This Allegro is the fourth and final movement of the eighth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.
Today we propose a canzonet by William Jackson of Exeter, an English organist and composer of the Classical period. Jackson composed two operas and a large number of songs, but was also a painter, a writer, and an amateur astronomer. Tenor Michael Kelly remembered him as “a man of great taste and musical research, but very eccentric”.
The present arrangement for two flutes is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833.
This is the twenty-first piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.
This Dorian-mode Irish air is taken from Francis O'Neill's Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. O'Neill's source was James Whiteside, the “Bard of Bray”, County Wicklow.
This Aria is the third movement of the sixth sonata from Six Sonates pour la Flûte traversière avec la Basse, Op. 44 by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. These sonatas were originally published in Paris in 1733.
This chaconne is the closing movement of the last of six Concerts à deux Flutes Traversières sans Basse by the French Baroque composer Michel Pignolet de Montéclair. Here the French word concert is a synonym of “suite”, and has nothing to do with the Italian concerto.
This is the twenty-second piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.
This Irish air is taken from Francis O'Neill's Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. O'Neill's source was James Whiteside, the “Bard of Bray”, County Wicklow.
Today's piece was kindly contributed to our collection by its composer, Paul Merkus. It is an arrangement of a new piano piece, also written by Merkus in 2020.
This short piece, titled “Lumière” (French for “light”), tries to express the atmosphere of a radiant summer day. It is an Allegretto full of exuberant liveliness and playful energy. The marcato middle section is followed by a reprise of the opening theme, with richer figures and an extended coda.
This popular piece was written by Henry Harington, an 18th-century English physician, author and composer who also served as the mayor of Bath. It is a catch, meaning that all parts repeatedly play the same melody starting at different times.
The present arrangement for three flutes is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833.
This is the twenty-third piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.
This song was composed by Pista Dankó (1858–1903), a Hungarian-born bandleader and composer belonging to the Romani people. He primarily worked in the folk music styles popular in Hungary in the 19th century. He was frequently known by the nickname “Nótafa”, a Hungarian word meaning “ballad-singer of folk music”.
The Hungarian title can be translated as “One Kitten, Two Kittens". Here is a rough translation of the lyrics:
One kitty, two kitties, a hundred kitties, oh no,
Are chasing the teeny-tiny mouse.
Little Teca, Big Teca, Katica, oh no,
Love but me alone.
Oh no, beautiful are the kittens, the kittens,
Yet even more beautiful is Little Teca.
One kitty, two kitties, a hundred kitties, oh no,
Captured the teeny-tiny mouse.
Thanks to Phil for suggesting this piece!
This Andante is the opening movement of the ninth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.
This is the first duet from Trente-six Petits Duos Mélodiques Faciles et Chantants pour deux Flûtes (36 Easy Flute Duets) by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.
Today's piece is the first study from 40 Nuovi Studi, Op. 75, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.
This study has also been published as the first piece in a selection of 24 Studies for Flute from Hugues's Opp. 32 and 75.
This Irish air is taken from Francis O'Neill's Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. O'Neill's source was James Whiteside, the “Bard of Bray”, County Wicklow.
This Aria is the fourth and final movement of the sixth sonata from Six Sonates pour la Flûte traversière avec la Basse, Op. 44 by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. These sonatas were originally published in Paris in 1733.
This flute duet is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833.
We suspect the piece to have American origins, but unfortunately we were unable to trace its composer. The oldest reference we could find for this tune is a piano arrangement dating back to 1817.
This is the twenty-fourth piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.
There is no doubt that “Limerick's Lamentation” is related to the Scottish lament “Lochaber No More”. The two melodies may have had a common ancestry, although provenance is claimed by both Ireland and Scotland. Irish folk musician Robin Morton (1976) says the weight of evidence lends credence to the Scots claim, despite Francis O'Neill's seemingly cogent argument that a tune composed by the 17th century County Cavan harper Myles O'Reilly was the common ancestor of both. The esteemed harper Thomas Connellon has also been given credit for the tune. In 1922, O'Neill wrote: “As far back as 1676, this melody was referred to as ‛The Irish Tune’.”
The Irish version, also known as “Marbhna Luimní”, derives its title from the siege and fall of the city of Limerick to the English forces of Ginkel in 1691, at the end of the Williamite Wars. The tune is sometimes known as “Sarsfield's Lamentation”, from the name of the commander of the Irish forces at Limerick.
This Largo is the second movement of the ninth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.
This is the first duet from Trente-six Petits Duos Mélodiques Faciles et Chantants pour deux Flûtes (36 Easy Flute Duets) by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.
Today's piece is the second study from 40 Nuovi Studi, Op. 75, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.
This study has also been published as the second piece in a selection of 24 Studies for Flute from Hugues's Opp. 32 and 75.
This Jacobite song is taken from Burk Thumoth's collection Twelve Scotch and Twelve Irish Airs with Variations, published in London in 1748. According to Francis O'Neill (1922), the title refers to King Philip IV of Spain, who died in 1665.
This Allegro is the third and final movement of the ninth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.
This arrangement for two flutes of an early 19th-century ballad is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. It is attributed to Bohemian composer and piano virtuoso Ignaz Moscheles.
This is the twenty-fifth piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.
The earliest known appearance of this tune in print is in Book 8 of Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion (c. 1760). Tune collector Francis O'Neill wrote, in his Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody (1922):
In former times it was much more common to find a white stripe along the spine of brown or black cows, and this coloration was called “Druim-fionn”, or white-black. which became “Drimmin” or “Drimen”. Thus we have “Drimmin-fionn-dubh” or White-back black cow, etc. In poetical literature those titles are allegorical. “Drimmin Dhu” was a political password among the Irish Jacobites, and all “Drimmin” songs breathe a spirit of fealty to the Jacobite cause.
The Scottish national poet Robert Burns used the melody for his song “Gloomy Night is Gath'ring Fast” in 1786.
This Largo is the opening movement of the tenth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.
This is the third duet from Trente-six Petits Duos Mélodiques Faciles et Chantants pour deux Flûtes (36 Easy Flute Duets) by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.
Today's piece is the third study from 40 Nuovi Studi, Op. 75, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.
This study has also been published as the third piece in a selection of 24 Studies for Flute from Hugues's Opp. 32 and 75.
Another year, another 366 tunes of the day! It is simply incredible to think that our collection of flute music has grown to host over 4000 pieces.
Once again, a huge thank you to everybody for sharing your passion for the flute with us! In these hard times of self-isolation, we hope that you are finding comfort in good music!