Description
The Mad Hatter for Flute and Piano by Ian Clarke
The Mad Hatter for Flute and Piano by Ian Clarke
Publisher: IC Music
Composer: Ian Clarke
About
Quick and playful throughout ‘The Mad Hatter’ makes extensive use of whole tone, chromatic and diminished scales.  No extended techniques, open holes or B foots are required.  The piano part is of moderate difficulty.  This piece requires a good conventional technique with clean accurate fingerwork and a real sense of rhythm and fun.
Ian Clarke Programme Notes
The title ‘The Mad Hatter’ prefaces some of the zany nature of the work with its shifting, uncertain and playful tonality. It also serves as a style reference for the performer encouraging a fast-talking, colourful and slightly unpredictable approach; ironically the music also requires a good deal of control and precision.
Whilst some of my other flute pieces such as ‘Orange Dawn’ had clearer external influences of inspiration i.e. an East African dawn scene in the case of ‘Orange Dawn’, ‘Mad Hatter’ was inspired by the initial theme itself. Within this theme, there is the tonal reference of C, emphasised by the piano, and scale alterations that set the scene for the use of whole tone, chromatic and diminished/octatonic scales throughout the piece. Equally, the compound rhythms and groupings are shifted around along with the tone centres themselves.
The compositional approach on this occasion was perhaps slightly more orthodox than with other pieces in that I developed the piece using a manuscript more overtly than I often do. This is in contrast to the method I more frequently use which gives a more predominant and central use of recording my ideas (often improvised), with the manuscript forming a supplementary role in the early stages of the composition. The piece is pretty much in sonata form although I don’t recall setting out to make it so. This would have emerged through the fundamental process of working out what felt right; clearly through numerous conscious and subconscious composition decisions. The name developed at some point in the creative process and it summed up many aspects of the piece.
Composer/Flautist-Ian Clarke
Ian Clarke (born 1964) is an esteemed flautist and composer, regularly invited as a guest soloist and instructor at major conventions worldwide. His performances and teaching engagements have spanned countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Iceland, Japan, various European nations, the United States (National Flute Association), and the United Kingdom (British Flute Society).
Notably, at the 2017 NFA convention in Minneapolis, he premiered his new concerto for flute and strings. Ian’s albums, such as the highly regarded ‘Within,’ have achieved significant success in the flute world, including ‘Deep Blue’ reaching the top 10 in the UK Classical Artist Chart.
He has conducted masterclasses at prestigious institutions like the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Juilliard School, and Manhattan School of Music.
Ian’s musical versatility extends across genres, from classical opera to guest appearances with rock group Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson.
Ian pursued part-time studies at the Guildhall School of Music in London, where he excelled as a prize-winning student. Concurrently, he earned an Honours degree in Mathematics from Imperial College London.
Currently, Ian holds the position of Professor of Flute at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. His collaborations with musician and composer Simon Painter have yielded compositions for film and television. Additionally, Ian proudly represents the flute brand, Miyazawa, as an International Miyazawa Flute artist.
Click on the link below to listen to Ian Clarke perform ‘The Mad Hatter’
Ian Clarke The Mad Hatter
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