Flute New Music Consortium (FNMC) Composition Competition Winner (2018)
Like many children, I vividly remember my first trip to the zoo. I remember being amazed by Mother Nature, seeing the distinctive talents and features that all of her unique life forms had. I also remember my parents being annoyed at my nonstop attempts to mimic the animal sounds I had just heard – my endless moos, oinks, meows, and roars were probably not the most pleasant noises, at least not when I made them.
Zoo Song is an attempt to recreate this common childhood experience. The singing flutist assumes the character of a child who is obsessed with various animals. The performer squawks and brays in a desperate attempt to be each animal, only to prove unsuccessful at the end.
Many thanks to Hannah Weiss for commissioning this work and for allowing me to use the word “snort” in her piece.
Text: (written by Nina Shekhar, composer)
What do you know about chickens?
Chickens can lay two hundred eggs a year.
I want to be a chicken.
What about pigs?
Pigs dream when they sleep,
Just like chickens.
I want to dream like chickens.
Did you know that horses can run
Twenty-seven miles an hour?
I want to be a horse!
But donkeys can bray even louder,
So maybe I’ll be a donkey instead…
What do you know about sloths?
They sleep for fifteen hours at a time.
I want to sleep like a sloth.
And sloths can swim,
But whales can swim even better.
And whales can spout.
I want to spout like a whale!
I can’t lay eggs like a chicken,
I can’t run like a horse,
I can’t bray like a donkey,
I can’t sleep like a sloth,
I can’t spout like a whale.
So maybe I’ll just be me,
But I still want to dream like a chicken!
Hannah Weiss, singing flutist
Frost School of Music, University of Miami
January 20th, 2018
Doctoral Recital: Hannah Weiss, flute
Performed by Hannah Weiss
Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
April 15th, 2018
“write HEAR right NOW:”
University of Michigan Student Composers Concert
Performed by Ashley Stanley
Hankinson Rehearsal Hall, Ann Arbor, Michigan
October 27th, 2018
Wyoming Saxofluticon final concert
Performed by Nicole Riner
Kelly-Walsh High School, Casper, WY
February 24th, 2019
Trio Virado Concert (sponsored by St. Louis Classical Guitar)
Performed by Amy Porter
E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, Washington University of St. Louis
University City, Missouri
October 15th, 2019
Guest Artist Event: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
Voxman Recital Hall, University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
October 16th, 2019
Cornell College Presents: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
October 17th, 2019
Flute Recital: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
Speed Lyceum, Grand View University
Des Moines, IA
October 18th, 2019
Coe College Presents: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
October 22nd, 2019
University of Akron Presents: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
University of Akron, Akron, OH
November 12th, 2019
University of Kansas Presents: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
December 6th, 2019
Master’s Recital: Alexis Letourneau, flute
Performed by Alexis Letourneau
Voxman School of Music Choral Room
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
March 6th, 2020
Mid-South Flute Festival: Amy Porter (Featured Guest Artist Recital)
Performed by Amy Porter
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL
April 11th, 2020
Flute Day Feature Concert: Amy Porter (Featured Guest Artist Recital)
Performed by Amy Porter
Gore Recital Hall, Center for the Arts (University of Delaware)
Newark, DE
October 22nd, 2020
Baylor University Presents: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
Baylor University, Waco, TX
October 31st, 2020
Faulkner University Presents: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
Faulkner University, Montgomery, AL
November 2nd, 2020
Cornell University Presents: Dr. Hannah Weiss
Performed by Hannah Weiss
Cornell University, Mount Vernon, IA
February 28th, 2021
LiveARTS Concert: Amy Porter & Liz Ames
Performed by Amy Porter
Virtual concert presented by LiveARTS
Worcester, MA
