flautist/composer
Hatching Aliens - (flute & piano) [advanced – requires open-holes and preferably B foot]
(Available on new album Deep Blue - pre-orders available now - see ‘how to buy’ sticker)
In three movements - 'Something is there!', 'Alien Chill Out/Blue Alien', 'The Fear
Returns - Battle Tempo'. Approx. 16-17mins in duration. Emergent edition published
in 2010.
Hatching Aliens is a jo
urney of the imagination. It is not modelled on any particular
previous work either by myself or other composers. However, it's primal explorations
perhaps have some echoes of the feelings of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring along with
hints of darkness of the film Alien whilst also seeking some resolutions, dialogue
and empathies in, and with, the unknown. As with other works it has an existential
dimension; certainly it reaches into origins, corners and twists of reality with
for example the quarter-tones being used partly as a metaphor for peering inbetween.
Our world can be curiously alien, frightening and strangely beautiful. Hatching
Aliens themselves would presumably be fascinating, alluring and earth shatteringly
scary all at once .... what would we learn about ourselves?
The opening section that begins inside the flute is the seed of the work. From here the work has taken on a life of its own which has always been intrinsically connected with the imaginations of the title.
This work was previewed in the summer of 2008 at flute courses in St Andrews, Scotland and Woldingham, England before it's official premiere at the British Flute Society Convention in Manchester August 2008.
The USA premiere was at the National Flute Association's Convention in New York City August 2009
Both convention performances were by Ian Clarke and the inimitable Tim Carey.
