Monday 1 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Cossack Hornpipe

 Traditional English tune

This hornpipe, probably of English origin, is taken from Harding's All-Round Collection of Jigs, Reels and Country Dances, published in New York in 1905. The first part is similar to the Scottish “Montgomerie's Hornpipe”.

Categories: Hornpipes Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Tuesday 2 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Moment musical No. 3

 by Franz Schubert, transcribed for flute and piano

Franz Schubert's Musical Moments (Six moments musicaux), D. 780, are a collection of six short pieces for solo piano that the Austrian composer wrote between 1823 and 1828. They are among the most frequently played of all of Schubert's piano music, and have been recorded many times. Today we propose an arrangement for flute and piano of the most popular of the Moments, No. 3 in F minor.

Thanks to Janset for suggesting this piece!

Categories: Romantic Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 3 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Preludio by Corelli

 from Trio Sonata in E minor, transcribed for two flutes

Today we propose the opening movement of Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli's Trio Sonata Op. 2 No. 4 in E minor, published in 1685. The original edition of the Op. 2 sonatas was dedicated to Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili, who is now more famous as a composer and patron of the arts than for his spiritual activity. Corelli worked for several years for Pamphili, and it seems these sonatas were originally played by Corelli himself (who was an accomplished violinist) and other musicians on Sunday afternoons.

Thanks to Mario for contributing this piece!

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 4 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Study in A major by Köhler

 from “22 Studies in Expression and Facility”

This is the eleventh piece from 22 Studies in Expression and Facility, Op. 89 by Italian flutist and composer Ernesto Köhler. This collection was originally published in 1904 with the German title 22 Vortrags- und Geläufigkeits Etuden für Flöte.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 5 January 2018

Tune of the Day: The Marquis of Huntly's Strathspey

 Traditional Scottish tune

First publishd in 1781, this popular tune is said to have been one of the very first to be composed by William Marshall (1748-1823). A native of Fochabers, Scotland, Marshall worked for the Duke of Gordon for thirty years, eventually becoming the Factor of the Gordon Estate, and in his spare time he became conversant with mathematics, astronomy, clocks, mechanics and optics. An accomplished musician, he also found the time to compose over 250 tunes for the fiddle.

Categories: Celtic Music Reels Strathspeys Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Saturday 6 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Aria by Leclair

 from Flute Sonata in E minor

This lovely air in rondeau form is the third movement of French Baroque composer Jean-Marie Leclair's Sonata for violin or flute and continuo in E minor, Op. 1 No. 6. The first edition of this sonata was published in Paris around 1723.

Categories: Baroque Rondos Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 7 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Oh Come Where the Roses

 by J.A. Wade, arranged for flute duet

This ballad was written by Irish composer and conductor Joseph Augustine Wade in 1831.

Oh! come where the Roses
for ever are blowing.
Secure from the blighting
of Winters rude time.

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

Categories: Ballads Love songs Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 8 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Study in G major by Dôthel

 from “Studi per il flauto”

This study in G major is the seventeenth piece from Studi per il flauto in tutti j tuoni e modi (“Flute studies in all keys and modes”) by French-Italian flutist and composer Niccolò Dôthel (a.k.a. Nicolas D'Hotel).

Categories: Classical Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: advanced
Tuesday 9 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Mo Ghile Mear

 Traditional Irish tune

In this Jacobite song, originally composed by Seán Clárach Mac Dónaill (1691–1754), the Gaelic goddess Éire laments Bonnie Prince Charlie Stuart, then in exile. While it is usually rendered by a male voice in a martial fashion, it is in fact a woman's lament for her love, a war hero.

He is my hero, my dashing darling
He is my Caesar, dashing darling.
I've had no rest from forebodings
Since he went far away my darling.

Thanks to Ralph for suggesting this tune!

Categories: Celtic Music Funeral music Marches Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 10 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Proximité by Paul Merkus

 for flute and piano

Today's piece was kindly contributed to our collection by its composer, Paul Merkus from the Netherlands. Composed in 2011, the piece has a romantic flavor to express how personal proximity can feel. It has some resemblance to Chopin's famous Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2, and also something to do with Satie's Gnossienne No. 5. It features a very straightforward piano accompaniment, which makes it easy for flute teachers to accompany their students.

