Sunday 1 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Duet in D major by Hugues

 from “School of Flute”

This is the very first duet from La scuola del flauto (The School of the Flute) by Italian composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Thanks to Paolo for contributing this piece!

Categories: Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: easy
Monday 2 July 2012

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

 from “Eighteen Exercises or Etudes for Flute”

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

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 3 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Sussex by the Sea

 English military march

This song, written in 1907 by William Ward-Higgs, became popular during World War I, having already been adopted by the Royal Sussex Regiment as an unofficial “nick” march. It quickly became well known throughout Sussex, and is now regarded as a county anthem, regularly sung at celebrations.

Thanks to Mike for suggesting this tune!

Categories: Marches Military music Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 4 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Affettuoso by Ranish

 from Flute Sonata No. 1

This Affettuoso (which means “affectionate” in Italian) is the opening movement of Sonata No. 1 in G major from John Ranish's XII Solos for the German Flute, Op. 2, first published in London in 1744.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 5 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Andante by Scherer

 from Flute Trio No. 2

This is the second movement of a Sonata in E written for three German flutes by Johann Scherer, a German composer of the 18th century.

Thanks to Joyce Kai for contributing this piece!

Categories: Classical Written for Flute Difficulty: easy
Friday 6 July 2012

Tune of the Day: The Swing

 from Köhler's “25 Romantic Studies”

As indicated by its title, this study should render the impression of a sweeping motion. The “poco a poco ravivando il tempo” marking at the beginning asks for a very gradually increasing tempo.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 7 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Callaghan's Reel

 Traditional Irish tune

This fast G-major reel comes from Ireland. It was recorded by fiddlers Con Curtin and Denis McMahon on the 1967 album Paddy in the Smoke.

Categories: Celtic Music Reels Traditional/Folk Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 8 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Ranish

 from Flute Sonata No. 1

Here is the central movement of Sonata No. 1 in G major from John Ranish's XII Solos for the German Flute, Op. 2. Some of the rhythmic patterns in this movement are not straightforward, and this makes it very interesting as a sight-reading piece.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 9 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Duet in G major by Hugues

 from “School of Flute”

Here is the second duet from La scuola del flauto (The School of the Flute) by Italian composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Thanks to Paolo for contributing this piece!

Categories: Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 10 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Study in C minor by Berbiguier

 from “Eighteen Exercises or Etudes for Flute”

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

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 11 July 2012

Tune of the Day: The Boy's Lament for His Dragon

 Traditional Scottish pipe march

The earliest appearance in print of this pipe march, composed by William MacKay, seems to be as “The 72nd's Farewel to Aberdeen” in Pipe Major William Ross's 1885 collection. The “Dragon” of the title is thought to mean a kite.

Categories: Celtic Music Marches Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Thursday 12 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Minuet by John Ranish

 from Flute Sonata No. 1

Today we propose the third and final movement of Sonata No. 1 in G major from John Ranish's XII Solos for the German Flute, Op. 2.

Categories: Baroque Minuets Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 13 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Scherer

 from Flute Trio No. 2

This Allegro in E minor is the third movement of the second Sonata for three flutes by Johann Scherer.

Thanks to Joyce Kai for contributing this piece!

Categories: Classical Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 14 July 2012

Tune of the Day: At the Fountain

 from Köhler's “25 Romantic Studies”

This is étude No. 6 from Ernesto Köhler's 25 Romantic Studies. Bring out the contrast between slurred and staccato notes; the latter must give the impression of water falling drop by drop.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 15 July 2012

Tune of the Day: The Bee's Wing

 Traditional hornpipe

This tune is commonly attributed to the 19th-century Gateshead (near Newcastle), northern England, composer James Hill, who was nicknamed the “Newcastle Paganini”. Named after a famous Newcastle racehorse, the “Bee’s Wing” has become in modern times one of the most popular Scottish fiddle hornpipes.

Categories: Hornpipes Traditional/Folk Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 16 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Allegro ma non molto by Platti

 from Flute Sonata No. 3

This is the opening movement of a Sonata for flute and basso continuo in E minor, composed around 1743 by Italian Baroque composer Giovanni Platti.

