Zephyrus

"This new work for solo bass flute was written for Carin Levine, who premiered it in Germany last March. It has already received several performances, including in London by Rowland Sutherland, and is fast becoming adopted into the solo bass flute repertoire. Pritchard is an established composer with a strong track record and his craftsmanship comes through very clearly in this work. The level of research into the instrument comes through clearly; all of the extended techniques work effectively and are clearly notated, and the high register is used sensitively and with an understanding of the bass flute's distinctive tone in this range. Writing for the bass flute is difficult; to do so successfully requires a subtle understanding of the instrument's idiosyncrasies and all too often the player ends up having to do battle with the instrument if the composer hasn't truly understood the differences from a C flute. Not so here; this is a highly accomplished work which is an absolute joy to play. The instrument has space to resonate and to show its best range of colours and textures, and the music is expressive, well-structured and presents just the right kinds of challenges. Inhabiting a contemporary compositional language, the player is required to employ a range of techniques, including multiphonics (with fingerings provided in the score), airy sounds (with some pitch), pizzicati and quartertones (which generally lie under the fingers very well) to provide a wide range of different sonorities. The score is well notated and presented with care. Aside from the practicalities of the piece, I was struck by its potential for expression, with an effective balance between stasis and movement. The more energetic passages gather momentum with an enjoyable sense of flow, and there is also an inherent sense of space in the music which balances these more intense sections. This is an excellent composition in all senses, and one that will certainly be making its way into my own personal repertoire. It's not easy, by any means, but it's well worth the effort."

Carla Rees, PAN, März 2024

Abdruck mit freundlicher Genehmigung