Flute Multiphonics

Hey all,

Just wondering if there are any books resources to help with writing flute multiphonics and other extended techniques, preferably they would be in print so not extortionately expensive but yeah any web-pages, books, journals literally anything would help as I want to incorperate them in my next composition.

I've managed to get hold of Batolozzi's new sounds for woodwind and am trying to get hold of Robert Dick's The Other Flute but have so far have had no luck.

Thanks very much,

Chris

PS And I am going to check with my flautist that it is playable...

If you have access to JSTOR, make sure to check this article, otherwise go to a library and look for thep eriodical Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 26, No. 1 (Winter, 1988), pp. 246-256, for an article called "Sources of Information on Woodwind Multiphonics: An Annotated Bibliography" by Antonio G. Barata, which basically has 8 pages of bibliography with comments, as well as 2 pages of generic comments on multiphonics and literature around it, such as mentioning that one of the criticisms to the Bartolozzi book is that the fingerings are awkward for American players, among others.

But surely, you have to make sure that your player will be able to play it. Not all multiphonics are easy to produce, and not all players can play them all equally well or at all (I mean, most professional players are expected to be familiar extended techniques, but few people will be very good at them). If you're writing for a particular player, ask them how they went about learning multiphonics, and do the same - that's the safest way. Ask them about which ones they find easy, about at what dynamic range they can play them, how easily they can be reached, how stable the multiphonics are etc.

The Other Flute is a good resource. Be advised that not all multiphonics work on all instruments, and not all players can produce them correctly or convincingly.

EDIT: also - YOU, the composer, are required to indicate the fingerings... either on the music itself, or in the instructions for the piece.