Arsis & Thesis
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