Score Sample
View a sample of the score of this work
This sample is from the Solo Flute version of this work
Selected products featuring this work — Display all products (1 more)
Non-Commercial
This item is not commercially available from the Australian Music Centre. We regret that we cannot offer it for sale.
CD
Selected works by AMC represented artists, vol 11.
Library shelf no. CD 2237 [Available for loan]
Score
Reverse : for flute & Korg MS-20 synthesizer / Stephen Adams.
Library shelf no. 785.46612/ADA 1 [Available for loan]
Display all products featuring this work (1 more) 
Work Overview
The flute is the instrument I studied as a teenager. At the request of various flute-players, I've made numerous failed attempts over the years to write a convincing solo flute piece. This work was first written for flute and the late 1970s Korg MS-20 analogue synthesizer. When after its premiere in Brisbane, flutist Janet McKay prepared to head off on a concert tour of America, I re-wrote the piece for her to perform without me and my synthesizer, thus finally tricking myself into completing a solo flute piece.
The stark gestural language owes something to my memories of the first Australian performances of Japanese Noh Drama back in 1984 at the University of Sydney in which I participated as one of the two drummers. This approach was in part prompted by the abrupt nature of the beginnings and endings of the synthesizer tones as triggered by the flute-player in the flute and synth version. Thus a ghost of the synth remains imprinted on the flute's abrupt gestures, as well as the 'ghost-tones' of the flute-player's voice.
Work Details
Year: 2009
Instrumentation: Flute, Korg MS-20 synethsizer.
Duration: 7 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Dedication note: Dedicated to Janet McKay
First performance: by Janet McKay, Stephen Adams at Those Vanished Hands (Queensland College of Art - Griffith University) on 15 Mar 2009
Undo - about face - friction - opposition. Flute and synthesiser exchange roles. The ritual of counterpoint at its most basic. Stark and simple reversals of high and low, active and static. Sound objects: the strong gesture; and the long tail…
The Korg MS-20 is a classic analogue synth from the late 70s. I associate it with my decade of playing in rock bands and making solo synth recordings on cassette tapes. The flute is the instrument I studied as a teenager. I've made numerous failed attempts to write a convincing solo flute piece. Putting the flute and synthesizer together has finally made this possible - a 'solo' flute piece in which the synthesizer merely filters the flute's sound to produce a curious counterpoint of timbres and ghost tones.
Analysis
Resonate article: Those Vanished Hands - Janet McKay by Sarah Collins
Resonate article: Solo Perspective concerts 1&2 by Geoffrey Gartner
Performances of this work
9 Aug 09: New Music Network Mini-series: 'Solo Perspectives 1', Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Featuring Janet McKay.
22 Mar 09: The Wulf, Los Angeles, USA. Featuring Janet McKay.
15 Mar 2009: at Those Vanished Hands (Queensland College of Art - Griffith University). Featuring Janet McKay, Stephen Adams.
User reviews
Be the first to share your thoughts, opinions and insights about this work.
To post a comment please login.