gave the piece cohesiveness. That, and the runs are fairly similar in nature. I think it is a good study/experiment. Writing for a solo instrument is certainly very difficult and I think this is a good attempt for a first solo flute piece.

miniatures rock i like this too - sounds quasi-baroque in parts. I like that it 'keeps going.' It has great continuity and material we can latch on to which is important when you have no harmonic backing. It is limited as regards timbre possible, but what's wrong with that? Maybe the odd flutter-tongue would give a dash of colour but the piece does not suffer without it. I want love to hear a couple more - you could have three little miniatures. This sounds like a good first. I enjoyed this

Solo flutes are very difficult to write music with, so I give you props for trying your best here, but your style of music here isn't really conducive to writing solo pieces :\ This flute seems dying for accompaniment in order to bring out the various shades of music that it's playing, it doesn't feel like it can carry the weight all by its lonesome. In order for this to work, it's going to need some sort of atmosphere: this feels too literal minded, so it keeps the listener from being drawn into the flute's playing.

Thanks for sharing ;)