The Art of the Native American Flute

SKU: CF.YPS241F

ISBN 9781491159668. UPC: 680160918256.

PROGRAM NOTES Heartbreak Trail describes the forced relocation of approximately 100,000 Native Americans in the 1830s. Known as the Trail of Tears, thousands lost their lives during the march, and it is remembered today as a great human-rights atrocity and a shameful period in American history. The opening A-section captures the sadness of those in the five tribes who were forced from their homeland. The fast B-section represents the determination to survive the long, difficult trek. Although there were many obstacles, thousands did survive, but a dark A-section returns to depict the loss of homeland, fellow tribe members, and a depression over the new lack of freedom. PERFORMANCE NOTES The opening should be at a moderate pace and section entrances should be balanced at mezzo piano. In m. 12 have the woodwinds play out their melodic material. In m. 20 the brass should pick up the same volume level as did the woodwinds previously. Measure 27 should die away from what was, and then a sudden change in volume, and mood at m. 31. The entire B-section should be bold, with attention paid to the many accents. (Before working the B-section, an explanation of the difference in accents will probably aid in accuracy.) Measures 37 and 41 have the timpanist and tom-tom player play a very strong forte with attention to the accents. Measures 51 to 52 work a strong quick crescendo to fortissimo. This should set up the tutti forte at m. 53. In m. 61 start a gradual diminuendo to the return of the A-section at m. 68. Explain how to execute the staggered breathing for the flutes, tenor sax and trombone starting at m. 73. Although the final percussion from m. 73 to the end is soft and fading, make sure the final sleigh bell sounds are heard clearly.
 PROGRAM NOTESHeartbreak Trail describes the forced relocation of approximately 100,000 Native Americans in the 1830s. Known as the Trail of Tears, thousands lost their lives during the march, and it is remembered today as a great human-rights atrocity and a shameful period in American history. The opening A-section captures the sadness of those in the five tribes who were forced from their homeland. The fast B-section represents the determination to survive the long, difficult trek.Although there were many obstacles, thousands did survive, but a dark A-section returns to depict the loss of homeland, fellow tribe members, and a depression over the new lack of freedom.PERFORMANCE NOTESThe opening should be at a moderate pace and section entrances should be balanced at mezzo piano. In m. 12 have the woodwinds play out their melodic material. In m. 20 the brass should pick up the same volume level as did the woodwinds previously. Measure 27 should die away from what was, and then a sudden change in volume, and mood at m. 31. The entire B-section should be bold, with attention paid to the many accents. (Before working the B-section, an explanation of the difference in accents will probably aid in accuracy.) Measures 37 and 41 have the timpanist and tom-tom player play a very strong forte with attention to the accents.  Measures 51 to 52 work a strong quick crescendo to fortissimo. This should set up the tutti forte at m. 53. In m. 61 start a gradual diminuendo to the return of the A-section at m. 68. Explain how to execute the staggered breathing for the flutes, tenor sax and trombone starting at m. 73. Although the final percussion from m. 73 to the end is soft and fading, make sure the final sleigh bell sounds are heard clearly.

SKU: PR.114418900

ISBN 9781491129517. UPC: 680160668632.

A welcome addition to the bass flute repertoire, Dorff’s 14-minute sonata is designed as two pairs of slow-fast movements. While composed as a complete 4-movement sonata, either half may be performed alone as a 7-minute recital work. The movement titles are: I. Sprawling, burbling; II. Sparkling, glistening; III. Under Winter; and IV. Spring Spirits.
When Peter Sheridan commissioned me to write a piece for bass flute and piano, his only requests were a sonata-like multi-movement work, and some kind of reference to New York, where we both grew up. Just the thought of a bass flute, with its broad and mighty airstream, already reminded me of the mighty Hudson River: from the dense woods of upstate New York, through the beautiful landscapes of New Paltz and Poughkeepsie, down through the celebrated Manhattan waterway.As I daydreamed how to build a sonata inspired by the Hudson, I thought of its deep primal nature carved by the Ice Age, and the life within the river and on its shores long before humans arrived. I thought of how the river’s magnetism drew Native Americans who honored and built their lives around it. I thought of beautiful trees and wildlife, the annual cycles of ecosystems, and the natural symbiosis between the river itself, the life within, and the life on land spawned by the river’s resources.I wondered what if Thoreau had sat by the Hudson rather than by Walden Pond; I wondered what if Hesse had set Siddhartha in the Hudson Valley with this river as his metaphor for the flow of life and time.I wondered whether the sonata should flow from north to south, or have chronological references. I wondered if I should allude to the many poets and painters who have drawn inspiration from the mighty Hudson. Every thought led to the river’s essence, its own spirit and life — flowing through raw nature, from skinny trickles to mightiness spawning cities; supporting subtle life, and becoming a central commons for human societies.The subtitle Spirit of the Hudson brings it all together.* * *The sonata is built in 4 movements, with formal inspiration from the Baroque: A slow Mvt. 1 “Sprawling, burbling” leads directly to the rapid Mvt. 2 “Sparkling, glistening,” followed by another slow-fast pair: Mvt. 3 “Under Winter” which leads directly into Mvt. 4 “Spring Spirits.” In addition to performances of the complete sonata, either pair of movements may be performed on its own for a shorter concert segment.SONATA (SPIRIT OF THE HUDSON) was premiered at the International Low Flutes Festival in April 2018 by its commissioner, bass flutist Peter Sheridan, with Hyeeun Hahm as pianist.