Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Ratoos, a musician friend from Papua New Guinea taught me how to make bamboo flutes. To me his name actually sounds like the sound of the bamboo flutes we made-it's musical. He played flutes and percussion in a New Guinean indigenous funk band that featured at World Expo 1988 in Brisbane. So whilst lyrical at times, this piece is also a bit funky. It's meant to be for community level players.

Work Details

Year: 2015

Instrumentation: For flutes in three parts, whether 3 players or 18 (as in first performance), or more. There are no parts for alto or other flutes, although if an alto player wants to transpose the lower part, feel free.

Duration: 2 min.

Difficulty: Medium — Originally written for mixed level students at local Conservatorium centre. Will suit school age or adult players.

Dedication note: Dedicated to Ratoos, a friend and New Guinean musician and artist.

Commission note: Requested by Gosford flute teacher Rosalie Bourne

First performance: 19 Jan 16. Flutation Festival, Central Coast Conservatorium Centre, Gosford NSW

The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc associated with this work:
Jazz, and also New Guinean funk influenced this in part. A friend named Ratoos played in a New Guinean funk band. They freely explored close harmonies.