Wednesday 22 October 2025
from Forty Progressive Duets for Two Flutes
This wonderful Marziale for two flutes in E minor is taken from Ernesto Köhler's collection of progressive duets, Op. 55 Vol. I. The first flute plays a “large”, songful theme, while the second flute is assigned a restless accompaniment mostly made up of sixteenth notes. At the beginning and at the end of the piece, however, the two flutes play in octaves, so play close attention to your intonation!
Tuesday 21 October 2025
The most famous tango of all time
“La Cumparsita” (“The little parade”) is undoubtedly the most widespread tango, the one that every person recognizes apart from its version, the one used as an icon to represent the whole genre. It was initially a little march, composed by the young student of architecture, Gerardo Hernán Matos Rodríguez on an uncertain date, that we can place between the late 1915 and the early 1916, for the carnival marching band organized by the Federation of Students of Uruguay.
“La Cumparsita” is very popular at Milongas, traditional events where tango is danced; it is a common tradition for it to be played for the last dance of the evening.
Monday 20 October 2025
Traditional Irish jig
This jig appear to be unique to Chicago Police Captain Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection The Dance Music of Ireland, published in 1907. However, the first strain bears some resemblance to another tune known as “The Devil in Ireland”, which is first found in the 1823–26 manuscript collection of English fiddler Joshua Gibbons.
Sunday 19 October 2025
from “Thirty Easy and Progressive Studies”
This is étude No. 11 from Italian Romantic composer Giuseppe Gariboldi's collection of 30 Etudes faciles et progressives.
Saturday 18 October 2025
from Canonic Sonata for Two Flutes No. 4
Here is the first movement of Georg Philipp Telemann's fourth Canonic Sonata for two flutes. From a rhythmic point of view, this “Vivace ma moderato” may sound a little strange, because it is in 3/4 time but starts off giving the impression of being in 6/8.
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.