In discussing choosing a solo for you or your budding flutist last week, I realized that there are so many composers who have written amazing pieces for flute that many of you may not know about. I wanted to take some time this week to talk about one who is quickly gaining ground as a prominent composer of the 21st century: Ian Clarke.
Ian Clarke developed an interest in music at an early age, and by age 10 he was teaching himself to play the flute after studying piano for several years. He studied mathematics in college but then switched to flute performance, where his teachers included Kate Lukas, who is currently professor of flute at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Since 2000, Clarke has been professor of flute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He made his international debut in 2001 as guest soloist at the National Flute Association (NFA) in Dallas. He was the guest artist at the 2003 Hungarian National Flute Event and a headline artist in the 2005 NFA convention in San Diego. He has since performed as a featured guest soloist at major conventions in Italy, Brazil, Slovenia, Hungary, Netherlands and numerous times for the British Flute Society (BFS) and for the NFA.
Clarke’s flute pieces are known for their extensive use of extended techniques on the flute–something that is often overlooked, even in 21st-century music. His notation often includes timbral trills, alternate fingerings and overtones, and simultaneous singing and playing for a unique sound. His two most well-known pieces are “Zoom Tube” for solo flute and “Within…” for flute choir. Check them out here!!