States of Disorder refers to the three mental states of disorder as founded by Hippocrates around the year 400 BC. I found the three conditions, (Phrenitis, Melancholia, and Mania), perfect creative “diving boards” for a three-movement suite for unaccompanied flute.

     The first movement, Phrenitis, concerns the state of delirium. While composing, I pictured someone obsessing about a single idea over and over and over again, eventually becoming so overwhelmed by the idea that they literally go insane. The movement weaves its way around a single, four-note motif accelerating in tension and rhythm as the movement reaches its climax.

     The second movement, Melancholia, draws all of its source material from the name of the person for whom it was written. Deborah Gold was the flautist who premiered the work and D, E, B are the main three notes the movement is based on. The state of melancholia is one of severe depression and sadness. Not to say that Deborah is an unhappy person whatsoever, (quite the contrary actually), but her name’s notes lent themselves to a contemplative and somber movement. A slow, repetitive tune pervades the majority of the music.

     The final movement, Mania, is somewhat self-explanatory. This music is meant to raise the heartbeat, get the adrenaline pumping, and leave the listener (and player) out of breath. Lasting only 45 seconds, it is a whirl of a movement utilizing the flute’s capability to tongue and arpeggiate quickly. An accelerando al fine propels the work to a close at nearly 200 bpm. I guess I must be a little bit insane myself.