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SILVER THREADS

This duo for two flutes was completed on Christmas Day 2008 and written for Rachel Smith and James Dutton.

The piece reworks material from two of the composer’s trumpet fanfares from the Little Suites, also dating from the same year.

The overall structure is A B A1 C D A2; melodic and rhythmic motifs are constantly woven (hence the title), overlapped and transformed throughout all sections.

Although the whole range of the flute is used, the rich lower register is especially exploited. Without harmonic support, the work relies on textual variety and busy, rhythmic momentum. Basically tonal, but without an obvious key centre, the work uses mild clashes to provide astringency.

A gradually decreasing tempo allows for more reflective playing, before a busier texture increases the pace into a brief return of the agitated initial material, which brings the piece to an energetic conclusion.