Free Flute Sheet Music

Tune of the Day: Paddy O'Carroll

The earliest known appearance of this tune is found in Richard Fitzmaurice's Fitzmaurice's New Collection of Irish Tunes, published in Edinburgh in 1807. Fitzmaurice's title was “Rossy Castle”, a reference to Ross Castle in Killarney (Co. Kerry) which suggests that the tune probably has Irish origins.

The name “Paddy O'Carroll”, which must have been acquired as a title soon afterwards, apparently has theatrical associations: a 1784 Dublin production bears the title The New Register Office; or, Paddy O'Carrol in High Life.

During the American Civil War, a song emerged among pro-Union Irishmen called “The Opinions of Paddy McGee” which used this tune as its melody.

Tune of the Day: Tristesse

This piece was originally composed by Frédéric Chopin as an étude for solo piano. It is a slow cantabile study, and marks a significant departure from the technical virtuosity required in études before Chopin's time. It concentrates on melodious phrasing and legato ambiance of performance more than technical skill. It has been classified as a tone poem for piano by some critics, and is highly regarded as a quality manifestation of Chopin's love for Romantic opera and Poland, where he was born.

A famous anecdote relates how the composer, while teaching this particular work to a pupil, broke down and cried out, “Oh, my homeland!”. Chopin was said to have also noted this piece as the most personal piece he composed, stating that

In all my life I have never again been able to find such a beautiful melody.

This Étude is also known as “Tristesse”, meaning “sadness” in French.

Tune of the Day: Gavotte by Mattheson

This is the fourth and final movement of a sonata for 3 flutes in B-flat major by the German Baroque composer and music theorist Johann Mattheson. It was published in Amsterdam in 1708.

Tune of the Day: Bist du bei mir

This piece is often mistakenly attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach due to its inclusion in the famous Notebook for Anna Magdalena, but the aria was actually part of the Stölzel opera Diomedes oder die triumphierende Unschuld (1718), whose score is now lost.

With its infinitely sweet melody, “Bist du bei mir” has recently become a very popular choice for wedding ceremonies and other such occasions.

Tune of the Day: Daniel of the Sun

The earliest appearance of this tune is in Irish violinist R.M. Levey's second collection of The Dance Music of Ireland, published in London in 1873.

This lightly ornamented three-part setting is taken from Francis O'Neill's The Dance Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1907.

Tune of the Day: Study in B minor by Clinton

Today we propose a little study 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.

Tune of the Day: Adagio by Mattheson

This is the third movement of a sonata for 3 flutes in B-flat major by the German Baroque composer and music theorist Johann Mattheson. It was published in Amsterdam in 1708.

This movement appears to lack a tempo indication in the original manuscripts, but modern editions usually classify it as an Adagio.