Derek is a flutist. He specialises in contemporary music, especially music since 1945 but also performs many other genres. Derek continues to freelance as an improvisor and performer.

Derek has written extensively for the flute. "WARNING! Gustnadoes Ahead" for solo flute and CD was commissioned for the 2008 National Flute Association Convention. His work "Raga Cha" was premiered by the London Flutes in England and has since been performed numerous times throughout Europe and North America. Other works include "Lumière Immobile" for flute and computer (Max/MSP); "Rain", "Straight Ahead", both for solo flute; "Three Duets" for flute and marimba; "Distant Voices I and II" for flute and piano; "Cross-Talk" for flute ensemble; and "Lachrymose" for solo piccolo. For his dissertation he wrote "The Winds of Winter" for solo flute and chamber orchestra.

Recently he's worked with various ensembles in Buffalo, New York including Augenmusik, the Plosion Flute Ensemble, the Slee Sinfonietta / 2005 June in Buffalo Festival and the SUNY Buffalo Contemporary Ensemble. Derek holds a Masters degree in flute performance from SUNY Buffalo where he studied with Cheryl Gobbetti Hoffman. He has recently performed in master classes with Robert Dick, Peter Lloyd and Mathias Ziegler. He gave his final masters recital including the works of Salvatore Sciarrino and Pierre Boulez in March of 2004. Since then he has performed several solo recitals including a concert of all Canadian composers at the 2005 Pantasmagoria flute festival. Derek recently competed as a soloist in the 2005 Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition in Amsterdam.

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Listen

Original compositions performed by Derek Charke:

WARNING! Gustnadoes Ahead (2008) - myspace.com
Raga Cha (2006) flute quartet - link
Lachrymose (2006) solo piccolo - link
Lumiere Immobile (2005) flute and computer - link

Recordings:

Electro CD

Links to other sound files:

Art of the States
Myspace

Sample Repertoire

Robert Aitken - Plain Song 1980 for solo flute
C.P.E. Bach - Sonata in A minor
C.P.E. Bach - Hamburger Sonata in G major
J.S. Bach - Sonata in A minor
J.S. Bach - B minor sonata
J.S. Bach - 6 Suites for Cello transcribed for flute
Harrison Birtwistle - Duets for Storab
Luciano Berio - Sequenza
François Borne - Fantaisie Brillante (on themes from Bizet's Carmen)
Michelle Boudreau - La Chasse Caribous 2003 for solo flute, speaker and tape
Pierre Boulez - Sonatine
Elliott Carter - Scrivo in Vento
C. Chaminade - Concertino, Op. 107
Robert Dick - Fish are Jumping
Franco Donatoni - Midi
Georges Enesco - Cantabile et Presto
Brian Ferneyhough - Cassandra's Dream Song
Anthony Genge - grey and white for solo flute
Jacques Hétu - Aria (1976)
Paul Hindemith - Acht Stücke
Heinz Holliger - (t)air(e)
Jacques Ibert ­ Aria
Willem Jeths - Dwaallicht (for flute, tape art object and poetry)
André Jolivet - Chant du Linos
André Jolivet - Cinq Incantations
André Jolivet - Concerto
Theo Lovendie - Strands
Marin Marias - Les Folies d'Espangne
Olivier Messiaen - Le Merle Noir
Mike Mower - Sonata Latino
W.A. Mozart - Flute Quartet in D major
W.A. Mozart - 6 sonatas
Carl Nielsen - Concerto
Astor Piazzolla - Tango Etudes
Chan Ka Nin - Piao 2003 for solo flute
Harry Somers - Etching The Vollard Suite
Salvatore Sciarrino - All'aure in una lontanza
Salvatore Sciarrino - Hermes
Salvatore Sciarrino - Come vengono prodotti gli incantesimi?
Salvatore Sciarrino - Canzona di ringraziamento
Salvatore Sciarrino - Veneré che le grazie la fioriscono
Salvatore Sciarrino - L'orizzonte luminoso di aton
Salvatore Sciarrino - Fra i testi deicati alle nubi
Franz Schubert - Variationen über: "Trockne Blumen"
Rodney Sharman - Arsis and Thesis
Rodney Sharman - Towards White 1983 for solo flute and tape
Harvey Sollberger - Quodlibetudes
Harry Somers - Etching - The Vollard Suite 1969 for solo flute
Paul Steenhuisen - Toneland Security 2005 for solo bass flute
Toru Takemitsu - Air
Toru Takemitsu - Itinerant
Toru Takemitsu - Voice
GP Telemann - Twelve Fantasias
Barry Truax - Steam 2001 for solo alto flute and tape
Edgard Varése - Density 21.5
Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto in C minor (flute)
Charles Wuorinen - Flute Variations 1

Selected Etudes and Studies

Joachim Anderson - 24 Studies, Op. 15
Eugène Bozza 14 Études - Arabesques
Robert Dick - Circular Breathing for the Flutist
Robert Dick - Flying Lessons 1 and 2
Robert Dick - The Other Flute
Karg-Elert - 30 Caprices Op. 107
Marcel Moyse - 20 Exercises et Etudies, De La Sonorite, Exercices Journaliers, Tone Development Through Interpretation
Niccolo Paganini - 24 Caprice