FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
Chris McKenna
McKenna Flutes, Inc. Phone: 1 603 463-4185 Fax: 1 603 463-7230 8 Raymond Rd. Deerfield, NH 03037 |
— Ambitious flute concert series proposed for New England area — — Invitations to participate extended to like-minded artists — |
| DEERFIELD, NH - Mon, April 16, 2002
-- McKenna Flutes, Inc., a well-established hand made instrument maker, today announced its proposal for an ambitious MasterClass & Concert series based around the flute. Following is an outline of the ideas and approaches that form the basis of the series. We hope this sparks your interest and look forward to hearing your thoughts and contributions. WHY DO THIS? The goal of this project is Inspiration. This series will highlight emerging alternatives for flutists to explore performance and career, creating new avenues for expression, creativity and commercial success. We will also highlight existing traditions and directions in flute playing. One of the outcomes of our efforts will be the creation of a network of experimenters, innovators and venues to serve as a future resource for our community. WHO MAY BE INVOLVED? This series will bring together performers, composers, instrument makers, inventors, educators, visual artists, lighting design and special effects artists, performance artists, set designers, multimedia artists, dancers and choreographers, costume designers, spoken word artists and writers, technologists, audio and video specialists, cross-cognitive and conceptual artists, advertisers, promoters and organizers—all working collaboratively. WHAT IS PLANNED? A number of concerts and master classes centered around the flute will be conducted in a series, culminating in the performance of a large-scale work incorporating as many of the individuals, ideas and instruments involved as proves feasible, a la Cirque de Soleil, Blue Man Group, Stomp, Portishead, Gil Evans, Sun Ra... WHEN WILL EVENTS COMMENCE? These concerts, masterclasses and events will begin when participation and interest warrant. WHERE WILL THE SERIES TAKE PLACE? Currently, performance venues under consideration include churches, concert halls, outdoor venues, museums, rock clubs, schools and the network of performance halls associated with flute makers in the Boston area. Extant flutes (ethnic, ancient, modern) very, very large flutes ocarinas-large and small bansuri shakuhachi ney caval recorders (large and small) renaissance flute baroque flute Native American flute quena tabor idioglottal reed flutes Experimental flutes (big, strange, new sounds) insanely large flutes polyphonic flute flute whammy bar valve flute stopper flute (butterfly valve) sitar flute resonator flute lyre flute two octave ocarina helical bass flute pocket bass flute end blown flutes hyper flute MIDI flute pitch to MIDI Siren flute whirley flute fretless flute two man flute organ flute player flute (like player piano) flute-controlled monochord bass reed flutes bass fipple flutes experimental headjoints alternate tapers and bores alternate materials (For more inspiration refer to: Gravikords, Whirlies and Pyrophones by Bart Hopkin) Usual Suspects—Unusual Suspects synthesizer Theremin piano harp kalimba wine glasses overtone singers ethnic or world instruments racket electric guitars strings winds drums (trap, tympani, frame) experimental instruments (non-flute) electronic instruments GROUPINGS TO BE CONSIDERED String quartet vs. flute quartet: The string quartet can speak with one voice and has a repertoire to support that. Create that level of flute quartet with compositions to take advantage of the example for that musical gesture set by pieces such as Debussy's trio for flute, harp and viola. Imagine a group more along the lines of Kronos or even better, Turtle Island Quartet. Take high-energy classical music, incredible improvisation and stir in groove based music to create more colloquial forms. The evolution of electric guitar from Les Paul and Chuck Berry to Alan Holdsworth, John Scofield, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, David Torn, Trent Reznor (even Head and Munkey from Korn) has been incredibly exciting and innovative both musically and technologically. Imagine if we had a similarly rich rock flute tradition flowing from Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. What would that look like today? Ambient orchestra of flutes Electronic, hyper, real-time effects processing, virtual, MIDI based flute group Consorts of experimental instruments Monster finale Arkestra of flutes and more COMPOSITIONS TO BE INCLUDED Music for: quartet improvisational quartet bass consort ambient orchestra electronica rock extravagant arkestra jazz classical experimental MASTERCLASSES Alpha: Acoustics—wave forms, physics, tuning and temperament, Pythagoras, Cymatics, overtones, correspondencies, inner game of music, rhythm Technology—recording, pickups, microphones, effects, envelope control, hyper instruments, computer software, MIDI, amplification Improvisation—jazz, cadenzas, Quantz, Kenny Werner, Lydian chromatic concept Extended techniques Composition Education—The Odyssey Of Music: An Odyssey Of The Mind type program that sets out the challenge for students to design, build and perform on experimental musical instruments incorporating the spirit of competition and cooperation. Musicology and pedagogy—highlighting other approaches in education, practice and repertoire as well as the classical vs. jazz and traditional vs. nontraditional styles of study Beta: Humanitarianism Sound Healing—meditation, toning, sacred sound, spirit sound, heart based approach Listening—sound vs. music, Tomatis effect, brain tapes, the third ear, sound color, psychology of music, Mozart Effect Wellness—breath yoga, Alexander technique, Feldenkrais, Chi Gung, Reiki Performance Art—Kristo, Trimpin, Mummenchantz About McKenna Flutes Corporate BIO coming soon -- for now, see ABOUT McKenna Flutes on our website. |
See our Call for Participants! |
Copyright © 2002 McKenna Flutes, Inc.