Million Flutes

Originally commissioned by Million Winds Philharmonic, “Million Flutes” is composed for 5 flutes and wind band. The piece explores instrumental possibilities of different types of flutes (soloists) which include piccolo, 2 flutes, alto flutes, and bass flute. All flutes create variety of sound colors and characters such as fragility of whistle sounds, tone intensity of multiple trills, harmonic waves of fast-moving gestures, rhythmic melody of double tonguing, as well as some extended techniques as multi-phonics and beatboxing to create more diversity of new sound world of flute. Moreover, the composer intends to use those techniques to challenge the 5 soloists. For the band, all the characters of flute techniques are transcribed to woodwinds, brass and percussion as if all instruments become “flute”.