Rosalind Carlson

Forest Bell-birds

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Instrumental Music / Woodwind - Flute or Piccolo

"Forest Bell-birds" for solo flute - 2004 - duration approx. 8 minutes
"Forest Bell-birds" for solo piccolo - 2004 - duration approx. 8 minutes

The inspiration for "Forest Bell-birds" was twofold:

a)  Hearing the bell minor birds singing in the forests and in the cool valley glens in New South Wales (Sydney, Gosford and Kurrajong).  The bell-like quality ringing through the trees I found to be particularly beautiful.

b)  The Henry Kendall (1839-82) native born Australian poet's splendid poem entitled "Bell-birds" published 1869.

Some of the key words in this poem, which I found to be inspirational, are:

1.  "By channels of coolness the echoes are calling"
2.  "the silver-voiced bell-birds"
3.  "The notes of the bell-birds are running and ringing."
4.  "The woodland"; "the forest"; "far-forest rafters".

In "Forest Bell-birds" I have endeavoured to portray three aspects from the poem.  These are annotated on the score:

1.  The forest figure - tall and stately
2.  The bell-birds song-like motif and characteristics
3.  The echoing bird calls which form the central figure to this work.

The world premiere performance of "Forest Bell-birds" was performed by the flautist Sue Capper on November 20th 2005 at the Carlson Chorale recital held at Mt St Benedict Convent Chapel, Pennant Hills, NSW.

Published by: Phylloscopus Publications - Lancaster U.K

Availability:  Music scores and C.D. are available from Flexi-Fingers.  See order form.

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