We are excited to continue our collaboration with the New York Women Composers (NYWC). This month, we present a piece by Pamela Sklar.
Bio
Pamela Sklar is an award-winning flutist and composer known for her pure tone and expressive, genre-crossing musicianship. As a performer for over 30 years, she has toured internationally with Claude Bolling, performed with Dave Brubeck and Andrea Bocelli, appeared on Live from Lincoln Center with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, and recorded for artists including Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, and John Pizzarelli.
Pamela’s composing grew out of a rich performing career and deep collaborative experiences. She writes chamber music for unique instrumental combinations, including flute, bass flute, and Native American flute. Her works have been performed internationally and include commissions for environmental and community-focused projects.
Her piece Green Awakening was premiered by Englewinds; her violin sonata The Ocean We Want was presented in Madrid; and her flute/organ work Spell 166 is held in the Lincoln Center Library’s Special Collection. With her ensemble 2Flutes, she performed and recorded New York Tapestries through New York Women Composers.
Pamela is a two-time recipient of ArtsWestchester grants for her project Words into Music, based on community interviews and performed with woodwinds and narration. She continues to compose and perform widely, sharing both her own music and that of other contemporary composers.
Featured Work: Flow for flute and cello
COMPOSITION DETAILS
- Title: Flow
- Composer: Pamela Sklar
- Year of Composition: 2015
- Instrumentation: flute and cello
- Movements: 1
- Duration of Work: c. 3 minutes
- Number of Measures: 87
- Number of pages: 3
- Tempo: quarter note = 87. Note from composer: Performers, especially the cellist, can pick up the tempo as the music builds up to a brief cello cadenza.
- Difficulty Level: Very accessible. Great for professionals but playable by students intermediate level and above.
- Highest Position Reached: depends on your fingering, but playable entirely in neck positions
- Techniques Employed: Cello: pizzicato, some fast bowing, and double stops. Flute: some fast (single tongued) staccato tonguing.
- Publisher: Self-published
- Where to Purchase the Score: Contact Pamela Sklar
- Cost of Score*: $12 (PayPal: Pamela Sklar, P Sklar Music)
Recording
Program Notes
“I truly love the sound and soul of the cello, which inspired me to compose this to play a piece with cello. The music is smooth and includes a cello cadenza which is intense. Program notes are included on my website Works page under Flow.” – Pamela Sklar
Performance Notes
“Cellist- please pick up the tempo as the middle section builds emotionally. Play cadenza with intense/mad emotional abandon and free rhythm as you feel it!” – Pamela Sklar
Pamela Sklar’s Other Work with a Prominent Cello Part
- Day and Night Cannot Dwell Together for Unaccompanied Cello
- Eventually – chamber music/trio from recording A Native American-Jazz Tribute, A Tune for America by Pamela Sklar
A Collaboration with the New York Women Composers (NYWC)
The NYWC series at the Cello Museum was created to showcase its members who have composed various pieces for cello, informing cellists seeking new music to add to their repertoire, and helping listeners find new favorites. Many thanks to the NYWC for this wonderful collaboration.
Read other installments in the series here.
Enjoying the Cello Museum?
Don’t miss an article, announcement, or exhibition. Sign up for our newsletter.
*Prices are accurate at the time of article publication, but the Cello Museum cannot take responsibility for subsequent price changes.
