Saturday 1 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Dolly's The Girl For Me

 Traditional Scottish jig

The earliest appearance of this slip jig is in James Aird's A Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, which was published in 6 volumes between 1782 and 1797. The collection actually included two distinct versions, under the titles “The Sailor Lassie” and “Dollie's The Girl For Me”.

Categories: Celtic Music Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Sunday 2 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Giga by Chédeville

 from “Il pastor fido” Sonata No. 3

This gigue is the fifth movement of the third of the Il pastor fido sonatas, first published in 1737 and traditionally attributed to Antonio Vivaldi. The actual composer, Nicolas Chédeville, made a secret agreement with Jean-Noël Marchand to publish a collection of his own compositions as Vivaldi's Op. 13. Chédeville supplied the money and received the profits, all of which was recorded in a notarial act. This may have been an attempt to give his instrument, the musette, the endorsement of a great composer which it lacked.

Categories: Baroque Jigs Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 3 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Wilt Thou Say Farewell, Love

 by Thomas Moore, arranged for flute duet

This love song was composed by Irish poet, singer, songwriter and entertainer Thomas Moore, who is now best remembered for authoring the lyrics of “The Minstrel Boy” and “The Last Rose of Summer”.

The present arrangement for two flutes appeared in Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in 1833.

Categories: Love songs Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 4 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Study in D major by Jensen

 from “12 Etudes for Flute”

Today's piece is the fifth study from Danish flutist and composer Niels Peter Jensen's 12 Etudes for Flute, Op. 25, first published around 1829.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 5 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Jessie the Flower of Dunblane

 Traditional Scottish song

“The Flower o' Dunblane” was first published in the Scots Magazine in March 1808, and since that time no Scottish song has arguably enjoyed among all classes greater popularity. Tune collector Francis O'Neill notes:

Early in the nineteenth century, this song was composed by a modest weaver, Robert Tannahill of Paisley, and was set to an alleged ancient Scottish melody by Robert A. Smith author of the Irish Minstrel, and the Scottish Minstrel. According to Farquhar Graham, editor of Wood's Songs of Scotland, not a few of the airs in the latter work were composed by Smith himself (who composed the “Jesse” air prior to 1816). Whatever the origin of the above melody may have been it has a decidedly Gaelic tonality.

Categories: Celtic Music Slow airs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Thursday 6 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Handel

 from Flute Sonata in A minor

This Allegro is the second movement of a sonata in A minor for flute and keyboard that is thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. First published in 1730, the sonata is referred to as Halle Sonata No. 1 (“Hallenser Sonate Nr. 1” in German). It was supposed to be an early work composed by Handel before 1703 in his hometown Halle, but its authenticity is now considered doubtful.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 7 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Amoroso by Schultze

 from Sonata for two flutes in B minor

This 6/8-time Amoroso (Italian for “loving”) is the third movement of a Sonata in B minor for two flutes or recorders by a German composer named Johann Christoph Schultze. This is not to be confused with the apparently unrelated composer of the same name who was born in 1733, as this sonata was first published in Hamburg in 1729.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 8 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Caprice in D minor by Andersen

 from “26 Little Caprices”

This etude is the sixteenth piece from a collection of 26 Little Caprices for flute (XXVI kleine Capricen für die Flöte) by Danish flutist and composer Joachim Andersen, published in 1890.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 9 July 2017

Tune of the Day: The Leaving of Liverpool

 Traditional Irish song

In this traditional song, which folklorists classify as a lyric lament, the narrator laments his long sailing trip to California and the thought of leaving his “own true love”, and pledges to return to her one day. Very well known in Britain, Ireland, and America, the song was also used as a sea shanty, especially at the capstan.

“The Leaving of Liverpool” has been recorded by many popular folk singers and groups since the 1950s, including The Clancy Brothers, The Corries, The Dubliners, and The Pogues. It has also been adapted by several artists, most notably Bob Dylan (“Farewell”, 1963). Tom Paxton used the tune as a basis for “The Last Thing on My Mind”, which has been recorded by many artists.

Thanks to Phil for suggesting this tune!

