Hello friends! I am just back from Oh My Ears New Music Festival (“OME”) in Phoenix, AZ, where four of my compositions were on the program this year! When I learned that my works were being presented, I made the unusual decision to bow out of the Newport Symphony concerts that same weekend and attend the festival instead. (I’m allowed to do that occasionally and they got a sub for me, don’t worry.)
The OME festival was a series of six concerts from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. My works were on the Saturday 6:30pm concert (#3), and the Sunday noon concert (#5).
The Saturday evening concert was presented by the Desert Echoes Flute Project, directed by Christina Steffen. They presented the trio version of “2020: The Year We Could Not Breathe” and the world premiere performance of my “Agnus D.E.I.”
“2020: The Year We Could Not Breathe” is a very challenging piece and they did a fabulous job with it. It incorporates extended techniques, some theatrics, some improvisation, and complex note patterns and rhythms. It is inspired by George Floyd’s dying words (“I can’t breathe”), the racism that is profoundly entrenched in our culture, the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the wildfires that were consuming the entire western United States that summer.
All of these things are still very much with us today. George Floyd was, sadly, neither the first nor the last to die in the hands of “law enforcement”. Wildfires were reported in Los Angeles county yesterday, and we had a friend die in February from the effects of COVID on his body.
You can view videos of the original solo version, and the premiere of the trio version. Sheet music for the solo version is available here, and the trio version here.
“Agnus D.E.I.” is an expression of my grief over the death of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It contains close dissonances which slowly resolve. Some of the rhythmic elements are derived from the text of the traditional Latin mass. There is a computer-generated audio link on my Music page. Sheet music is available for both the flute choir version and a string quartet version. (bonus: some of my string friends are currently rehearsing the string quartet version for a house concert in June).
OME presents these concerts in a variety of venues. Saturday evening was at a bookstore, and the Sunday noon concert was at a coffee shop. Dr. Linda Bailey presented a program of works she has commissioned, including my duet “Playing in the Currents” and the world premiere of my “Variations for Solo E-flat Flute.” Also on her program were commissioned works by Bonnie Cochran and Kari Cruver Medina.
“Playing in the Currents” is a light-hearted joyful duet in two movements: “Seagulls” is slow and contemplative while “Dolphins” is splashy and playful. Dr. Bailey performed with duet partner Christina Steffen. The two of them had premiered this piece at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention in February 2025. You can see that video here. It was a great joy for me to hear it again. Sheet music is available here.
The “Variations for Solo E-flat Flute” are just that – a very slow peaceful theme followed by a set of variations including an interval workout, a nod to Anderson Opus 15 No.3 (if you don’t know what that is, ask a flutist), a collection of extended techniques, and an Irish reel. Sheet music will be available after May 1, 2026.
Many thanks to Linda and Christina for believing in me and for programming my music. Many thanks also to Oh My Ears New Music Festival for accepting their proposals!
Adrian Dee, flutist, composer 