Free Flute Sheet Music

Tune of the Day: Entr'acte No. 3

In 1823 Schubert provided an overture and ten numbers for a play called Rosamunde, Fürstin von Zypern (“Rosamunde, Princess of Cyprus”) by Wilhelmine von Chézy. The play was a resounding flop, closing in two nights, but the music was well-received. Even so, Schubert did not take advantage of the evident high regard the audience had for it by extracting the music for concert purposes; that service was not performed until 1867, when George Grove and Arthur Sullivan made their famous discovery of a treasury of forgotten Schubert scores.

The Entr'acte No. 3 in B-flat major is one of the two best-known pieces in the score, the other being Ballet Music No. 2. Schubert reused the main theme of this entr'acte in the second movement of his String Quartet in A minor, D.804 and, in a modified form, in the Impromptu in B-flat, D.935, No. 3.

Tune of the Day: Tim the Thatcher

This tune is taken from Chicago Police Chief Francis O'Neill's collection Music of Ireland, published in 1903. The source for this tune was Mary O'Neill, the sister of Sergeant James O'Neill, who also emigrated to Chicago. They are no relation to Francis O'Neill, but James assisted greatly on Chief O'Neill's volumes, and Francis wrote in a letter to A.P. Graves that Mary was skillful on the mandolin and violin.

Tune of the Day: Study in D minor by Gariboldi

This study in articulation is étude No. 21 from Italian Romantic composer Giuseppe Gariboldi's collection of 30 Etudes faciles et progressives.

Tune of the Day: Storybook Fanfare

Today's piece, “a fanfare with a fairy tale vibe”, was kindly contributed to our collection by its composers, Anne E. McKennon and Sophia Parra.

Once upon a time, Anne McKennon and Sophia Parra formed a flute duo playing concerts with sonatas, poetry, character pieces, and narrated musical stories. Storybook Fanfare (formerly Fanfare No. 1) began as a theme song to introduce those concerts. As it turns out, the fanfare held potential. With a little more imagination, it now fits ensembles large and small. It is filled with the charm and curiosity of “Once upon a time...”
I wonder what happens next?

Tune of the Day: Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral

This piece, taken from Wagner's 1850 opera Lohengrin, occurs at Act II, Scene 4, where all are going to the Minster for the ceremony that will occur at the beginning of Act III. The piece starts with a subtle opening which sets the stage for a dramatic build-up, leading very well into any triumphant piece, particularly the famous Bridal Chorus, which falls immediately after this piece in the opera.

Thanks to Anastasia for suggesting this piece!

Tune of the Day: Moll in the Wad

The earliest appearance of this tune is in the 5th volume of James Aird's Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, published in Glasgow in 1797.

The word ‛wad’ at one time signified (a bundle of) straw, so that the title means “Moll in the straw” (possibly meaning “after childbirth”), although ‛wad’ has also been taken to mean ‛wood’. Barry Callaghan (2007) identified Moll i' the Wad, or Mother Goose, as a popular pantomime figure of the late 18th century. There are also nursery rhymes and old songs called “Moll in the Wad”.

Tune of the Day: Study in F major by Karg-Elert

This is the third étude from Sigfried Karg-Elert's 30 Caprices: a “Gradus ad Parnassum” of the modern technique for flute solo.