janus was formed with the goal of creating new sounds for the flute/viola/harp combination. We are also committed to bridging the gap between performer, composer and listener. One step toward these goals has been the creation of an open dialogue between ourselves and other artists who are enthusiastic about discovering the future of the flute/viola/harp trio and its potential sounds. The “Composers Forum” is not only a great resource for composers to learn more about the characteristics and sonic possibilities of our instruments, but also provides janus with the opportunity to meet and work with up-and-coming writers. The flute/viola/harp repertoire may be as small as it is because many composers are not comfortable writing for these three very different instruments. To further our goal of building the trio repertoire, janus has worked with composers from the music departments of Yale, Princeton, NYU and Harvard Universities in composition and/or orchestration classes.

In the “Composers Forum,” janus will work very closely with composition students to craft a new work for our three very diverse instruments. We always encourage composers to think outside the box and bring in found sounds, other instruments (to be played by the trio), electronics or extended techniques. After presenting the “Composers Forum” in the past, we’ve been told that working with janus was an invaluable experience, helping student composers deal with both the complexity of writing for each of the instruments individually and the challenge of creating unified, cohesive sounds.

Residencies can take a few different forms:

1. Multiple Visit: janus can collaborate on multiple works with composers several times over the course of a semester, culminating in a composers’ concert where all of the new works are presented. A multiple-visit residency offers the best opportunity for the growth of the composer, as janus can establish a relationship with the composer and work collaboratively to craft a piece that is technically playable and effectively designed. Ultimately, janus will premiere the new compositions in a concert hosted by the school. janus will also present faculty compositions written for the trio, if these are available.

2. Multi-Day: In this residency option, janus spends two or three days at the university learning and revising the pieces students have been crafting over the course of the semester. Since our goal is always to present concerts of the highest caliber, this format does not always culminate in a concert as we may not have enough time with the new compositions.

3. Single Day: A single day residency typically takes the form of a lecture and Q&A format. Through demonstration, janus discusses the pitfalls and triumphs in the existing compositions for the trio and how to effectively write for the diverse combination of flute/viola/harp. Participation from all interested parties is encouraged through question-and-answer dialogue.

In all scenarios and with the cooperation of the recording studio at the school, we try to provide a recording for the composers that they may use in their future endeavors.