Acrophobia

Acrophobia
Composed by Nicole Chamberlain
Published by Spotted Rocket
Includes score and parts

Instrumentation:
Flute 1/Piccolo
Flute 2
Soprano Saxophone (or Bb Clarinet)

Introduction:
      Acrophobia was commissioned by Matthew Angelo, Alyssa Hoffert, and Mary Matthews. Mary and Matthew have had an ongoing collaboration with the composer and performing with Alyssa Hoffert. This project brings the four together on a project for the first time.
      Acrophobia is the fear of heights, which is something the composer has been working on overcoming. The last couple of trips the composer took with Mary and Matthew have included trails at the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, and Chautauqua Park Trailhead, in Boulder, Colorado. The piece illustrates the anxiety and vertigo that the composer feels when she finds she has pushed herself out of her comfort zone.

Flute Extended Techniques:
Jet whistle – Finger the pitch indicated in the notation. Cover the embouchure hole completely with the lips. Blow using an extreme force of air. 
Boo, Ch, Ki, Shh, Ti, Ts, and Za – In a “beat boxing” style, use these syllables as articulation for the pitch indicated in the notation. This will not produce a full tone, but more of a breathy percussive effect. 
norm. – Return to “normal” or “traditional” flute playing.
pizz. – Finger the pitch indicated by the notation. Use a hard “Do” or “Tu” articualtion to produce a percussive effect similar to what you may hear strings produce when plucking strings.
Arrow facing upwards or downwards – Bend pitch down or up (in direction of the arrow) a quarter tone by playing flat or bending the pitch by rolling in headjoint.

Soprano Saxophone Extended Techniques:
norm. – Return to “normal” or “traditional” flute playing.
Slap Tongue – Place the surface the tongue flat against the reed and finger pitch indicated. Quickly pull the tongue off the reed creating a 'slap' as the vacuum is opened. 
Arrow facing upwards or downwards – Bend pitch down or up (in direction of the arrow) a quarter tone by playing flat or bending the pitch by dropping the jaw.