Categories: Contemporary Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 11 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Allemanda by Corelli

 from Trio Sonata in E minor, transcribed for two flutes

This allemanda is the second movement of Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli's Trio Sonata No. 4 in E minor, published in 1685. Corelli was a violinist, and strictly speaking this sonata was originally scored for two violins and continuo; however, in those times it was common to write scores that were adaptable to different instruments, so that they could be sold to the widest possible audience, and it is evident that the concept also applies to this sonata.

Thanks to Mario for contributing this piece!

Categories: Allemandes Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 12 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Study in F-sharp minor by Köhler

 from “22 Studies in Expression and Facility”

This is the twelfth piece from 22 Studies in Expression and Facility, Op. 89 by Italian flutist and composer Ernesto Köhler. This collection was originally published in 1904 with the German title 22 Vortrags- und Geläufigkeits Etuden für Flöte.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 13 January 2018

Tune of the Day: The Parson in Boots

 Traditional English jig

The earliest appearance of this melody is in the 1770 music manuscript collection of Northumbrian musician William Vickers. It was printed in numerous collections during the 19th century.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 14 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Leclair

 from Flute Sonata in E minor

This Allegro is the fourth and final movement of French Baroque composer Jean-Marie Leclair's Sonata for violin or flute and continuo in E minor, Op. 1 No. 6. The first edition of this sonata was published in Paris around 1723.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 15 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Ah ! Quel plaisir d'être soldat

 from “La dame blanche”, arranged for two fllutes

This air (whose first verse translates as “Ah! What a pleasure to be a soldier!”) is sung by Georges, a young English officer, in Act I of François-Adrien Boieldieu's 1825 opera La dame blanche (The White Lady). Boieldieu, an opera composer of the Classical Era, is often called “the French Mozart”.

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

Categories: Arias Classical Opera excerpts Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 16 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Study in G minor by Dôthel

 from “Studi per il flauto”

The study in G minor that we propose today is the eighteenth piece from Studi per il flauto in tutti j tuoni e modi (“Flute studies in all keys and modes”) by French-Italian flutist and composer Niccolò Dôthel (a.k.a. Nicolas D'Hotel).

Categories: Classical Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 17 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Captain Keeler

 Traditional Scottish reel

The earliest printing of this tune is in Neil Stewart's A Collection of the Newest and the Best Reels and Country Dances (1761), as “Captain Keller”, a title that persisted in 18th-century publications. In 19th-century collections, however, the same reel most often appears as “Captain Keeler”.

Categories: Celtic Music Reels Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 18 January 2018

Tune of the Day: La Carmagnole

 Variations for flute and bass instrument

This brilliant set of variations on “La Carmagnole” was written by Italian violinist and composer Giuseppe Maria Cambini in 1794. It was published together with a set of variations on “La Marseillaise” titled “Marche des Marseillois”.

As a song, “La Carmagnole” was created and made popular during the French Revolution, based on a dance tune of the same name that may have been brought into France by the Piedmontese. The title comes from the name of the short jacket worn by working-class militant sans-culottes, adopted from the Piedmontese peasant costume, whose name derives from the town of Carmagnola.

Categories: Variations Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 19 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Adagio by Corelli

 from Trio Sonata in E minor, transcribed for two flutes

Today we propose the third movement of Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli's Trio Sonata Op. 2 No. 4 in E minor, published in 1685. This movement features a four-bar introductory Grave (the slowest tempo indication), which soon gives way to an Adagio.

Thanks to Mario for contributing this piece!

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 20 January 2018

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

 from “22 Studies in Expression and Facility”

This theme with variations is the thirteenth piece from 22 Studies in Expression and Facility, Op. 89 by Italian flutist and composer Ernesto Köhler. This collection was originally published in 1904 with the German title 22 Vortrags- und Geläufigkeits Etuden für Flöte.

Categories: Double tonguing Etudes Romantic Variations Written for Flute Difficulty: advanced
Sunday 21 January 2018

Tune of the Day: The Crooked Bawbee

 Traditional Scottish air

Originally a Scottish song air, with alternating verses sung by a man and a woman, this tune has become very popular in Northumbria, where it is now a part of the local piping repertoire.

