Elly Ball, the longtime HBMS flute faculty member responsible for creating and directing the School’s Flute Clubs and Flute Orchestra since their inception nearly 35 years ago, has this to say about the Hoff-Barthelson flute ensembles and their relationship to the Music Of Our Time Festival:
The history of the Flute Orchestra appearances in the Contemporary Festival parallels the evolution of the flute orchestra, or choir, as a viable musical ensemble over the last several decades. At its roots, a Flute Orchestra is similar in voices to that of a choir or string quartet. The C flutes and piccolos are the sopranos or violins, the alto flutes are the altos or violas and the bass flutes are the cellos or basses.
In the early existence of flute orchestras, the only music available was adapted from either choral or string compositions. While the flutists at HBMS still often play works originally intended for those ensembles, there are now pieces written expressly for flute choir/orchestra and instruments such as the contra and sub-contra bass flutes that are being built to extend the range to lower and lower flute sounds. As a result, the newfound popularity of the flute choir/orchestra has given rise to flute choirs all over the globe. Extended techniques that make the flute a percussive instrument will be demonstrated at the 2014 "Flute Plus XXXVIII" when we beat-box with our guest artists, "In Sterio".
In "Celebration 2014: The Music of Our Time" we will be performing a wonderful new piece titled "Blue Midnight" which was commissioned by a flute choir in 2013. Over the history of the HBMS Flute Choir program we also have inspired the composition of many selections from our own students as well as noted composers including "Rolled in Air" by Robert Dick and "Under the Big Top" by Phyllis Avidan Louke.
The general public is invited to attend the Music of Our Time Festival concerts and recitals. For more information refer to www.hbms.org or call the Music School at (914) 732-1169.