Monday 10 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Vivace by Telemann

 from Partita No. 5, arranged for flute and keyboard

This lively piece is the second movement and first “aria” of Georg Philipp Telemann's Partita No. 5 in E minor, TWV 41:e1, originally published in 1716 as part of the Kleine Kammermusik (“little chamber music”) collection. The original edition indicates that the melody is intended to be played by an oboe, a violin, or a flute.

Categories: Baroque Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 11 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Come Dearest Come

 by D.F.E. Auber, arranged for two flutes

This duet is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833.

Thanks to Eric for pointing out that this is an arrangement of an aria from Daniel Auber's grand opera Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué, which premiered in Paris in 1833.

Categories: Arias Opera excerpts Romantic Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 12 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Study in B minor by Jensen

 from “12 Etudes for Flute”

This study in B minor (with a brief excursion into the major) is the sixth piece from Danish flutist and composer Niels Peter Jensen's 12 Etudes for Flute, Op. 25, first published around 1829.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 13 July 2017

Tune of the Day: McDonnell's Rant

 Traditional Irish slip jig

This Irish slip jig is taken from O'Farrell's Collection of National Irish Music for the Union Pipes, published between 1792 and 1804. The McDonnell of the title appears to have been a gentleman piper who was recorded as having performed on stage in County Cork, Ireland in the 1770s.

Categories: Celtic Music Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Friday 14 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Romanze by Mozart

 from Divertimento No. 5, transcribed for flute and piano

This Andante is the closing movement of the fifth of 5 Divertimentos for three basset horns composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from 1783 to 1785. These pieces were later rearranged for solo piano and published as the Six Viennese Sonatinas, which is why this piece is also known as the “Andante grazioso” from Sonatina No. 4 in B-flat major.

Categories: Classical Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 15 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Vivace by Schultze

 from Sonata for two flutes in B minor

This lively piece is the closing movement of a Sonata in B minor for two flutes or recorders by a German composer named Johann Christoph Schultze. This is not to be confused with the apparently unrelated composer of the same name who was born in 1733, as this sonata was first published in Hamburg in 1729.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 16 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Caprice in B-flat major by Andersen

 from “26 Little Caprices”

Today's piece is the seventeenth study from a collection of 26 Little Caprices for flute (XXVI kleine Capricen für die Flöte) by Danish flutist and composer Joachim Andersen, published in 1890.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 17 July 2017

Tune of the Day: The Canteen

 Traditional Irish reel

This reel, probably of Irish origin, is taken from Harding's All-Round Collection of Jigs, Reels and Country Dances, published in New York in 1905. It was originally in D major, but we transposed it up to G major so that it could fit the range of the flute.

Categories: Celtic Music Reels Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Tuesday 18 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Un poco Vivace by Chédeville

 from “Il pastor fido” Sonata No. 5

This is the prelude to the fifth of the Il pastor fido sonatas, first published in 1737 and traditionally attributed to Antonio Vivaldi. The actual composer, Nicolas Chédeville, made a secret agreement with Jean-Noël Marchand to publish a collection of his own compositions as Vivaldi's Op. 13. Chédeville supplied the money and received the profits, all of which was recorded in a notarial act. This may have been an attempt to give his instrument, the musette, the endorsement of a great composer which it lacked.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 19 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Lochiel's March

 Traditional Scottish march

An article entitled “The Martial Music of the Clans”, published in a 1902 issue of The Celtic Monthly, has quite some information about this tune:

The March, or Spaidsearachd, of the [Cameron] Clan is “Piobaireachd Dhòmhnuill Duibh,” or Lochiel's March. This tune is also said to have been played at the battle of Inverlochy, and is the march of the 79th or Cameron Highlanders. I am aware that this tune is also associated with the MacDonalds, who call it “Black Donald Balloch of the Isles' March,” but there are several good tunes that are claimed by more than one clan. It is fair to the MacDonalds to state that this tune is found on paper in Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion, published in 1764, where it is called “Piobaireachd Mhic Dhònuil.” The Piobaireacdh setting is to be found in Albyn's Anthology (1816)—where the editor states he transcribed it from a MS. belonging to Captain MacLeod of Gesto. It is quite possible that this pibroch has been used as a Lament, as it possesses all the characteristics of that class of pipe music.

