- - - - - - THE ELECTRIC FLUTE - - - - - -
Lee McClure's Electric Flute produces Grand-Canyon echoes, sparkling highs, a profound bass, and sensuous electronic effects that suggest shimmering illusions. This is the result of putting a silver flute with a pickup and microphone through ten foot-pedal processors, a specially designed patch-bay, and a sampler with multiple live overdubbing capabilities.
In performance these processors are connected by a great tangle of interchangeable wires. By patching the processors in different groupings, the electric flute can produce a full bass range, chords, repeating delays, reverb, distortion, pitch bending, and electric guitar effects that can vary in style from New Age, Classical, and Jazz to Rock, Heavy Metal, Ambient, and electronic effects. One unique aspect of this arrangement is the ability to play one musical phrase which keeps repeating in a delay while the next phrase that is played does not repeat.
- - - - - - PERFORMANCE HISTORY - - - - - -
In concert as a solo electric flutist I was commissioned three times as the composer/performer for the Janet Gerson Dance Co. I was the featured composer/ performer at the 1997 Electro-Acoustic Music Festival at Brooklyn College. I have performed five times on the Eclectix new-music concert series at CAMI Hall (opposite Carnegie Hall). In 2003 I performed in the Montclair (NJ) Tourbaby Concert which included rock, pop, and jazz bands.
As a member of groups, I have performed with accordionist William Schimmel since 1995; with percussionist Marlon Cherry as a duo; with the Tom Blatt Project at the Knitting Factory; with the Interactive Performance Group at NYU; and with the Sukie Rae Ensemble.
For art openings I have performed at the Lever House, on the roof garden at the Time/Life building, and at numerous art galleries including Thundergulch, Tenri Cultural Institute, Soho Photo Gallery, The Learning Alliance, and Synagogue For The Arts.
In 2002 the string quartet, Invert, premiered my latin-jazz-classical crossover work, NIGHT SHIFTS, at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater (NYC). Invert is rehearsing my Second Shift (Riding The Ghost), and the Third Shift (Mystery of the Kimlily) is in the works.
- - - - - - PRESS QUOTES - - - - - -
The Eclectix Chamber Orchestra's premiere of McClure's composition, "Hiatus," won the praise of THE NEW YORK TIMES critic Tim Page who declared "the harmonies had bite and the musical ideas seemed both organic and Mr. McClure's own."
Premiering at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine with a libretto by the Pulitzer-Prize-nominated playwright Ron Whyte, the opera "Mother and Child" was reviewed in THE NEW YORK TIMES by Bernard Holland who wrote "McClure's music is...eclectic...from Broadway to sentimental pop ballad to angry instrumental harmonies to a recitative style that at times implies total dissonance."
McClure is the founder and director of the new-music concert series, Eclectix, which has presented the music of over 100 living composers in New York City since 1985. THE NEW YORK TIMES has called Eclectix "a group dedicated to presenting melodic music in the tradition of Debussy, Gershwin, and Ellington."
- - - - - - Other Music of Lee McClure - - - - - -
In 2001 the Eclectix Jazz big band concert presented Art Lillard's Heavenly Band which premiered works by six composers including McClure's PEACOCK RISING.
The Gregg Smith Singers have performed three of McClure's choral compositions including his LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Among McClure's major works are his SYMPHONY NO.1 for Jazz drummer and orchestra, his INVOCATION, the song cycle about New York City premiered by the Jazz vocal octet, The Accidentals, and his SUITE FROM THE VOYAGE for two pianos.
A catalogue of McClure's works includes two operas, four orchestral works, four choral works, five art songs, a Jazz big band piece, numerous electric flute works, 18 chamber works, and arrangements of JS.Bach and Maurice Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit," "Daphnis and Chloe," and "String Quartet." McClure has also written music for two films.
As an author McClure was invited to present his essay "The Separation of Art and Society" at the Society of Composers Inc's 1997 national conference in Miami. At Touro College McClure designed and taught a survey course of American music for which he created 24 cassette tapes containing 2 to 10 minute musical excerpts ranging in all styles from the 1770's to today.
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