rapid.fire for solo flute by Jennifer Higdon and its Place in the Flute Repertoire

Abstract

<p>rapid.fire for solo flute was published in 1992 and is not what audiences would call a typical piece in the flute repertoire. Extended techniques are abundant, and beautiful melodies that flutists are characteristic of playing are not to be found; rapid.fire turns the flute into a violent and harsh instrument. jennifer higdon has created her own form of notation for events that happen in the music, but she provides many performance notes to aid the flutist. higdon uses techniques such as flutter tongue, overtones, multiphonics, alternate fingerings, pitch bends, and sliding the fingers off the open hole keys to create new sounds. There is also a surprise ending. higdon uses the loud dynamics, harsh tonguing, and intensity expressed by the player to convey the message of the piece. higdon writes: "This work is about the violence of the cities, more specifically, the innocent young who are cut down in their homes and on the streets. It is an expression of rage, of pain, and of disbelief. It is the fear and the terror. It is an inner city cry."</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 8, 2011</p>