Friday, September 27, 2019

“The Whistleblower Complaint”

Elaine just wrote it, for solo flute: “The Whistleblower Complaint.” No hyphen in her whistleblower.

The piece is free to anyone to download and perform. The score is available from Dropbox and the IMSLP. Computer-generated audio is available from Dropbox.

comments: 3

Frex said...

WOW!!! I just listened to the dropbox---
That piece of music is * * * amazing * * * !!!
I am so impressed.

Because I know nothing of music I can't give specific feedback,
just... um, I could say the piece is kind of ...mmm... maybe like something in a Hitchcock film?
Maybe . . . say, there's a scene of a Russian ballet in a Hitchcock film, wth this music, and then the theme is repeated throughout the film.
(Russian. Heh. I didn't even think of the connection till after I wrote it. Maybe it's a Ukrainian touring troupe?)

Also thought of the deeply creepy "Peeping Tom" by Powell & Pressburger.

CONGRATULATIONS, Elaine!!!

Michael Leddy said...

It makes me think at several points of someone sending out a Mayday, hoping someone will hear and respond.

Elaine is or will be responding here soon.

Elaine Fine said...

Thanks, Fresca!

Truth be told, the "with pathos" section began as a Ukrainian song called "The Robber Addressed to the Lark," that has the following text:

Warbler of the skies,
Seek the dreary cell,
Where sad Wanka lies,
And his anguish quell.

There the luckless swain,
Once a maid's delight,
Clanks his heavy chain,
Sorrows day and night.

From his prison's gloom
Twelve long months ago,
Sent the stripling home
Letter fraught with woe.

Thou the note didst bear,
Moisten'd with his tears,
To his hapless sire,
Sad and bent with years.

"Father, ever dear,
My repentant moan
Now assails thine ear,
Spare thy wretched son."

"Father, hear my moan
From the dungeon walls.
Ah! it is thy son
That for pity calls."

"Heavy hang his chains,
Heavy day and night.
Justice guilt arraigns,
Well thou knows his plight."

"Father, haste away,
Ope the prison drear,
Ere, in dread array,
Shameful death appear."

[It goes on for 27 verses . . .]