Free Flute Sheet Music

Tune of the Day: Christ Church Bells

This well known catch was written over three centuries ago by English theologian, philosopher and composer Henry Aldrich (1647–1710). In this catch, the three voices sing the same melody at different times, all starting together. When the end of one voice is reached, the singer or player goes on to the next voice, or back to the first voice if the end of the last voice has been reached.

Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Christ Church is one of the larger colleges of the University of Oxford. Aldrich served there first as Dean and then as Vice-Chancellor, and when he died he was buried in Christ Church Cathedral without any memorial, at his own request.

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

Tune of the Day: Study in E minor by Andersen

Today we propose the fourth study from Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 21, by Danish flutist Joachim Andersen. First published in 1886, the original edition remarks that this particular study is based on a Swedish folk song.

Tune of the Day: Tamony's Hornpipe

This tune was collected by Chicago police captain Francis O'Neill, who included it in his collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in 1922. O'Neill's source was a fiddler named Joe Timoney (or Tamony), known in County Donegal as Joe Phaedar Sheain O Tiomanai; he emigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, and arrived in San Francisco just after the great earthquake of 1906. O'Neill calls “Tamony's Hornpipe” a variant of “Smith's Hornpipe”.

Tune of the Day: Ravello

This beautiful piece for flute and guitar was kindly contributed to our collection by its composer, guitarist Peter Pope.

The piece is named after Ravello, an Italian town situated just above the famous Amalfi coast. It is a charming location with two wonderful historic villas, sunshine and a festive atmosphere.

Many thanks for sharing your music with us, Peter!

Tune of the Day: Musette by Montéclair

This musette is the third movement of the fifth of six Concerts à deux Flutes Traversières sans Basse by the French Baroque composer Michel Pignolet de Montéclair. Here the French word concert is a synonym of “suite”, and has nothing to do with the Italian concerto.

Tune of the Day: Study in G major by Prill

This is a variant of the third study from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.

This study focuses on regular staccato 16th notes, whereas the first version (study 3a) uses grace notes (acciaccaturas).

Tune of the Day: Captain Corbett's Hornpipe

This hornpipe is taken from Francis O'Neill's collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. The tune was supplied by Francis E. Walsh, a correspondent of O'Neill's from San Francisco. It appears to be a variant of Captain John's Hornpipe, which dates back to at least the mid 1800s.

Tune of the Day: Presto by Boismortier

This is the second movement of the second sonata from Six Sonates pour la Flûte traversière avec la Basse, Op. 44 by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. These sonatas were originally published in Paris in 1733.

Tune of the Day: The White Lady

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

The White Lady (La dame blanche) is an opéra comique in three acts by French composer François-Adrien Boieldieu. It was first performed in 1825.

Tune of the Day: Study in D major by Andersen

Today we propose the fourth study from Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 21, by Danish flutist Joachim Andersen. It was first published in 1886.

Tune of the Day: Pat. Healy's Hornpipe

This hornpipe is taken from Francis O'Neill's collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. O’Neill’s source was John Kelly, “a fiddler of phenomenal execution” originally from County Roscommon, Ireland.

Tune of the Day: Largo by Locatelli

This is the third movement of the fourth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo that Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli published in Amsterdam in 1732.

Thanks to Maria for suggesting this piece!

Tune of the Day: Gavotte by Montéclair

This gavotte “in the French style” is the fourth movement of the fifth of six Concerts à deux Flutes Traversières sans Basse by the French Baroque composer Michel Pignolet de Montéclair. Here the French word concert is a synonym of “suite”, and has nothing to do with the Italian concerto.

Tune of the Day: Study in E minor by Prill

This is the fourth piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.

Tune of the Day: The Little Heathy Hill

In his collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody (1922), Francis O'Neill remarks:

In the days of our fathers, “An Chnoicin Fraoich”, or “Little Heathy Hill”, both as song and air enjoyed no little popularity in the province of Munster, particularly in the counties of Cork and Kerry. As an air several settings of the melody have been printed, but never as a hornpipe until now, and under its colloquial name among the peasantry. It will be remembered that many notable dance tunes, especially hornpipes and long dances, have been derived from song airs, such as “The Blackbird”, “The Job of Journeywork”, “The Garden of Daisies”, “Rodney's Glory”, and many others.

