Murmurations – a madrigal for flutes

Murmurations – A Madrigal for Flutes composed by Robert Spittal

Written for flute choir: 4 C flutes, 2 Alto flutes, and 2 Bass flutes (with 1st flute doubling Piccolo)
Includes score and parts

“Murmuration,” is the aerial ballet displayed by large flocks of birds (starlings).  I've always been amazed by the synchronicity of murmuration, and its musical possibilities.  This excerpt from “The Startling Science of Starling Murmuration,” by Brandon Keim describes some of the operations in a starling murmuration that I considered while writing this piece:

“Starling flocks, it turns out, are best described with equations of “critical transitions”- systems that are poised to tip, to be almost instantly and completely transformed, like metals becoming magnetized or liquid turning to gas.  Each starling in a flock is connected to every other.  When a flock turns in unison, it's a phase transition.”
                   –   notes by Robert Spittal (February 2014)