Video of the Day: the deeply beautiful sound of the contrabass flute

Friday, June 30, 2023

If you've never heard a contrabass flute before then you are in for a treat. Daniela Mars conjures a haunting evocation of the first moments of morning light

The contrabass flute doesn't get many opportunities to step into the musical spotlight but, on the evidence of today's video from Daniela Mars, it really deserves a much wider audience. The range of sounds and colours that the contrabass flute can create, from the gentlest of whisperings (sometimes with Mars singing as well as playing) to ground-shaking low notes, is captivating. 

Daniela Mars plays ‘Crepuscular’, a work originally composed by the video's pianist Paul Smith but featuring opening and closing improvisations by Mars. The work portrays the first moments of morning light, rising over the sparse, alien landscape of Joshua Tree national park in California.

To buy or stream the recording of ‘Crepuscular’ use this link: orcd.co/crepuscular

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