Saturday 25 October 2025
by Franz Schubert
This song is based on a poem by Friedrich Klopstock, in which the poet writes about the love of his own life, Margarethe Moller, whom he called Meta and, in poems, Cidli. This poem dates from 1753, the year before he married her.
In 1815 Franz Schubert set the poem to music, and the result is a wonderful fusion of styles and emotions. The main melody of the piece is sensual and loving, while the piano accompaniment is almost hymn-like in its choral progression. Yet both these seemingly contradictory elements fit effortlessly together.
Friday 24 October 2025
Traditional Irish jig
This jig appear to be unique to Chicago Police Captain Francis O'Neill's collection The Dance Music of Ireland, published in 1907.
In order to fit the range of the concert flute, we have transposed the melody up from G major to C major.
The word ‛punch’, first recorded in English in 1669, derives from a Hindi word, panch, meaning ‛five’, because of its five ingredients: spirits, water, lemon juice, sugar and spices. According to liquor historian David Wondrich, the drink became popular with British seamen who sailed into the tropics. In those times a sailor's beer ration was ten pints per day, but the warm temperatures caused the beer to spoil. As punch had more staying power in those climes, it quickly became a prized substitute.
Thursday 23 October 2025
from “24 Etudes for Flute”
Here is another étude by Danish flutist Joachim Andersen. This “Moderato assai” in G minor is study No. 22 from his Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 33.
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.