Along with ‘maya’, ‘Sunstreams’ & ‘Sunday Morning’, ‘Hypnosis’ lies in the category
of pieces that are re-workings of tracks originally co-written by Ian with David
Hicks and Simon Painter when they worked together both in the studio and as a performing
rock group. Chronologically they are the oldest in origin although they were revisited
by Ian some years after the group disbanded. ‘Hypnosis’ was one of the most popular
tracks in live performance alongside a more conventional set of rock songs. It evolved
as a structured improvisation over numerous gigs between 1986 & 1988. The piece
was developed into a piano and flute piece by Ian in 1994. Many of the sixteenth/semi-quaver
motifs of the piano were amongst new developments whilst the original opening bass
line can still be heard. Inevitably due to the nature of its evolution as a piece
the line of the flute has a naturally expressive, free and organic quality. There
are no required extended techniques and the piece does not require open-holes or
a B foot joint; there is an optional bend to the last note. There are easier alternatives
for some of the runs and an optional high D climax; the less virtuosic runs are marked
as the principal option whilst the more difficult runs are marked as the ossia or
alternative. ‘Hypnosis’ has been selected for the 2007 Trinity Guildhall grade 8
flute syllabus.