Free Flute Sheet Music

Tune of the Day: Allegro con brio by Beethoven

Composed in 1792, Beethoven's Flute Duo in G major was not published during the composer's lifetime, but the autograph has survived. The dedication “for friend Degenharth” (a lawyer amongst Beethoven's close circle of friends) leaves open whether the work was commissioned or a gift. Anyway, neither flute part of this charming duet is technically very demanding, and is therefore well-suited as sight-reading material.

Thanks to Lauren for suggesting this piece!

Tune of the Day: The Torture of Tantalus

Tantalus was a Greek mythological figure, most famous for his eternal punishment: to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit ever eluding his grasp, and the water always receding before he could take a drink.

This study presents two difficulties. The first difficulty, of course, concerns the fingers, since the piece must be played at a steady tempo. The second lies in the intonation of the interval C#-E, as C# tends to be too sharp and E tends to be a little flat.

Tune of the Day: The Dairy Maid's Wish

The earliest appearance of this tune is in Church of Ireland cleric James Goodman's mid-19th-century manuscripts. Goodman was an uilleann piper who collected melodies locally in County Cork as well as elsewhere in Munster.

Tune of the Day: The Thunderer

The origin of this march's evocative title, “The Thunderer”, is not clear; some have guessed that it refers to a celebrated orator of the time when it was composed (1889), or to the pyrotechnic effects of the drum and bugle in Sousa's score. Whatever the story behind its name, “The Thunderer” is one of Sousa's finest and most famous marches; it is also one of the easier Sousa marches to perform, and for this reason it was often a favorite of circus bands, who liked to take it at impressively fast tempos.

It appears that “The Thunderer” was Mrs. Sousa's favorite march, as reported by their daughter Helen.

Tune of the Day: Hymnum cantemus Domino

Composed around 1650 by Italian composer Giacomo Carissimi, Jephte is one of the most famous early-Baroque oratorios.

The work is based on the story of Jephte in the Old Testament Book of Judges. The king of the Ammonites declared war upon Israel, and Jephte promises that if he is victorious in the battle, he will sacrifice the first creature to come out of his house to greet him upon his return. The narrator describes the fight and defeat of the Ammonites, but sadly Jephte's daughter is the first to come from the house to greet him.

The piece we present today was originally a duet sung by two sopranos in response to Jephte's daughter's song to celebrate the victory over the Ammonites.

Tune of the Day: Study in A-flat major by Berbiguier

This is the ninth étude from 18 exercices pour la flûte traversière by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.

Tune of the Day: How Much Has She Got?

The earliest appearance of this tune in print is found in Francis O'Neill's collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. A nearly identical tune also appeared, under the title “The Sprightly Widow”, in Petrie's The Complete Collection of Irish Music (London, 1905), which gives as source a manuscript by John Edward Pigot (1822–1871).

The first strain is closely related to that of another melody, “The Highway to Dublin”, which dates back to the 18th century.

Tune of the Day: Largo from Xerxes

“Ombra mai fù” is the first aria of G.F. Handel's opera Xerxes. It is sung by the main character, Serse (Xerxes), in praise of a tree's shade as he sits underneath it. It is commonly known as Handel's “Largo”, although the original tempo was larghetto.

Never has there been a shade
of a plant
more dear and lovely,
or more gentle.

The opera was a commercial failure when it came out, lasting only five performances in London after its premiere. In the 19th century, however, this aria was rediscovered and became one of Handel's best-known pieces. Originally composed to be sung by a soprano castrato (and sung in modern performances of the opera by a countertenor or a mezzo-soprano), it has often been arranged for other voice types and instruments.

Tune of the Day: Sweet Hour

This is the tune to which William Walford's 1845 hymn “Sweet Hour of Prayer” is commonly sung. The present setting was published in 1861 by William B. Bradbury in his collection titled The Golden Chain. Bradbury composed many popular tunes, including “Jesus Loves Me” and “Just As I Am, Without One Plea”.

Thanks to Seleka for suggesting this tune!

