Aaron Alter
Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry
Duration: 7'
Solos:
flute
Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry
Sample pages
Work introduction
Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry got its name from the first three measures of the Jazz-inspired theme (for the C Flute), where the harmony journeys through three chords, as your taste buds would journey as they delight in discovering each of the three flavors of Vanilla-Chocolate-Strawberry ice cream.
Just as you have contrasting flavors juxtaposed in Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry ice cream, these four variations are very different from each other. The first variation for Alto Flute is lyrical and flowing, while the second variation, also for Alto Flute is more jazz-like. The third variation, for Bass Flute, is slow and soulful with a tinge of sadness, while the fourth variation, for Piccolo, is bright, extroverted and happy, combining classical and jazz flavors.
Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry, Theme and Four Variations are a fun way for the audience to hear four different kinds of flutes, each with their own distinct personalities.
Eating ice-cream while listening is optional!
The audio recording is by the flutist Iwona Glinka, from her award-winning album entitled "Daleth" on the Phasma Music label (distributed by Naxos.) Daleth won a Silver Medal from the 2018 Global Music Awards.
What is necessary to perform this work?
Vanilla Chocolate and Strawberry - Theme and Four Variations are for one player switching to different flutes for the different variation movements. The Theme is for the C Flute, the First and Second variations are for the Alto Flute, the Third variation is for the Bass Flute and the Fourth and final variation is for the Piccolo.
The Jazz-influenced "swinging eighth-note" has been written out in the Theme and the Second and Fourth variations as a quarter-note followed by an eighth-note within an eighth-note triplet. Sometimes a triplet is substituted for the quarter-note within the eighth-note triplet, which makes the notation appear to be complicated, but if you listen to the recording, you'll see how easy it is to play the rhythm.