Plainsong for solo flute

Plainsong was composed at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire in January 1977. It was first performed by the composer, later that year, during a week of pre-inaugural concerts at Pierre Boulez’ Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM) at the Center Georges Pompidou in Paris. As the title suggests, the basic inspiration for the work is the parallel fourths and fifths found in Medieval plainsong, and the possibility of duplicating this organum effect by singing and playing the flute at the same time. In addition, through careful control of the air column, it is possible to sound two notes an octave apart simultaneously. This and several less common contemporary effects are woven into the texture of the piece, in as natural a manner as possible.

Robert Aitken