Tune of the Day: Study in A minor by Andersen

This is study No. 2 from Joachim Andersen's Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 33. To be played with very clear articulation.

Tune of the Day: The Rivals

This lively three-part jig is taken from Chicago Police Captain Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection Music of Ireland, published in 1903.

Tune of the Day: Presto

Composed circa 1720, this E minor sonata (HWV 379) is Handel's own compilation of movements taken from three other solo sonatas. Confusingly, this extra sonata has sometimes been numbered Op. 1, no. 1a, when in fact it never appeared in Opus 1.

Of the eleven flute sonatas that are traditionally attributed to Handel, this is the only one that appears to have been genuinely intended for the flute, since it is the only one that survives in that form in Handel's own manuscript. Uniquely among Handel's solo sonatas, it falls into five rather than four movements.

The concluding Presto we present today lets the flute sing over a jogging bass line; this, like the second movement (Andante), originated in the Recorder Sonata in G minor (HWV 360, Op.1, No. 2).

Tune of the Day: Minuetto by Beethoven

After the huge success of the Allegro con brio, here is the second movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Flute Duo in G major. This stately minuet, all in the key of G major, includes a two-part trio and provides for a return of the initial theme, so that the resulting form is AABBCCDDAB.

Tune of the Day: Study in F minor by Berbiguier

Today we propose the tenth étude from 18 exercices pour la flûte traversière by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.

Tune of the Day: All Alive

This minor-mode jig is often attributed to blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1738), although Donal O'Sullivan in his definitive work on the bard (Carolan: Life and Times of an Irish Harper, 1958) could find no incontrovertible evidence of its origin. To complicate things, there exist a number of versions of the same melody in 18th-century English and Scottish manuscripts, presented under a variety of names.

Tune of the Day: Tre giorni son che Nina

“Tre giorni son che Nina” is one of the best-known arias of the Italian Baroque. The lyrics refer to the concern of a man for his beloved Nina, who is in bed seriously ill. This is a common topic in the popular music of the period.

For three long days my Nina, my Nina, my Nina
Upon her bed has lain, upon her bed has lain.
Louder and louder, ye players all, awaken my Ninetta,
Awaken my Ninetta, that she may sleep no more.

Despite the enormous popularity of the air, there are still serious doubts about its attribution. For nearly a century and a half, the air has been attributed to Pergolesi, and it still is, despite the absence of any element linking it with the Italian composer. Since the first known execution of the piece took place in 1749, some scholars consider Vincenzo Ciampi as the most likely author; however, the problem remains open. In particular, the style of the air seems to follow the style of the Neapolitan school, and not that of the Venetian school which Ciampi belonged to.

This aria makes a great encore piece, and it was often used as such by famous violinists Fritz Kreisler and Nathan Milstein.

Tune of the Day: Larghetto by Telemann

This Larghetto is the slow central movement of Georg Philipp Telemann's third Canonic Sonata. As with all of these sonatas, the two players play the exact same melody, but one measure apart. Trill endings have been written out, so that you can instantly know which accidentals to play.

Tune of the Day: Study in C major by Andersen

Today we propose the first étude from Joachim Andersen's Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 33. This is basically a never-ending run of sixteenth notes, but don't be afraid to breathe!

Tune of the Day: Barney O'Neill

The earliest appearance of this tune, under the title “Brian O'Niel”, is found in the 1838 music copybook of Lake District (northwest England) musician William Irwin. Flute player William Killey of Jurby, Isle of Man, entered the tune in his mid-19th-century music copybook as “Patrick O'Neal”, while the contemporary manuscripts of James Goodman (County Cork, Ireland) have it under the title "Doctor O'Neill".

The jig is a member of the “Young Tim Murphy” tune family.

Tune of the Day: Pezzo in forma di sonatina

“Pezzo in forma di sonatina” is the name Tchaikovsky gave to the first movement of his Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48. Premiered in 1880, this work remains one of the late Romantic era's most definitive compositions.

