Training 21st Century Flutists!

14th SAA Conference, Stephanie Pedretti, presenter ([email protected])

Selected repertoire for starting out with extended techniques
Pieces are listed (very) approximately in order from the easier selections to the more challenging, although there is a lot
of overlap. Unless otherwise noted, all works are for flute solo and playable on a closed-hole flute with a C-footjoint.
The Introducing Multiphonics waltz accompaniment comes from Trevor Wyes Flute Class, Novello, 1992.
Phyllis Avidan Louke - Extended Techniques - Double the Fun. ALRY Publications, 2004.
!
These duets can be played by two flutes or multiples in groups. They are short, accessible and fun, with each
piece focusing on one technique, except for the last two, which incorporate multiple techniques. Includes: key clicks,
multiphonics, harmonics, flutter tonguing, singing while playing, pitch bends, playing on headjoint only
Wil Offermans - For the Younger Flutist. Zimmerman, 1995.
!
This collection includes a variety of selections for both solo flute and flute ensembles, emphasizing creativity
and experimentation. Generally easy technique and rhythms. Includes: graphic notation, improvisation, aleatoric
music, harmonics and wind tones.
Robert Dick - Sun Shower and Dorset Street, included in A Very Easy 20th Century Album and A Very Easy Flute
Treasury, ed. Trevor Wye, Novello, 1999.
!
Each of these short, unaccompanied pieces introduces three multiphonics. Moderate tempi, easy key
signatures and rhythms.
Phyllis Avidan Louke - Extended Techniques - Solos for Fun! ALRY Publications, 2006
!
These solos were written as a follow-up to Extended Techniques - Double the Fun and are also short and
accessible, most using a few different techniques. They can be played with the piano accompaniment and/or an
optional, very simple second flute part, or unaccompanied. Includes: key clicks, singing while playing, flutter tongue,
tongue thrust, whistle tone, wind tone, pitch bends, multiphonics.
Ulrich Gasser - Papierblten (Paper Blossoms) - 24 Short Pieces for Flute: an Introduction to Contemporary Music.
Ricordi, 1985.
!
This collection of miniatures is very well thought out and presented in progressive order. Each piece has
references to other pieces with the same teaching points, notes on potential difficulties, explanations of notations/
techniques, and practice suggestions. Includes: free meter and rhythmic challenges, glissando, harmonics, flutter
tongue, singing while playing, quarter tones, multiphonics, tremolo, varied vibrato.
Victor Fontin - No Problem. Doblinger, 2006
!
Most of the duets in this collection are slightly more challenging and longer than the ones in Loukes
Extended Techniques - Double the Fun but still quite approachable. Several of the selections are influenced by jazz or
folk music. Includes: playing headjoint only, harmonics, timbral trill, key clicks, flutter tongue, exhale/inhale sounds,
tongue ram, quarter tones, glissando, whistle tone, singing while playing, irregular meters, free meter.
Louis Applebaum - Essay. Leeds Music, 1971. available from the Canadian Music Centre, http://
www.musiccentre.ca.
!
While this one-page piece includes several different techniques, it is accessible and not technically difficult.
Includes free meter, flutter tonguing, glissando, altered vibrato, harmonics, singing while playing, key clicks and
mulitphonics.

Ian Clarke - Spiral Lament. IC Music/Just Flutes Edition. 2003.

