Single Yellow Line

Single Yellow Line is an upbeat, cool and groove-driven work for mixed-ability flute choir, written to bring contemporary and extended flute techniques to players of widely differing levels within the same ensemble.

The vibe is: Ocean’s Eleven after they’ve robbed the casino.

The individual parts are deliberately written at different technical levels, allowing developing players to perform alongside strong intermediate and advanced flutists. It makes an excellent addition to a flute ensemble concert, flute day, workshop or mixed-ability flute choir programme.

I wrote Single Yellow Line following the success of The Flutewise Theme!, my first original flute choir composition. My aim was again to bring the exciting world of contemporary and extended flute techniques to a wider audience through accessible, fun music that can both welcome and challenge flute players of different ages and standards.

The piece received its premiere at the Sir James Galway Flute Festival in August 2013 and has since gone on to become a favourite at flute events around the world.

Quick details

• Mixed-ability flute choir / flute ensemble

• Suitable for players from Developing to Advanced

• Parts specifically written at different technical levels

• Optional Alto Flute and Bass Flute

• Contemporary and extended flute techniques

• Upbeat, rhythmic and groove-driven

• Particularly suited to flute days, workshops and mixed-ability ensembles

• Printed score purchasers can request complimentary PDF individual flute parts

Instrumentation & player levels

• Part 1: Flute
  Advanced – Advanced High School / Pre-College

• Part 2: Flute
  Upper Intermediate to Advanced – Strong High School

• Part 3: Flute
  Upper Intermediate – Advanced Middle School

• Part 4: Flute
  Intermediate – Strong Middle School

• Part 5: Flute
  Developing Intermediate – Average Middle School

• Part 6: Flute
  Developing – typically suitable for players with around 18 months or more of playing experience

• Part 7: Alto Flute, optional
  Upper Intermediate to Advanced

• Part 8: Bass Flute, optional
  Upper Intermediate to Advanced

The Alto Flute and Bass Flute parts are optional, allowing the piece to work with a conventional concert-flute ensemble while giving choirs with low flutes the opportunity to add extra depth and colour.

Listen & learn

Below you can watch the premiere performance of Single Yellow Line at the Sir James Galway Flute Festival & a fantastic rendition by Emily Beynon and the NeFlAc Flute Ensemble which was recorded for commercial release following a performance at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

You’ll also find my instructional video demonstrating the contemporary and extended techniques required in the piece, which can be useful when preparing the work with an ensemble.

Lastly there is also a fantastic performance of Single Yellow Line recorded at the AFLAUP Festival in Porto, Portugal, which can be found via my Facebook page.

Printed score + complimentary PDF parts

If you purchase the printed score, you can also request a complimentary PDF set of the individual flute parts during checkout.

These are provided to save conductors and ensemble directors the need to photocopy individual parts from the printed score.

The story behind the title:

It is actually transport - or traffic related. 

In the UK - there are Yellow Lines painted on the roads to indicate parking restrictions. A double yellow line means no parking ever - where as a single yellow line means that there are ordinarily parking restrictions in force - but at certain (specified - varying from city-to-city) times - you can park on these lines for free.

In London on Sundays - and after 6:30pm every evening - if you can find a Single Yellow Line on the road - it means you can park on it for free all day/evening! Obviously it makes these quite desirable things to find - as parking can be expensive in London.

My ex-wife and I used to SING at each other all the time. It was a weird thing - but it was part of our relationship for eleven years!

So - one Sunday she and I were driving round trying to find a Single Yellow Line - and on the Edgware Road  - I saw one and immediately sang (to the tune of Single Yellow Line): 

“I SPY A SINGLE YELLOW LINE!”

And then followed it up with “I SPY A SINGLE YELLOW LINE - A SINGLE YELLOW LINE TO PARK UPON!”

And if you say this to yourself - you have the rhythm of the main theme!

The resulting Bus/Truck air brakes sound that is found in the “TSSS” effect fitted with this traffic based theme - so I thought it was perfect!

Frequently asked questions

What level is Single Yellow Line?
The piece is designed specifically for a mixed-ability flute ensemble. Individual parts range from Developing through to Advanced, allowing players of significantly different experience levels to perform together.

Do I need alto and bass flutes?
No. The Alto Flute and Bass Flute parts are optional, so the piece can be performed using concert flutes alone.

Does the piece use extended techniques?
Yes. Contemporary and extended flute techniques are an important part of the piece, but they are introduced in an accessible and enjoyable musical context. An instructional video demonstrating the required techniques is included on this page.

What sort of character does the piece have?
Cool, rhythmic and upbeat. The shorthand I’ve always used is Ocean’s Eleven after they’ve robbed the casino.

Is Single Yellow Line suitable for a mixed-ability flute choir?
Yes. That is one of the main ideas behind the piece. The parts are deliberately written at different levels so developing, intermediate and advanced players can all contribute meaningfully to the same performance.

Are individual PDF parts available with the printed score?
Yes. Purchasers of the printed score can request complimentary PDF individual flute parts when ordering.