Julian Yu: Scintillation III for Flute and Piano (1987)

Abstract

"Scintillation is a series of three pieces written in 1987. The first is for solo piano, the second for piano and metallic percussion, and this, the third, is for flute and piano, with the flute developing the melodic aspects of the work. The music is based on a mode characterised by perfect-fourth and minor-second intervals, which are responsible for the strong pentatonic flavour. The title refers to the brightness of the metallic instruments for which the piece was originally conceived, and also to the flowery nature of the music. The Chinese character for scintillation is made up of two parts, themselves meaning fire and joy (or music)." -- Julian Yu