Czernowin, C :: While Liquid Amber

Chaya Czernowin presents While Liquid Amber in two versions - the first for three piccolos, the second for three players with multiple flutes.

In While Liquid Amber, the flute is treated as an air pipe which is capable of producing very raw and uncultured sounds: not beautiful and divine-sounding lines, but rather breath as a direct, forceful and primitive impulse leading to the utterance of sound.

This piece is structured as set of six sections, each containing both a subsection of longer breaths and a subsection of shorter breaths (except for the final section which only contain shorter breaths). As the piece progresses, each section suggests a different avenue in the search from pure breathing via sound towards musical expression.

This piece has two versions:

While Liquid Amber I is a 3-piccolo version which is short, focused and concentrated, but less demanding than version II.

While Liquid Amber II for three different flutes is the original composition, which is quite virtuoso and demanding as chamber music. It can be played by three players: first on piccolo, flute, and bass flute; second on piccolo and flute; and third also on piccolo and flute.

Duration of I: 5'. Duration of II: 12'.