A bawbee was a Scottish halfpenny, a copper coin that was hammered until 1677.

Thanks to Phil for suggesting this tune!

Categories: Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Monday 22 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Adagio by Leclair

 from Flute Sonata in A minor

This Adagio is the opening movement of French Baroque composer Jean-Marie Leclair's Sonata for violin or flute and continuo in A minor, Op. 1 No. 1. The first edition of this sonata was published in Paris around 1723.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 23 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Pray Goody

 arranged for two flutes

This flute duet appears in Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in 1833. It is an arrangement of an English tune of uncertain origin, an air to a song from Kane O'Hara's 1762 comic opera Midas. In the original book of words to the opera, the music of “Pray Goody” is stated to be “A tune in Queen Mab. The music for the pantomime of Queen Mab was composed by Dr. [Charles] Burney.” It is to be noted, however, that music to pantomimes was almost invariably selected music, so it is highly likely that Burney “borrowed” a preexisting tune.

Categories: Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 24 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Study in G-flat major by Dôthel

 from “Studi per il flauto”

This little minuet in G-flat major is the nineteenth piece from Studi per il flauto in tutti j tuoni e modi (“Flute studies in all keys and modes”) by French-Italian flutist and composer Niccolò Dôthel (a.k.a. Nicolas D'Hotel).

Categories: Classical Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 25 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Lord St. Vincent

 Traditional English hornpipe

The earliest appearance of this tune is in Thompson's Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1799. It subsequently appeared in several 19th-century publications and manuscripts.

The title honors Admiral John Jervis (1735–1823), Lord St. Vincent, a contemporary of the celebrated Lord Horatio Nelson's and himself a hero of the Napoleonic Wars and the victor of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent. The title “Vinton's Hornpipe”, by which the tune appears in some publications, is a probably a corruption of the original title honoring Jervis.

Categories: Hornpipes Traditional/Folk Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 26 January 2018

Tune of the Day: La mer est infinie

 by Gabriel Fauré, transcribed for flute and piano

“La mer est infinie” (“The sea is infinite”) is the first of four mélodies composed in 1921 by Gabriel Fauré as part of his song cycle L'horizon chimérique, Op. 118. The cycle is based on four of the poems from the collection of the same name by Jean de La Ville de Mirmont.

The sea is infinite and my dreams are mad.
The sea sings to the sun while beating the cliffs
and my light dreams are no longer content
to dance on the sea like drunken birds.

Categories: Romantic Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 27 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Giga by Corelli

 from Trio Sonata in E minor, transcribed for two flutes

This giga is the fourth and final movement of Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli's Trio Sonata No. 4 in E minor, published in 1685. Corelli was a violinist, and this sonata was originally scored for two violins and continuo; however, it can be played with little or no modification by two modern flutes, the only potential issue being the two low B's near the end.

Thanks to Mario for contributing this piece!

Categories: Baroque Jigs Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 28 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Study in C minor by Köhler

 from “22 Studies in Expression and Facility”

This Allegretto is the fourteenth piece from 22 Studies in Expression and Facility, Op. 89 by Italian flutist and composer Ernesto Köhler. This collection was originally published in 1904 with the German title 22 Vortrags- und Geläufigkeits Etuden für Flöte.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 29 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Miss Bain's Reel

 Traditional Scottish tune

This reel was first printed in the 5th volume of James Aird's Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, published in Glasgow in 1797. The melody also appears in the music manuscript copybook of fiddler John Burks, dated 1821.

Categories: Reels Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Tuesday 30 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Les Plaisirs de Mars

 from “Amusement de Bellone”

Today we propose the opening movement of Amusement de Bellone, a suite for solo instrument (“musette, vielle, flute and oboe” according to the original edition) and continuo by the French Baroque composer Nicolas Chédeville.

Categories: Baroque Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 31 January 2018

Tune of the Day: Di tanti palpiti

 from Rossini's “Tancredi”, arranged for three flutes

This flute trio is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in 1833. It is an arrangement of a cavatina (a simple, melodious air) from Act I of Gioachino Rossini's 1813 opera Tancredi.

Categories: Arias Opera excerpts Romantic Difficulty: intermediate