Airflow (2023)

Commission from the Viva Flauti! Ensemble

(For four flutes, doubling piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute)

This composition received the grants from the National Culture and Arts Foundation, Taiwan.

Performers: Li Sun, Li-Chin Chiu, Cheng-Yu Lu, Yu-Tai Cheng

Premiere: 2023 The National Flute Association Annual Convention, at the Phoenix Convention Center, Arizona, USA. 2023/8/6 (Sun) Morning.

Second Performance (this shown video): Viva Flauti! 2023 Concert, at the Theater Building, Taikang Cultural Center. 2023/11/4 (Sat), 2:30pm.

 

Program Note:

“Airflow” is a work written for four flute players. By integrating various timbres and diverse techniques of flute family instruments (piccolo, flute, alto flute, and bass flute), it inspires the rich appearances and the abstract images of the airflow, from a perspective like the tone poem.

“Airflow” is the flow of air. From a physical point of view, it is the process of gas flowing from high pressure to low pressure; from an engineering point of view, it is the detection of the amount of gas flowing through a specific device per unit time. Regardless of the angle, there are many factors that could affect airflow, including at least altitude, temperature, density, medium, etc., all together forming an effective operation which is complex but fascinating.

Suppose the performance of one instrument could form a universe. The performances of four flutists construct a big universe together and create parallel universes among themselves. At this very moment, the balance of the music is also the balance of the airflow, and the structure of the work is also the structure of the airflow. The airflow movement is between the breaths, and within the operations, the pitch, melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre are generated, forming the organization and characteristics of the music.

However, the most fascinating thing about music is that it brings people’s imagination. Only with enough imagination can the rendering power and excitement of music be brought out. I hope to see the light smoke curling up and the majestic reverberation in the “Air Flow”. The vibration can also ignite the emotion. Finally, it will return to the breath, leaving silence, but it is like a sudden inspiration, and ones will discover the colors and warmth around themselves.

The work is commissioned by the Viva Flauti! Ensemble and receives the grants from the National Culture and Arts Foundation, Taiwan.

Duration: about 12 minutes