Album Review: Unseen/Unheard by Rose Bishop & Heather Neuenschwander

The world of the flute is vast, but its deepest voices have often remained in the shadows. With their groundbreaking new album Unseen//Unheard (out Friday, September 26th), flutists Heather Neuenschwander and Rose Bishop bring the alto and bass flute into a radiant spotlight, unveiling the first-ever album exclusively dedicated to duets for these lush, resonant instruments.

What makes this project so thrilling is not only its historical significance but also its uncompromising artistry. Over the course of three years, Neuenschwander and Bishop commissioned ten visionary composers—Nicole Chamberlain, Timothy Hagen, Leanna Keith, Zachery Meier, Alyssa Mercedes Mena, Lisa Neher, Arturo Rodriguez, Sonya Leonore Stahl, Julie Stone, and Yoshi Weinberg—to expand the expressive boundaries of low flutes. The result is a kaleidoscope of sound worlds, each piece a new facet of what the alto and bass flute can achieve together.

The sheer variety of voices is staggering. Chamberlain and Hagen bring their signature blend of rhythmic energy and lyricism, while Keith and Meier probe into experimental textures that highlight the instruments’ mysterious depths. Mena and Neher create soundscapes of shimmering color, offering moments of unexpected intimacy and grace. Rodriguez and Stahl draw from folk and cultural traditions, weaving earthy resonance into the fabric of the duets. Stone and Weinberg close the circle with bold statements, charting new territory for future composers and performers alike.

What ties the album together is the impeccable ensemble between Neuenschwander and Bishop. Their sensitivity to color, blend, and balance gives each work a vitality that feels both rooted and otherworldly. Listening, one is struck by the physicality of the sound—the breath, the resonance, the way the instruments wrap around each other in a kind of slow-motion dance.

Unseen//Unheard is more than just a recording; it is a landmark contribution to flute literature. By commissioning and recording this body of work, Neuenschwander and Bishop have created a legacy project that ensures the voices of the alto and bass flute will be not only heard but celebrated.

For flutists, composers, and adventurous listeners alike, this album is a revelation—a reminder that sometimes the most powerful voices emerge from the quietest corners of the musical world.