The present arrangement for two flutes, dedicated “to the Cadets at West Point”, is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in 1833.

Categories: Celtic Music Marches Military music Traditional/Folk Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 20 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Study in A major by Jensen

 from “12 Etudes for Flute”

Today's piece is the seventh study from Danish flutist and composer Niels Peter Jensen's 12 Etudes for Flute, Op. 25, first published around 1829.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 21 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Darby Carey

 Traditional Irish slip jig

This traditional Irish slip jig first appeared in print in the third volume of O'Farrell's Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes, published circa 1808.

Categories: Celtic Music Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Saturday 22 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Adagio by Handel

 from Flute Sonata in A minor

This Adagio is the third movement of a sonata in A minor for flute and keyboard that is thought to have been composed by George Frideric Handel. First published in 1730, the sonata is referred to as Halle Sonata No. 1 (“Hallenser Sonate Nr. 1” in German). It was supposed to be an early work composed by Handel before 1703 in his hometown Halle, but its authenticity is now considered doubtful.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 23 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Largo by Schultze

 from Sonata for two flutes in D major

This Largo is the opening movement of a Sonata in D major for two flutes or recorders by a German composer named Johann Christoph Schultze. This is not to be confused with the apparently unrelated composer of the same name who was born in 1733, as this sonata was first published in Hamburg in 1729.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 24 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Caprice in G minor by Andersen

 from “26 Little Caprices”

This study in octaves is the eighteenth piece from a collection of 26 Little Caprices for flute (XXVI kleine Capricen für die Flöte) by Danish flutist and composer Joachim Andersen, published in 1890.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 25 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Old Time Straight Jig

 Traditional American tune

This 2/4-time “jig” is taken from Harding's All-Round Collection of Jigs, Reels and Country Dances, published in New York in 1905. A “straight jig” was a type of duple-time syncopated clog tune popular in the latter 19th century, also called a “sand jig”, particularly used as an accompaniment to stage clog or hornpipe dancing.

Categories: Reels Traditional/Folk Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 26 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Presto by Telemann

 from Partita No. 5, arranged for flute and keyboard

This piece is the third movement and second “aria” of Georg Philipp Telemann's Partita No. 5 in E minor, TWV 41:e1, originally published in 1716 as part of the Kleine Kammermusik (“little chamber music”) collection. The original edition indicates that the melody is intended to be played by an oboe, a violin, or a flute.

Categories: Baroque Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 27 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Cynthia's Cottage

 arranged for flute duet

This duet is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. The melody, which appears to be traditional, had been published along with words by Philip Derrick in 1795.

When at night the village swains
Yield to sleep's bland dotage,
I will trip across the plains
To my Cynthia’s cottage;
Wish her, at the noon of night,
A refreshing sweet good night.

Categories: Love songs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Friday 28 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Study in F major by Jensen

 from “12 Etudes for Flute”

This study in octaves is the eighth piece from Danish flutist and composer Niels Peter Jensen's 12 Etudes for Flute, Op. 25, first published around 1829.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 29 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Gilla Machree

 Traditional Irish slip jig

This Irish slip jig was collected by Chicago police captain Francis O'Neill, who included it in his collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in 1922.

Categories: Celtic Music Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Sunday 30 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Planxty Mary Ellen

 Lead sheet and guitar play-along available

This beautiful piece was kindly contributed to our collection by flutist and composer Anne McKennon.

Sometimes the prettiest melodies are folk tunes. I wrote this waltz in that style. It can be played straight through or the sections can be repeated in any order the player likes. It is dedicated to my first flute teacher, Mary Ellen Potter. She was a big influence in my life and we remained close long after I was her student. I premiered “Planxty Mary Ellen” in concert the day she passed away. This is my tribute to her.

Categories: Contemporary Waltzes Difficulty: easy
Monday 31 July 2017

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Schultze

 from Sonata for two flutes in D major

This Allegro is the second movement of a Sonata in D major for two flutes or recorders by a German composer named Johann Christoph Schultze. This is not to be confused with the apparently unrelated composer of the same name who was born in 1733, as this sonata was first published in Hamburg in 1729.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate