Composer

:

Joan Tower

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Open Form

Compose Date

:

1972

Average_duration

:

7:08

"Hexachords for flute solo" is a contemporary classical composition by American composer Joan Tower. The piece was composed in 1972 and premiered in the same year. It is a single-movement work that lasts approximately six minutes. The piece is characterized by its use of hexachords, which are six-note scales or chords. The flute soloist is required to play a series of these hexachords in various registers and with different articulations. The piece is also notable for its use of extended techniques, such as flutter-tonguing and glissandi. The opening of the piece features a series of ascending and descending hexachords played in a staccato manner. The middle section of the piece is more lyrical, with the flute playing long, sustained notes and exploring the full range of the instrument. The final section of the piece returns to the staccato hexachords of the opening, building to a climactic finish. Overall, "Hexachords for flute solo" is a challenging and virtuosic work that showcases the technical abilities of the flute soloist. It is also a prime example of Tower's unique compositional style, which often incorporates elements of serialism and other modernist techniques.

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