Friday 6 December 2024
from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera “The Magic Flute”
In the Act I finale of “The Magic Flute”, three boys lead the hero Tamino into a grove wherein three temples stand: in the center, the Temple of Wisdom; on the right, the Temple of Reason; on the left, the Temple of Nature. Singing a calm, stately trio they tell him some wise advice for his quest:
To your goal leads this path;
Therefore, listen to our lesson:
Be steadfast, patient, and remain silent.
This piece was arranged as a flute duet by the great German composer Bernhard Romberg.
Thursday 5 December 2024
from Erik Satie's “Trois Gymnopédies”
The Gymnopédies, published in Paris starting in 1888, are three piano compositions written by French composer and pianist Erik Satie. These short, atmospheric pieces are written in 3/4 time, with each sharing a common theme and structure. Collectively, the Gymnopédies are regarded as the precursors to modern ambient music. Though gentle, they are somewhat eccentric, and when composed they defied the classical tradition. For instance, the first few bars feature an alternating progression of two major seventh chords, the first on the subdominant, G, and the second on the tonic, D. This kind of harmony was almost entirely unknown at the time.
Wednesday 4 December 2024
Traditional Irish jig
This jig is taken from Francis O'Neill's The Dance Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1907. O'Neill states that the tune was “in some form known all throughout Munster. A strain remembered by from my mother's singing of it was added to Delaney's version, making a total of six in our printed setting.”
Frieze is a coarse woolen fabric with a rough surface. The title refers to clothing made from the material, once common in Ireland. However, the title is often rendered as “The Friar's Britches” due to the similarity of “frieze” and “friars” when spoken.
Tuesday 3 December 2024
from “20 Easy and Melodic Studies”
This easy étude in G major is taken from the first book of Twenty Easy Melodic Progressive Studies by Italian composer Ernesto Köhler.
Thanks to Bruno for contributing this piece!
Monday 2 December 2024
Flute duet by Georg Philipp Telemann
This is the fourth and last movement from the second of Telemann's Sonates sans Basse à deux Flutes traverses, ou à deux Violons, ou à deux Flutes à bec, or “Sonatas without Bass for Two Transverse Flutes, or Two Violins, or Two Recorders”. You should be aware that this sonata is sometimes referred to as Sonata No. 1. We have already posted the other three movements from the sonata, and you can find them here: Dolce, Allegro, Largo.
Sunday 1 December 2024
from Flute Sonata in D major
This Allegro is the fourth and final movement of the fifth of the six Op. 7 flute sonatas with bass accompaniment by French flutist and composer Jean-Daniel Braun, published in Paris in 1736.
Saturday 30 November 2024
Traditional Irish jig
This lively jig appears to be unique to Chicago Police captain Francis O'Neill's collection The Dance Music of Ireland, published in 1907.