Darleen Mitchell

Flute and Piano

Composer's Note:

Many of my works for flute involve extended techniques (humming while playing, multiphonics, altissimo register, etc.) unusual additional instruments (sea-shell wind chimes) or inside piano techniques. While I love this experimentation with sound, I decided I needed to write a "straight-ahead' piece, one that could be performed anywhere.

As I began to think about what this piece might be, I wanted it to reflect those composers, styles and ideas that illuminated my life and my work as a composer. For me, the word "illuminata' came to mean those influences upon me, musically and personally. I created a twelve-tone series that had certain harmonic implications, often suggesting the extended harmonic language of jazz, but with chords used non-functionally. The word "illuminata' also took on another meaning. I was reminded of the illuminated texts of the Medieval era and wanted to create a sound that shimmered and bedazzled, like shining gold and silver decorations.

At the same time, I came across a book entitled "Illuminata.' It was a collection of spiritually illuminating poems and prose, and I began to think of some of my favorite authors, especially women spiritual writers, like Clare of Assisi, Julian of Norwich or Hildegard of Bingen. They have illuminated my life; they have made my life shimmer with richness; they are my Illuminata.