Flocking Music

Flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano

Titles are always difficult things for me to settle on and, when I was writing this piece, I had been struggling to find a way to convey what I thought the music was doing.  One day while walking in Austin, I saw a huge flock of birds take off from a set of power lines above me and fly directly overheard all in the same direction.  This was an apt metaphor for the music I was working with at the time because it had the propensity to “take off” in the same direction—both melodically and harmonically—and eventually settle somewhere else before once again taking flight.  Past that, it’s a bright, simple piece which I hope you’ll enjoy.

Flocking Music was premiered by the University of Texas at Austin New Music Ensemble.

Performed by the University of Texas at Austin New Music Ensemble.