Album Notes

The Los Angeles Flute Orchestra (LAFO) is a 12-member professional ensemble comprised of Los Angeles-based flutists. The LAFO was founded in 1999 by a group of flutists who wanted the chance to play great music on a regular basis. Due to the limited number of flute positions in orchestras, the group created it's own playing opportunities. Over the last four years the group has grown to it's current size of twelve members and has increasingly become more recognizable in the Los Angeles area, performing many local concerts and appearing at other events.



The LAFO's style covers the full spectrum from baroque and classical to jazz, contemporary and ethnic genres. What makes the LAFO special is its extremely versatile instrumentation. The group features the entire flute family-Piccolo, C Flute, Alto and Bass Flutes, the unique Contra-Bass and F-Bass Flutes and various ethnic flutes. The LAFO celebrates the arrival of a Double Contra-Bass Flute in 2005, making this group the only known flute choir in the USA to have such a rare and sonorous instrument! As a result, the group achieves a highly resonant, dense and complex sound.



Unprecedented sound capabilities coupled with the group's exceptional musicianship have attracted the interest of many composers and orchestrators from around the world who have contributed to the LAFO's exclusive repertoire. The group is dedicated to the performance of original works, and continues to pursue one-of-a-kind dynamic pieces.



The LAFO has amassed a collection of seven new works composed specifically for our group by Ron Gorow, Christopher Caliendo, Peter Senchuk, Vinny Golia and Eddie Sobenes, for our brand new CD "The Stroke of Twelve". The CD was supported (in part) through Subito, the quick advancement grant program of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Composers Forum. Working one-on-one with the composers of these pieces has allowed the group to be part of the creative process, and has afforded composers access to unlimited compositional possibilities, and the unique opportunity to uncover the specific sound, dynamic, special effect and orchestration requirements necessary for conveying their music. For the LAFO and our contributing composers collaboration has been key in producing music (and art) without compromise.

We continue to develop and foster these types of creative working relationships with composers of chamber music. It is our anticipation that this recording of original compositions will reflect the beauty of our collaborations and will encourage many new ones, not only with composers, but with other multi-media artists as well.