Composer

:

Alvin Lucier

Genre

:

Chamber

Compose Date

:

2006

Average_duration

:

12:08

Broken Line is a contemporary classical composition by American composer Alvin Lucier. The piece was composed in 2011 and premiered on October 22, 2011, at the Wesleyan University in Connecticut, USA. Broken Line is a solo work for flute, and it is a part of Lucier's ongoing exploration of the physical properties of sound. The piece is divided into three movements, each exploring different aspects of the flute's sound. The first movement, titled "Breath," focuses on the sound of the flute player's breath. The performer is instructed to play a series of long, sustained notes while gradually decreasing the amount of air they use to produce the sound. This creates a gradual diminuendo effect, as the notes become softer and softer until they are barely audible. The second movement, titled "Tongue," explores the percussive qualities of the flute. The performer is instructed to play a series of short, staccato notes using only their tongue and the roof of their mouth. This creates a sharp, percussive sound that contrasts with the sustained notes of the first movement. The final movement, titled "Fingers," focuses on the sound of the flute's keys. The performer is instructed to play a series of notes while gradually lifting their fingers off the keys, creating a glissando effect. This movement also incorporates the use of multiphonics, where the performer plays multiple notes simultaneously by manipulating the position of their fingers on the keys. Overall, Broken Line is a minimalist composition that explores the physical properties of sound through the use of extended techniques on the flute. The piece is characterized by its gradual, subtle changes in dynamics and timbre, as well as its use of silence and space.

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