Thanks to Nina for suggesting this piece!

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 17 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Duet in D major by Hugues

 from “School of Flute”

This is the third duet from La scuola del flauto (The School of the Flute) by Italian composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Thanks to Paolo for contributing this piece!

Categories: Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 18 July 2012

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

 from “Eighteen Exercises or Etudes for Flute”

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

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 19 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Follow Me Down to Carlow

 Traditional Irish jig

This tune appears to be a 6/8 version of a Scottish reel by the 18th-century fiddler Donald (or Daniel) Dow. There is a tradition that this air was the Clan March of the O'Byrne family.

Thanks to Jess for suggeting this tune!

Categories: Celtic Music Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Friday 20 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Adagio by Blavet

 from Flute Sonata No. 4

This is the opening movement of the fourth of six sonatas for flute and continuo first published in Paris in 1732. This sonata is nicknamed “La Lumague”, a Frenchization of the Italian word lumaca, meaning “The Snail”.

Thanks to Monique for suggesting this piece!

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 21 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Menuet by Scherer

 from Flute Trio No. 2

This minuet, along with its Trio in E major, constitutes the fourth and last movement of the second Sonata for three flutes by Johann Scherer.

Thanks to Joyce Kai for contributing this piece!

Categories: Classical Minuets Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 22 July 2012

Tune of the Day: The Torture of Tantalus

 from Köhler's “25 Romantic Studies”

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.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 23 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Eton Boating Song

 transcribed for Flute and Piano

Founded in 1440, Eton College is the most famous public school in Britain, and one of the most prestigious in the world. The Eton Boating Song, first performed in 1863, is sung at the school's end of year concert and other important occasions, including during the procession of boats, Eton being on the Thames, and the College having a long boating tradition. The melody was composed by an Old Etonian, Captain Algernon Drummond, whilst serving with his regiment (The Rifle Brigade) in Lahore in India.

Thanks to Mike for suggesting this piece!

Categories: Barcarolles Difficulty: easy
Tuesday 24 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Larghetto by Platti

 from Flute Sonata No. 3

This is the second movement of a Sonata for flute and basso continuo in E minor, composed around 1743 by Italian Baroque composer Giovanni Platti.

Thanks to Nina for suggesting this piece!

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 25 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Duet in B minor by Hugues

 from “School of Flute”

This is the fourth duet from La scuola del flauto (The School of the Flute) by Italian composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Thanks to Paolo for contributing this piece!

Categories: Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 26 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Every Man in His Humour

 Traditional English jig

This melody was first published in the periodical The London Magazine, or The Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer, in 1752. “Every Man in his Humour” was a humorous comic play by Ben Jonson, written in 1598. However, the appearance of the title in the London Magazine of 1752 undoubtedly honors the successful revival of the play in 1751 by actor and producer David Garrick.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Friday 27 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Study in F minor by Berbiguier

 from “Eighteen Exercises or Etudes for Flute”

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

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: advanced
Saturday 28 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Allemanda by Blavet

 from Flute Sonata No. 4

This allemande is the second movement of the fourth of six sonatas for flute and continuo that Michel Blavet published in Paris in 1732.

Thanks to Monique for suggesting this piece!

Categories: Allemandes Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 29 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Vivace by Loeillet

 from Sonata for two flutes in G minor

This Vivace in G minor opens the fourth of Belgian Baroque composer Jean-Baptiste Loeillet's second book of Six sonatas of two parts, made on purpose for two German flutes, first published in London in 1720.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 30 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Study in A minor by Andersen

 from “24 Etudes for Flute”

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

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 31 July 2012

Tune of the Day: Hurrah for the Bonnets of Blue

 Traditional English jig

This tune is often considered to be from Northumberland, even though its earliest appearance, an arrangement for voice and piano published in New York in 1827, attributes it to London-born composer Alexander Lee.

“Blue Bonnets” was a common nickname for the Scots, stemming from the custom of Jacobite troops to identify themselves with a white cockade worn on a blue bonnet, the only thing that passed for a uniform in those days. The white cockade emblem is said to have originated when Bonnie Prince Charlie plucked a wild rose and pinned it to his hat.

Categories: Ballads Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy