Confluence for Solo Flute

Confluence
Composed by Zhou Long (b.1953)
Published by Oxford University Press
Duration: 6 minutes

Zhou Long is internationally recognized for creating a unique body of music that brings together the aesthetic concepts and musical elements of East and West.  Deeply grounded in the entire spectrum of his Chinese heritage, including folk, philosophical, and spiritual ideals, he is a pioneer in transferring the idiomatic sounds and techniques of ancient Chinese musical traditions to modern Western instruments and ensembles.  Born in Beijing but a United States citizen since 1999, Zhou Long is married to the composer-violinist Cehn Yi.

Commissioned by the Flute New Music Consortium, this piece combines techniques from traditional Chinese music and Western classical music, drawing on the flute's rich history in both traditions.  Using the full range of the instrument, a variety of extended techniques, and a wide range of dynamiques, it is both virtuosic and characterful.