Tune of the Day: Aria by Boismortier

This is the third movement of the second sonata from Six Sonates pour la Flûte traversière avec la Basse, Op. 44 by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. These sonatas were originally published in Paris in 1733.

Tune of the Day: Little Fugue in G minor

Today we propose an arrangement for four flutes of one of Johann Sebastian Bach's most famous pieces, the Little Fugue in G minor, BWV 578.

We have previously published an arrangement for two flutes of the Little Fugue, which you can find here.

Tune of the Day: Study in B minor by Andersen

Today we propose the sixth study from Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 21, by Danish flutist Joachim Andersen. It was first published in 1886.

Tune of the Day: Stack's Hornpipe

This hornpipe is taken from O'Neill's Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. The source for the tune was Patrick Stack, a Chicago fiddler originally from County Kerry, Ireland.

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Locatelli

This Allegro is the final movement of the fourth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo that Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli published in Amsterdam in 1732.

Thanks to Maria for suggesting this piece!

Tune of the Day: John Anderson My Jo, John

“John Anderson, My Jo” was originally a bawdy ballad, which Robert Burns turned into a charming verse about the continuing love of an old married couple. The Scottish national poet adapted the song in 1790 for inclusion in James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum.

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

Tune of the Day: Study in D major by Prill

This study in triplets is the fifth piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.

Tune of the Day: The Boys of Curraghmore

This hornpipe is taken from the 1922 collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody by Francis O'Neill, who cites as a source for the tune the Rice-Walsh manuscript, a collection of music from the repertoire of Jeremiah Breen, a blind Irish fiddler, notated by his student.

Tune of the Day: Giga by Boismortier

This is the fourth and last movement of the second sonata from Six Sonates pour la Flûte traversière avec la Basse, Op. 44 by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. These sonatas were originally published in Paris in 1733.

Tune of the Day: Gavotte by Montéclair

This gavotte “in the Italian style” is the fifth movement of the fifth of six Concerts à deux Flutes Traversières sans Basse by the French Baroque composer Michel Pignolet de Montéclair. Here the French word concert is a synonym of “suite”, and has nothing to do with the Italian concerto.

Tune of the Day: Study in A major by Andersen

Today we propose the seventh study from Twenty-Four Etudes for Flute, Op. 21, by Danish flutist Joachim Andersen. It was first published in 1886.

Tune of the Day: Reynardine

This hornpipe appears in Francis O'Neill's collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. The tune was obtained from manuscripts in the possession of Chicago Police Sergeant James O'Neill, originally from County Down, Ireland.

It appears to be based on an Irish slow air of the same name, dating back to at least the mid-19th century.

Tune of the Day: Fantaisie by Paul Merkus

Today's piece was kindly contributed to our collection by its composer, Paul Merkus. It is a recent arrangement of a piano piece written back in 2004.

This “Fantaisie” is an impromptu based on a calm choral melody, harmoniously set over many chords in root position, supplemented with plenty of sevenths and other additions. The exposition is followed by a fanciful interlude, before the more tranquil middle part brings peace back. The piece ends with a reprise, in which the opening melody is played again, now accompanied by even more resounding chords.

Tune of the Day: Allen-a-Dale

“Allen-a-Dale” was originally a song in Rokeby, a 1813 narrative poem in six cantos by Sir Walter Scott. American pianist and composer Charles Gilfert, a contemporary of Scott, set some of the poems from Rokeby to music shortly after its publication, including “Allen-a-Dale”.

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

Tune of the Day: Study in B minor by Prill

This is the sixth piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.

Tune of the Day: Lord Nelson's Hornpipe

This tune was first published in London by Thomas Preston in his Twenty-Four Country Dances for the Year 1800. At that time Horatio Nelson had newly won perhaps his most decisive victory over the French at the Battle of the Nile (1798). Among other honors, he was awarded the title Baron Nelson of the Nile, and thus became “Lord Nelson”.