Tchaikovsky intended the first movement to be an imitation of Mozart's style, and he based it on the form of the classical sonatina, starting with a slow introductory section. This stirring “Andante non troppo” introduction, which bears the indication "sempre marcatissimo" (“always very marked”), is restated at the end of the movement, and also reappears, transformed, in the coda of the last movement, thus tying the entire work together.

Tune of the Day: De plus en plus se renouvelle

Gilles Binchois' chanson “De plus en plus se renouvelle” is one of the Renaissance composer's most famous compositions, even if it is found in only two manuscripts (his other chansons make up to nine appearances in 15th-century manuscripts). Some of the melodic material from this piece was later used by Johannes Ockeghem for a mass, the “Missa De plus en plus”.

Tune of the Day: Study in D-flat major by Berbiguier

This is the eleventh étude from 18 exercices pour la flûte traversière by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.

Tune of the Day: Johnny the Jumper

This jig is taken from Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. The source for this tune was Police Sergeant James O'Neill (no relation), a fiddler originally from County Down, Northern Ireland.

Tune of the Day: Chanson triste

Tchaikovsky composed “Chanson triste” (French for “Sad Song”) in 1878, a turbulent year, marked by his struggle to distance himself from his estranged wife Antonina. In the midst of his emotional turmoil, the composer managed to find some peace at Kamenka, near Kiev in Ukraine, where he had use of a cottage. There, while working on his Piano Sonata in G major and the Album for Children, Tchaikovsky composed the Twelve Pieces from which the “Chanson triste” is taken.

Many of these Romantic miniatures for amateur pianists seem to display a certain sadness, and it's easy to believe that Tchaikovsky may have expressed his own feelings in these works. “Chanson Triste” is a perfect example of this mood. Despite its simplicity, the piece nevertheless captivates the listener with its disarming sincerity and touching intensity.

Tune of the Day: Andante by Köhler

This flute duet is taken from the second volume of Ernesto Köhler's Forty Progressive Duets, Op. 55. The two flutes are not treated equally: the first flute plays the melody and the second flute the accompaniment. What is peculiar about this duet, however, is that it regularly alternates between 4/4 time and 3/4 time, so that it could almost be classified as a 7/4-time piece.

Tune of the Day: Study in G major by Andersen

Here is another étude by Joachim Andersen. This 9/8-time Andantino in G major is study No. 3 from Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 33.

Tune of the Day: Paddy “Go Easy”

The first appearance of this jig is in R.M. Levey's Dance Music of Ireland, published in London in 1858. This collection listed the tune under the title “The Beer Drinker”, so perhaps the “go easy” admonition of the title (first found in O'Neill's 1903 collection Music of Ireland) refers to moderation in drinking.

Tune of the Day: Grand March

Aida is set in ancient Egypt. Its plot centers around Rhadames, a captain in the Egyptian guard, and two women, Aida and Amneris. Amneris is the daughter of the Pharaoh, the leader of Egypt; Aida is a slave. Unknown to others is the fact that she is also the daughter of the King of Ethiopia. During the first act, we discover that while Rhadames and Aida are in love, Amneris also loves the captain. Meanwhile, the countries of Egypt and Ethiopia go to war, and Rhadames is chosen to lead the Egyptian army. He defeats the enemy and returns as a conquering hero. However, Aida secretly mourns for her native country and her father, who has been taken prisoner.

In the second act of the opera, Egypt’s victory is celebrated by a grand parade, for which the “Grand March” (or “Triumphal March”) is performed. Musicians playing long trumpets lead the Egyptian troops into the city, while the booty and slaves they have captured in the war with Ethiopia are displayed.

Tune of the Day: Allegro assai by Telemann

Here is the third movement of Georg Philipp Telemann's third Canonic Sonata, a highly articulated 12/8-time Allegro assai in D major. Remember that this duet is written as a canon, so both players actually play the same part, just one measure apart.

Tune of the Day: Study in B-flat minor by Berbiguier

This Prestissimo in B-flat major is the twelfth étude from 18 exercices pour la flûte traversière by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.