Thursday 1 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Chocolate Rain

 arranged for flute and piano

When 24-year-old Minneapolis-born artist Tay Zonday uploaded a music video of his original song “Chocolate Rain” on Youtube in April 2007, little did he know that it would become an instant viral hit, achieving over 100 million views. Within four months, Tay was making appearances on national television, and even made the front page of the Los Angeles Times!

Musically, “Chocolate Rain” has two very distinctive features: a hypnotically repetitive keyboard loop, and Tay Zonday's unique bass singing voice. Sadly, at first not many people seemed to pay much attention to the lyrics, which carried the most important message. As the artist subsequently made clear in interviews, “Chocolate Rain” is, in fact, a metaphor for racism against African Americans.

The song quickly became the subject of numerous tributes, parodies, remixes, and covers. Major musical artists (such as John Mayer and Green Day drummer Tré Cool) have spoofed the song in concert, on TV, and on YouTube.

Today, we are proud to present you our version of “Chocolate Rain” for flute and piano. Enjoy!

Categories: Contemporary Internet memes Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 2 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Courante by Boismortier

 from Sonata for 3 Flutes in E minor

This courante is the second movement of a sonata for 3 flutes in E minor by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. It was first published in Paris in 1725.

Categories: Baroque Courantes Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 3 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Study in A minor by De Michelis

 from “24 Exercises”

Today's piece is the second study from a collection of 24 esercizi by Italian flutist and composer Vincenzo De Michelis.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 4 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Paddy O'Rafferty

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest known appearance of this jig is in the First Book of Niel Gow's Reels, published in 1784. The tune is extremely well known in Ireland, and as music collector Breandán Breathnach once remarked, “there are as many versions of it as there are musicians”.

One of the most singular instances of the tune is on the barrel organ from the polar expedition of Admiral Parry of 1819. In place of a ship's fiddler, which was common in those days, Parry introduced a mechanical barrel organ on board ship to provide entertainment. “Paddy O’Rafferty” was one of 31 dance tunes that accompanied him and his men on their expedition to the North Pole.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 5 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Scherzo by Braun

 from “Pièces sans basse”

This pair of scherzos constitutes the seventh of Jean-Daniel Braun's Pièces sans basse for flute or bassoon, published in Paris in 1740 together with Braun's Flute Sonata in E minor. These solo pieces are usually attributed to Braun, even though the front page states that they are “by the same author as well as by various others”.

Categories: Baroque Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 6 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Tendrement by Boismortier

 from Sonata for 3 Flutes in E minor

This is the third movement of a sonata for 3 flutes in E minor by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. It was first published in Paris in 1725.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 7 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Study in C major by Clinton

 from “A Theoretical and Practical Essay on the Boehm Flute”

Today we propose a little study in C major by British flutist and composer John Clinton. It was first published in London in 1843, as part of his A Theoretical and Practical Essay on the Boehm Flute.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: easy
Thursday 8 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Dodd Copeland

 by Rory Campbell

Today's tune is taken from a collection kindly donated to us by piper Roddy Campbell from the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This piece, featuring both 3/4 and 7/8-time parts, was composed by his son Rory, who recorded it on his 2007 album Intrepid.

Categories: Celtic Music Contemporary Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 9 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Minuetto by Braun

 from “Pièces sans basse”

This minuet is the eighth of Jean-Daniel Braun's Pièces sans basse for flute or bassoon, published in Paris in 1740 together with Braun's Flute Sonata in E minor. These solo pieces are usually attributed to Braun, even though the front page states that they are “by the same author as well as by various others”.

Categories: Baroque Minuets Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 10 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Gigue by Boismortier

 from Sonata for 3 Flutes in E minor

This is the fourth and final movement of a sonata for 3 flutes in E minor by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. It was first published in Paris in 1725.

Categories: Baroque Jigs Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 11 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Study in G major by De Michelis

 from “24 Exercises”

Today's piece is the third study from a collection of 24 esercizi by Italian flutist and composer Vincenzo De Michelis.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: advanced
Monday 12 February 2024

Tune of the Day: I Do Not Incline

 Traditional Irish jig

The title of this jig is presumably the opening lines to a song, which seems however to have been lost to time.

The earliest appearance of the tune is in the third volume of Edward Bunting's The Ancient Music of Ireland, published in Dublin in 1840. Bunting had obtained the tune from “J. McCracken, Esq., Belfast”, in 1810. Captain John McCracken was a seafarer, as well as a rope and cloth manufacturer, and associated with many of Belfast's leading philanthropic ventures. He notably established the Marine Charitable Society, a charity into which sailors could pay regular contributions and receive benefits in sickness and old age.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Tuesday 13 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Inventione by Braun

 from “Pièces sans basse”

This is the ninth of Jean-Daniel Braun's Pièces sans basse for flute or bassoon, published in Paris in 1740 together with Braun's Flute Sonata in E minor. These solo pieces are usually attributed to Braun, even though the front page states that they are “by the same author as well as by various others”.

