Michael Cooke

Aureole refers to the radiant halo surrounding the sun or another bright light when viewed through a thin cloud. It can also denote the golden glow often depicted around sacred figures. Aureole: Circle of Light captures these dual meanings through a distinctive auditory experience. The piece was composed for and premiered at the Aspen Composers’ Conference on August 5, where I also delivered a talk titled Circle Music: Choose Your Own Adventure.

This piece features 20 phrases, with one phrase having two variations, effectively creating 21 phrases. Additionally, I incorporated a four-note cell that allows the performer to improvise rhythms. These cell notes serve as the key pitches of the piece. While this is a unique element in my circle-music works, it is a technique I often use in my other guided improvisation compositions. I believe it will serve as a very effective connector for the different phrases. Aureole also features various extended techniques for the flute, including multiphonics (a personal favorite), flutter tongue, tongue pizzicato, and speaking while playing.
This composition is part of my broader exploration of circle-music, with the goal of creating a series of solo compositions that push the boundaries of this form.

Tags: circle-music

This entry was posted on Monday, August 5th, 2024 at 7:45 pm and is filed under Composition, Guided Improvisation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.