The Flute New Music Consortium (FNMC) is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and creation of new music. As such, FNMC commissions new works, organizes simultaneous premieres, and encourages repeat performances of new works. As part of that mission, the organization sponsors biennial commissioning projects and festivals, as well as an annual composition competition.
How did the concept for this album evolve?
This album has been on our bucket list since FNMC incorporated in 2013. Because our mission is to curate works and amplify our composers with repeat performances, and because we have so many amazing flutist members who we wish to support as performers, creating an album funded by our organiation just made sense. This varied program represents winning pieces from FNMC’s annual Composition Competition and commissions requested for the organization’s Flute Artist competitions from the last six years.
Can you tell us about the recording experience?
Each flutist recorded their track(s) at a studio of their choice and sent the master to our project coordinator, Dr. Hannah Porter Occena. FNMC reimbursed all performers for their studio costs.
What did you like best about your project? So many things: the program is so good and so varied and interesting; composers, audio engineers, and performers were all so collegial and worked as a team to make this project possible, and we think all of the performances sound fantastic. It is truly humbling to hear so many amazing players in one place!
What did you find the most challenging?
Collecting recordings! Covid caused some delays, and with eight flutists and eight different studios involved, this project required lots of commuication between our excellent coordinator, Hannah Occena, flutists, and their audio engineers. And communication with the composers! Everyone was very gracious about approving recording rights and final performances, but of course, every composer must be contacted from the beginning and we have to ensure that we are respecting their wishes.
FNMC Presents: Music by Alex Ford, Zach Gulaboff Davis, Joseph Hallman, Julien Monick, Cherise Leiter, Shawn Okpebholo, Paul Richards, and Bekah Simms
Flutists performing on this album are Naomi Siedman, Francesca Arnone, Karen Large, Jessica Banks, Shelley Martinson, Ellen Johnson Mosley, Nicole Riner, and Krista Jobson. They are joined by pianists Christy Lee and Christopher Guzman, guitarist Héctor Javier Rodriguez, and cellist Tido Janssen.
1. Four Pieces for Flute and Piano I: for Jolivet
2. Four Pieces for Flute and Piano II: for Nico Muhly
3. Four Pieces for Flute and Piano III: for David Lynch 4. Four Pieces for Flute and Piano
IV: for Francis Poulenc Composer: Joseph Hallman
Performers: Naomi Seidman, flute; Christopher Guzman, piano Recorded at The Pennsylvania State University Recital Hall Jonathan Dexter, engineer
5. Pan for Solo Flute Composer: Alex Ford
Performer: Francesca Arnone, flute Recorded at Morrisound Recording, Tampa, FL Jon Tucker, engineer
6. Ki-Ka-Ko Composer: Julien Monick
Performer: Karen Large, flute Recorded at Lindsay Recital Hall, Florida State University Justin Ball, engineer
7. Crash Composer: Zach Gulaboff Davis
Performers: Jessica Banks, flute; Christy Lee, piano Recorded at Withrow Studios; Starkville, MS Christopher Withrow, engineer
8. Yussel’s Prayer by Paul Richards
Performer: Shelley Martinson, flute Recorded at University of Oklahoma, Holmberg Hall Sergei Kvitko of Blue Griffin Recording, engineer
9. Skinscape for Amplified C Flute and Fixed Media Composer: Bekah Simms
Performer: Ellen Johnson Mosley, flute Recorded at Conservatory Recording Studio at UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Kansas City, MO Robert Beck, engineer
10. On a Poem by Miho Nonaka: Harvard Square Composer: Shawn Okpebholo
Performer: Nicole Riner, flute Recorded at FTM Studios, Lakewood CO Steve Rose, engineer 11. The Life in a Day: Dawn Fantasy
12. The Life in a Day: Workday Toccata
13. The Life in a Day: Evening Rhapsody Composer: Cherise Leiter
Performers: Krista Jobson, flute; Héctor Javier Rodríguez, guitar; Tido Janssen, cello Recorded at Héctor Rodríguez Recording Studio, McAllen, TX
Héctor Rodríguez, engineer and producer of FNMC presents
Nicole Riner is president of Flute New Music Consortium, Visiting Assistant Professor of Flute and Music Entrepreneurship at University of Wyoming, and an Altus Performing Artist. Nicole holds degrees from University of Illinois (BM), Michigan State University (MM), and Indiana University (DM) and is grateful to have studied with Kathryn Lukas, Richard Sherman, Alexander Murray, and Jan Boland. She has recorded for ACA Digital, Albany, and Centaur Record labels and is also co-creator and co-host of the new music podcast, Music Crush.
