Entanglement (PDF)

Winner of the National Flute Association's 2024 Newly Published Music Competition in the Flute Duet/Trio Category

Entanglement was commissioned by Alexandra Aguirre and Nathaniel Berman. The pair, who happen to be married to each other, have a mutual interest in particles and space. Lately their discussions have been focused around entanglement.

Entanglement refers to quantum entanglement which also seems like a good metaphor for the married relationship. When two particles are linked up, their states remain linked - no matter how much distance is between them. With strong communication and connection two entities can still be bonded together.

The first movement was inspired by one of the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, superposition. Superposition can be the combination of two distinct physical phenomena, like a wavelength, of the same type. These two separate physical phenomena coexist as part of the same event. In the first movement, Superposition, you can hear the interchange between both parts completing each other’s musical idea, but its also a private communication which leads us to the second movement, Secure Communication. Secure Communication continues the exchange between both voices, but it has become a more even and methodical conversation. The meter stays in a secure, even, and familiar 4/4 for the majority of the piece before evolving into the 3rd movement, Maximal Coordination, which is quite the opposite. Maximal Coordination is inspired by how two entangled particles, even though very far apart, can still yeild the same out come. Even though the meters change, the key signature changes, both voices end at the same pitch and time which cements their relationship no matter how physically distant.