Categories: Baroque Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 14 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Prelude by Mattheson

 from Flute Sonata No. 3

This is the opening movement of a sonata for 3 flutes in G minor by the German Baroque composer and music theorist Johann Mattheson. It was published in Amsterdam in 1708.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 15 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Study in G major by Clinton

 from “A Theoretical and Practical Essay on the Boehm Flute”

Today we propose a little study in G major by British flutist and composer John Clinton. It was first published in London in 1843, as part of his A Theoretical and Practical Essay on the Boehm Flute.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: easy
Friday 16 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Cheese and Bread and Ham

 by Rory Campbell

Today's tune is taken from a collection kindly donated to us by piper Roddy Campbell from the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This piece was composed by his son Rory, who recorded it on his 2001 album Nusa.

Categories: Celtic Music Contemporary Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 17 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Fantasia by Braun

 from “Pièces sans basse”

This is the tenth of Jean-Daniel Braun's Pièces sans basse for flute or bassoon, published in Paris in 1740 together with Braun's Flute Sonata in E minor. These solo pieces are usually attributed to Braun, even though the front page states that they are “by the same author as well as by various others”.

Categories: Baroque Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 18 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Mattheson

 from Flute Sonata No. 3

This is the second movement of a sonata for 3 flutes in G minor by the German Baroque composer and music theorist Johann Mattheson. It was published in Amsterdam in 1708.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 19 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Study in E minor by De Michelis

 from “24 Exercises”

Today's piece is the fourth study from a collection of 24 esercizi by Italian flutist and composer Vincenzo De Michelis.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: advanced
Tuesday 20 February 2024

Tune of the Day: The Market Town

 Traditional Irish jig

This catchy jig is taken from Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 21 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Capriccio by Braun

 from “Pièces sans basse”

This is the eleventh of Jean-Daniel Braun's Pièces sans basse for flute or bassoon, published in Paris in 1740 together with Braun's Flute Sonata in E minor. These solo pieces are usually attributed to Braun, even though the front page states that they are “by the same author as well as by various others”.

Categories: Baroque Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 22 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Chaconne by Mattheson

 from Flute Sonata No. 3

This heartbreakingly beautiful chaconne is the third and final movement of a sonata for 3 flutes in G minor by the German Baroque composer and music theorist Johann Mattheson. It was published in Amsterdam in 1708.

Categories: Baroque Chaconnes Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 23 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Study in A major by Clinton

 from “A Theoretical and Practical Essay on the Boehm Flute”

Today we propose a little study in A major by British flutist and composer John Clinton. It was first published in London in 1843, as part of his A Theoretical and Practical Essay on the Boehm Flute.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: easy
Saturday 24 February 2024

Tune of the Day: One Fine Day

 by Rory Campbell

Today's tune is taken from a collection kindly donated to us by piper Roddy Campbell from the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This energizing 5/8-time piece was composed by his son Rory.

Categories: Celtic Music Contemporary Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 25 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Concerto by Braun

 from “Pièces sans basse”

This is the twelfth of Jean-Daniel Braun's Pièces sans basse for flute or bassoon, published in Paris in 1740 together with Braun's Flute Sonata in E minor. These solo pieces are usually attributed to Braun, even though the front page states that they are “by the same author as well as by various others”.

Despite being called a “Concerto”, this piece is most definitely not a concerto in the classical (or even baroque!) sense of the term, not only because it is just a single movement, but also, and more importantly, because it does not have any form of accompaniment.

Categories: Baroque Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 26 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Prelude by Mattheson

 from Flute Sonata No. 1

This is the opening movement of a sonata for 2 flutes in D minor by the German Baroque composer and music theorist Johann Mattheson. It was published in Amsterdam in 1708.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 27 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Study in D major by De Michelis

 from “24 Exercises”

This Cantabile in the romantic style is the fifth study from a collection of 24 esercizi by Italian flutist and composer Vincenzo De Michelis.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: advanced
Wednesday 28 February 2024

Tune of the Day: The Humors of Castlelyons

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest appearance of this jig is found in the c. 1841 manuscript collection of Dublin collector Henry Hudson. In Irish Folk Music: A Fascinating Hobby (1910), Francis O'Neill says the tune is “probably not a very ancient composition. It was not known, evidently, to any collectors of Irish folk music before Dr. Hudson obtained a setting of it from a noted piper named Sullivan, in the County of Cork (a rival of another musician called Reilaghan). The tune has found its way into American collections of harmonized melodies.”

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Thursday 29 February 2024

Tune of the Day: Inventione by Braun

 from “Pièces sans basse”

This is the thirteenth of Jean-Daniel Braun's Pièces sans basse for flute or bassoon, published in Paris in 1740 together with Braun's Flute Sonata in E minor. These solo pieces are usually attributed to Braun, even though the front page states that they are “by the same author as well as by various others”.

This piece is unique in Braun's collection in that it features the appearance of a second voice during sustained trills. We are not entirely certain as to whether the composer intended these additional notes to be played inside the trill, breaking it, or if a second player is required to play them; we are however more inclined towards the latter hypothesis.

Categories: Baroque Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate