Breathless

Breathless was composed during summer and fall 2014 for flutist Carol Wincenc, on commission from the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and in honor of Dr. Beverly Everett’s 10th anniversary as its Music Director. The work marks my latest collaboration with Ms. Wincenc, a GRAMMY-nominated recording artist and Diapson d’Or Award recipient. Indeed, Breathless is an homage to our long and lovely friendship. I first met Carol the summer before my senior year in high school (a little while ago!) at the Aspen Music Festival and School where I was studying cello and working in the electronic music studio. Breathless recalls some of the experimental music – classical and pop – that I was interested in as a 16-year old. The solo flute leads us on a pretty wild journey - with pure tone, breathiness of all sorts, electronic extension (realized at my home studio and with my Opera of the Future team, and especially with the collaboration of Charles Holbrow) and orchestral commentary – through musical memory and possibility.

–Tod Machover
October 2014