Adrift (2021)
For Bass Flute (doubling Piccolo), Piano, and Electronics
Duration: 12 minutes
Commissioned by Duo Axis
First performed by Duo Axis (Zach Sheets, flutes; Wei-Han Wu, piano), May 8, 2022
Perusal Score (PDF)
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Adrift stages a dialogue between what I’ve sometimes called “narrative” and “spatial” music—between music, in other words, that seems outwardly communicative and expressive, and music that seems only to curate an ambiance in which outward expression might (or might not) happen. Over a bed of sonorous piano harmony, the flutist continually negotiates their place in the texture. At times, they present a simple, ambient oscillation of long tones; at others, they behave much more like a “traditional,” lyrical soloist. This narrative-space spectrum is traversed not only through the flutist’s sonic material but also theatrically, in terms of their position onstage.
The electronics engage in a similar sort of role negotiation. In several passages, they are quite subtle, consisting only of pure tones that resonate the acoustic instruments. In others, they present much more complex textures that assert themselves to the ear as active, independent entities.
Despite the continuous flux underlying the music, much of the piece presents itself as calm, focused, and meditative.