A trained flutist
himself, Sharman wanted to make a serious contribution to the instrument's repertoire
with this new work for Tiresias, Arsis & Thesis.
Commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts, Arsis & Thesis
(meaning "unstressed" and "stressed", or "upbeat"
and "downbeat") takes as its point of departure the inhalations and
exhalations of the human breath - the most fundamental aspect of flute-playing.
The piece maintains a dark, brooding atmosphere, exploiting sweeping harmonic
gestures in the flute over subtly changing piano chords.
- Mark McGregor