{"product_id":"mclearnon-seconds-on-state-street-for-flute-ensemble","title":"McLearnon- Seconds on State Street for Flute Ensemble","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMcLearnon- Seconds on State Street for Flute Ensemble\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComposer: Gareth McLearnon\u003cbr\u003eGeneral playing score and 4 concert flute parts, 2 alto flute parts and 2 bass flute parts\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Gareth McLearnon\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeconds on State Street is a rhythmic, cool and slightly bluesy work for flute ensemble, written for and commissioned by the Chicago Flute Club.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece is unmistakably about Chicago, but not in a literal postcard sort of way. Its musical DNA comes from a mixture of wordplay, Morse code, major seconds, food culture, low-flute colour and a rhythmically exuberant celebration of the city itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003et begins almost like a beacon or signal, built around the interval of a major second. That opening idea eventually became the basis for a rhythmic spelling of C-H-I-C-A-G-O in Morse code, which runs through the piece in several different forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with much of my ensemble writing, the four concert-flute parts are deliberately split between two Advanced parts and two more accessible Intermediate parts. But after becoming increasingly addicted to the thicker low end I had explored in Aurora and DEEP DISH, I doubled the Alto and Bass Flute writing here, allowing for a richer, deeper and more harmonically complex ensemble sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece lasts approximately 6 minutes, is highly rhythmic throughout, becomes increasingly exuberant as it progresses, and naturally finishes with a BAM!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece includes extended techniques.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e-Gareth McLearnon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlute 1: Advanced – Advanced High School \/ Pre-College\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlute 2: Advanced – Advanced High School \/ Pre-College\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlute 3: Intermediate – Strong Middle School\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlute 4: Intermediate – Strong Middle School\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlto Flute 1: Advanced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlto Flute 2: Advanced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBass Flute 1: Advanced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBass Flute 2: Advanced, with optional Contrabass material\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eNote from composer\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four concert-flute parts follow a principle that runs through much of my ensemble writing: Flutes 1 and 2 carry the more demanding material, while Flutes 3 and 4 are deliberately more approachable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy aim is always for every player to feel engaged and stretched, but nobody to feel overwhelmed. The more accessible parts are never simply filler, and every player remains musically involved in the character and momentum of the piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe doubled Alto and Bass writing represents something of an evolution in my flute-orchestra sound. A conventional flute choir naturally becomes harmonically restricted at the bottom because the concert flute stops at around middle C. By using two independent Alto and two independent Bass Flute parts, I can build much thicker chords and more complex harmony below the concert-flute register.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is a richer and, to my ears, much more satisfying bottom end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout Gareth McLearnon\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGareth McLearnon is an internationally renowned flutist, composer, arranger and educator from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and based in Strasbourg, France. His career has taken him across six continents as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician, recording artist and teacher.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrincipal Flute of the Heritage Orchestra since 2009 and a Wm. S. Haynes Artist, he has performed and taught at leading conservatoires, festivals and concert venues around the world. His recording work spans film and television, multi-award-winning and multi-million-selling video games, library music and commercial album releases.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"All Flutes Plus","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":61322427728206,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0885\/5335\/7646\/files\/Screenshot_2026-03-25_at_12.30.44.webp?v=1792685482","url":"https:\/\/www.allflutesplus.com\/products\/mclearnon-seconds-on-state-street-for-flute-ensemble","provider":"All Flutes Plus","version":"1.0","type":"link"}