KHEE I by Joaquin Freccia

by Joaquin Freccia 2023

For Flute & Bass Flute Performance Notes

Techniques

Air/breath sounds, no pitch.

Trill by semitone, can be double/flutter-tongued

Breath in, cover embouchure with the mouth, will sound a major 7th lower.

Breath out, cover embouchure with the mouth, will sound a major 7th lower.

Flutter-tonguing into the instrument, cover embouchure with the mouth, will sound a major 7th lower.

¾ of a tone flat

¼ of a tone flat

¼ of a tone sharp

¾ of a tone sharp

Composer note

‘Khee’ are a series of simple pieces, exploring the limits of breath, and its function in space and time. By clearing cosmic energy through inwards and outwards blows, ‘Khee’ is life force resonance which animates the forms of our surroundings. The vibratory nature of phenomena, the flow and tremoring that continuously happens at molecular, atomic and sub-atomic levels. The two flutes, often in a conversation within repetitive material, plays with breath and air, with defined and undefined pitch, exploring the microtonal possibilities of the Kingma System flutes. The piece aims to bring conscious awareness to one’s breath. By understanding how our breath can be connected to our surroundings, we can enhance and practice our cognizance. By no means this music brings to escapism, by reaching behind the material, the experience becomes not about the excellence of the work, although about the connection and encounter behind itself. Accentuating the modesty of the figure, both the one represented on the score and the figurative movement of the performer. Once choosing a musical figure I aim to bring total attention to itself, the sounds are often studied to its intimacy and stretched to their limits. ‘Khee’ is the movement of the energy, not only portraying a physical movement of comprised patterns and flows, but also of emotions and conscious thoughts.

The location of the performance and position of the performers also plays an important role on the realization of this piece. To accentuate the optimal aural experience for the listener, please contact the composer.

The pieces are written for bass flute (Kingma System) and C flute (Kingma System), composed for the Royal Holloway International Concert Series 2022-23 event, ‘New Sounds and Old Flutes: Carla Rees & Gavin Stewart’ .