Paul Osterfield

BIRDHOUSE

flute, viola, and harp (about 11 minutes)

After I had begun composing my work for flute, viola, and harp, my daughter told me, "Daddy, you should write a piece about birds." My initial reaction was that that wasn't going to work for what I had in mind for this piece, but then I thought, "Wait...I just started writing the piece. If my daughter wants it to be about birds, it will be about birds." For Birdhouse (2025), I strove to paint an avian picture, although not in a literal sense. In other words, I didn't want to include actual birdsong transcriptions or certain techniques such as the "seagull" glissando. Each of the three movements is inspired by a different bird. Although none of the movements focus on a particular instrument exclusively, there are aspects of each of our fine feathered residents portrayed by elements of the various instrumental parts. For example, peacocks (an peahens) are represented by the "fanning out" of harp arpeggios, seagulls are evoked by the fingered tremolos of the viola, while the final movement's sprightly flute melodies call to mind the cheerful chickadee.

Score will be available for purchase shortly. Please email me at paul@paulosterfield.com, and I will let you know when it is available.



		BIRDHOUSE flute, viola, and harp (about 11 minutes) After I had begun composing my work for flute, viola, and harp, my daughter told me, "Daddy, you should write a piece about birds." My initial reaction was that that wasn't going to work for what I had in mind for this piece, but then I thought, "Wait...I just started writing the piece. If my daughter wants it to be about birds, it will be about birds." For Birdhouse (2025), I strove to paint an avian picture, although not in a literal sense. In other words, I didn't want to include actual birdsong transcriptions or certain techniques such as the "seagull" glissando. Each of the three movements is inspired by a different bird. Although none of the movements focus on a particular instrument exclusively, there are aspects of each of our fine feathered residents portrayed by elements of the various instrumental parts. For example, peacocks (an peahens) are represented by the "fanning out" of harp arpeggios, seagulls are evoked by the fingered tremolos of the viola, while the final movement's sprightly flute melodies call to mind the cheerful chickadee. Score will be available for purchase shortly. Please email me at paul@paulosterfield.com, and I will let you know when it is available.