Friday 17 October 2025
by Henry Purcell
The Double Dealer, a comedy accompanied by music, was one of two collaborations between Henry Purcell and William Congreve. At the time he wrote it, Congreve wasn't quite comfortable writing plays with music in them; however, the suite of instrumental music which Purcell composed for the play in 1693 greatly enhances it.
The light, easy-going Air in D minor was originally composed for keyboard, and in recent times it has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity due to its inclusion as one of the first pieces in Carl Humphries' The Piano Handbook. An interesting fact about this tune is that it's very easy to come up with a few nice variations.
Thursday 16 October 2025
Traditional Irish jig
This jig appears to be unique to Chicago Police Captain Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection The Dance Music of Ireland, published in 1907.
Wednesday 15 October 2025
from “20 Easy and Melodic Studies”
This étude in G major is taken from the second book of Twenty Easy Melodic Progressive Studies by Italian composer Ernesto Köhler.
Tuesday 14 October 2025
from Forty Progressive Duets for Two Flutes
Here is another duet by Italian composer Ernesto Köhler. This common-time duet in D major is No. 11 of the first volume of his Forty Progressive Duets. The main theme is introduced by the first flute and then repeated by the second flute; in the central part, however, the second flute is relegated to an accompaniment function.
Monday 13 October 2025
from Alexander Borodin's “Polovtsian Dances”
The Polovtsian Dances constitute the best known selections from Alexander Borodin's 1890 opera Prince Igor. They were originally part of Act II, but they are now often played as a stand-alone concert piece.
Dance No. 17, titled “Polovtsian Dance with Chorus”, has become particularly famous. Most of its themes were incorporated into the 1953 musical Kismet, best known of which is the “Gliding Dance of the Maidens”, adapted for the song ”Stranger in Paradise”. The most popular version of this song was sung by Tony Bennett, and it reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in May 1955. Artie Shaw's “My Fantasy”, recorded in 1940, also has a tune virtually identical to this dance.
Sunday 12 October 2025
Traditional Irish jig
This minor-mode jig is unique to Chicago Police Captain Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection The Dance Music of Ireland, published in 1907.
Saturday 11 October 2025
from “24 Etudes for Flute”
Here is another étude in double-tonguing by Danish flutist Joachim Andersen. This Moderato in B-flat major is study No. 21 from his Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 33.