Ex arcadia
for alto flute/flute, piano and tape
2019
6’
commissioned by ANIMO Flute and Piano Duo
Composed for flutes, piano and tape, ex Arcadia is a journey through pastoral landscapes. As the piece progresses, the live instruments are layered with additional recorded tracks which interweave and interact with them.
Joseph Howard’s Ex Arcadia (2019) is scored for alto flute, piano and electronics. The electronics embody a counterpoint to the live flute and piano, at times turning the flute from a single-line instrument into an entire chorus. This is a powerful and effective work, treated to an impactful performance by Animo Duo that shifts between states of lyricism and gravitas.