Say Can You for solo piccolo and electronics

Commissioned by the National Flute Association for the 2020 Piccolo Artist Competition

PROGRAM NOTE

Say Can You is a nod to American fife and drum music. The piccolo’s opening melody represents the question: What does it mean to be patriotic in the 21st century, while the accompanying electronic drum sounds suggest a mood of organized chaos. Soon, the piccolo wails through a series of glissandi, conveying a sense of desperation or angst, until it’s finally restored to it’s virtuosic strength and ability.

Say Can You is a companion piece to Homeland (for solo flute), a work that explores the concepts of home and country.

— Allison Loggins-Hull

PERFORMANCE NOTE

The piccolo should be slightly amplified in performance, in order to achieve a sonic balance with the electronic track. A monitor speaker is necessary for the performer to easily coordinate with the electronic track. The entire piece is metered. A simplified cue line for the electronic track is included for ease of synchronicity. A practice track with metronome has been included in the accompanying materials for rehearsal purposes. Timings for the electronic track are indicated at rehearsal letters in the score for rehearsal purposes.