!
The commissioner of Spiral Lament asked Clarke to write this piece for her giant African snails. Clarkes
intent was to make this melodic piece for flute and piano playable and approachable for intermediate flutists. A nice
feature is that exercises are included to help players learn new techniques and simplify challenging rhythms. Includes:
alternate fingerings to vary tone color/pitch, timbral trills and quarter tones
Linda Holland - Easing into Extended Techniques (5 volume set). Con Brio, 1999.
!
Each volume introduces one extended technique, beginning with a detailed explanation of that technique and
some practice tips, followed by one or more studies to develop the technique, many based on familiar works, and
ending with a solo or duet utilizing the featured technique. Most volumes require an open hole flute and B-footjoint.
Includes: microtones, harmonics, multiphonics, pitch bends, and singing while playing!
Anne La Berge - revamper. 1992. Available from Frog Peak Music, http://www.frogpeak.org
!
This piece is very rhythmic, fairly straightforward and not technically difficult, only using a few different notes.
It does require a strong sense of beat, and has extensive use of low B and upper harmonics of low B. It can be played a
on closed hole flute. Includes: singing while playing, one multiphonic, harmonics
Robert Aitken - Icicle. Editions Musicales Transatlantiques, 1977. available from the Canadian Music Centre, http://
www.musiccentre.ca.
!
Icicle is a good introduction to layers of instructions, as it uses one line to show the player what to do, and
another to show what sounds the instructions create. Includes: timbral trills and tremolos, microtones, multiphonics
Wil Offermans - Honami. Zimmerman, 1994
!
Honami is a combination of two Japanese characters creating a word that refers to the waving scenery one can
see when the wind blows over a blooming rice field. Offermans intends it as an opportunity for the performer to focus
on and develop the breathing. This piece uses extended techniques to explore different tone colors. Includes: quarter
tones, flutter tongue, harmonics, singing while playing, pitch bends/portamento, wind tone, varied vibrato, whistle
tone.
Ian Clarke - Orange Dawn. IC Music/Just Flutes Edition, 1992
!
Orange Dawn was inspired by the vision of a dawn scene in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. The extended
techniques used in this piece are fairly accessible. However the performer needs a range to high D and a welldeveloped technique for the very fast scalar passages. Open hole flute needed. Includes: fingering to alter tone color/
pitch, slides and timbral trills.
Wil Offermans - For the Contemporary Flutist. Zimmerman. 1992
!
These 12 etudes each focus on one technique and are accompanied by detailed commentary and practice
suggestions. All etudes except 4 and 5 can be played on a closed hole flute with C-footjoint. Includes: wind tones,
harmonics, bamboo tones, multiphonics, whisper tones, singing while playing - unison, parallel and polyphonic,
circular breathing, adding movement, graphic notation and improvisation.
!
Robert Dick - Tone Development Through Extended Techniques, Multiple Breath Music Comany, 1986.
!
This book can be helpful for the teacher or advanced student interested in incorporating extended techniques
into working on tone development. When working on singing and playing with young students, I would recommend
modifying the exercises so that students are singing in unison with the flute rather than in octaves as necessary to
accommodate the childs vocal range. Includes: singing while playing, harmonics, pitch bends, whistle tones, alternate
fingerings to vary tone color, multiphonics.

Training 21st Century Flutists!

14th SAA Conference, Stephanie Pedretti, presenter ([email protected])
Selected Web Resources (current as of 5/25/2010)
Repertoire lists
These sites present graded lists of pieces, including descriptions of which techniques are used.
http://www.helenbledsoe.com/erep.html
http://palouke.home.comcast.net/~palouke/RepExtendedTechniques.htm
Online tutorials
http://www.sfz.se/mm/
Mats Mollers site has a tutorial with sound clips explaining extended techniques. The explanations are also available as
a pdf download.
http://users.uniserve.com/~lwk/et/et.htm
This site includes recordings and descriptions of techniques by Robert Dick, as well as a
list of resources, mainly works by Robert Dick.
http://www.johnmcmurtery.com/index.php/extended-techniques
This website features descriptions of extended techniques with short video clips and score excerpts showing the
techniques in the context of musical works.
http://www.fluteped.com/Dean/articles.htm
This is a series of articles by Dean Stallard printed in Flutewise magazine to introduce younger players to various
extended techniques.
Alternate fingerings
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/flute/virtual/main.html
You can use this site to search for alternate fingering and multiphonics.
Performances
Check out youtube to see if you can find a performance of a particular piece that you may be interested in playing or
teaching. Also, some composers websites have sample sound clips of their works.