The Alchemy of Earth for Low Flute Choir

Low flute choirs are becoming increasingly prevelent, partley as a result of the work of the members of the NFA's Low Flute Committee, which provides opportunities for enemble performance at the annual conventions and has embarked on a programme of commissioning.  These commissioned works are mostly American composers, and are designed to have a wide appeal.  Alexandra Molnar-Suhajda's The Alchemy of Earth was commissioned by the Blessing Foundation and premiered at the 2014 NFA convention in Chicago.  A flute player herself, her work reveals an excellent understanding of the potential of low flutes and brings out their idiomatic characteristics well.    Low-end heavy, this piece is scored for two altos, 4 basses, contralto in G and contrabass.  The first movement Igneus Genesis is subtitled Creation, and uses a rhythmic ostinato in 5/8, punctuated by percussive sounds, to gain a sense of momentum.  The second movement creates rich resonance in an almost Holst-like chorus, with parallel movement between two solo lines creating a sense of stillness.  Semiquaver movement features in the third movement, with scurrying lines moving between parts across the ensemble.  Melodic material emerges over the top, and one can detect folk influences in some of the writing here.  The final movement opens in stillness, and once again one can imagine this might have been written as a soundtrack for a film.  A celtic- infused solo line emerges on a high alto flute, before the music develops into a fast-moving Irish jig.  While there are some technical challenges in all of the parts, the writing is not so hard as to be out of reach for intermediate/advanced players.  The music is accessible and likely to be enjoyed by players of all ages.