Symboles for Flute

Symboles for solo flute, was composed in 1999 and is dedicated to the internationally renowned soloist Marc Grauwels.

At the outset of the piece, two motifs — A1 and A2, both derived from distinct presentations of the acoustic scale — alternate and develop in contrasting ways. A1 evolves through repetition and gradual augmentation of its initial cell, while A2 presents a theme whose successive returns are expanded, each time introducing new melodic-rhythmic cells and increasing the number of bars.

This dual thematic development is interrupted by a B section, inspired by Olivier Messiaen’s rhythmic structures and modes of limited transposition. Subsequently, A1 and A2 return in their fully developed forms.

A cadenza follows — optional at the discretion of the performer — incorporating a variety of idiomatic extended techniques. The work concludes with a brilliantly virtuosic passage, in which the thematic material of A1 re-emerges one final time.

The world premiere took place on 14 June 2009 at the Conservatoire Darius Milhaud in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, performed by flautist Patricia Nagle.