Florida Fun!

Florida Fun!
Composed by Kathleen Mayne
for Flute Choir
Published by Snowcrest Music Publishing
Includes score and parts

Instrumentation:
Piccolo (doubling C Flute)
4 Flutes
2 Alto Flutes
2 Bass Flutes
C Contrabass Flute (Optional)
Percussion: Egg Shaker or Maracas (Optional)

Optional Bass Flute part for Contra. (The original bass part II is rearranged as the Optional contra part, thus the director only needs two bass flutes for performance.)

Contents:
I.   Blast Off
II.  Miami Night Life
III. Warm Waters and Sandy Beaches
IV: Alligator Stomp

About the Piece:
      In four movements, Florida Fun! takes you on a musical journey to memorable and beatiful sights in the Sunshine State. Opening with Blast Off, this is a quick little prelude to the rest of the seven minute suite saluting the aeronautical feats of those at Cape Canaveral. The rumble of the booster rockets in the low flutes gives way to the swirling higher flutes culminating in a fanfare as the aircraft ascends into space heralding their victorious ascent. The lone piccolo at the end literally takes you up high!
     Segueing immediately into Miami Night Life, the Contrabass Flute and Bass Flutes set the scene with a heavily tongued and percussive, rhythmic Latin groove, sure to get your toes a-tapping! An optional percussion part is included for an egg shaker or maracas. The rest of the flutes gradually add to the party, keeping the rhythmic groove moving and adding some quarter-note triplets to offset the steady eighths of the bass and percussion.
      Taking a break at the beautiful Keys, Warm Waters and Sandy Beaches slows it down a bit and paints a scene of walking on the beach, kicking up the sand with your bare feet and wading in their famously warm waters. A simple, folksy, lightly syncopated melody in the first and second flutes is accompanied by the rest of the choir. The ebbing and flowing lines of the altos and basses is reminiscent of the waves coming up to greet you on the beach.
      What better way to end a visit to Florida than with an Alligator Stomp! This happy and steadily moving romp travels through many different key centers giving players a work out on their key signature reading! Just imagine an alligator walking to the beat with its tail sliding from side to side! After playing this you'll surely want to visit the Everglades. 
      Now that's Florida Fun!