Wednesday 1 September 2021

Tune of the Day: An Old Man Would Be Wooing

 from “The Barber of Seville”, arranged for two flutes

This flute duet appears in Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in 1833. It is an arrangement of a piece from a 1818 English-language adaptation of Rossini's The Barber of Seville by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop. The song appears to be based on an old Venetian air, “La biondina in gondoleta”, which at the time was often used to replace Rosina's “Contro un cor” at the beginning of Act II.

Categories: Opera excerpts Romantic Difficulty: easy
Thursday 2 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Study in C-sharp minor by Hugues

 from “40 New Studies”

Today's piece is the thirty-ninth study from 40 Nuovi Studi, Op. 75, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 3 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Maloney's Wife

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest printing of this jig appears in O'Farrell's Collection of National Irish Music for the Union Pipes, published in 1804. The tune also appears, however, in a few 18th-century musicians' manuscripts, such as the 1788 copybook by flute player Thomas Molyneaux of Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Saturday 4 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Adagio by Corelli

 from Violin Sonata in A major, transcribed for flute and keyboard

This miniature 3/2-time Adagio is the third movement of Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli's Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, which was originally published in 1700 as part of his 12 Violin Sonatas, Op. 5. As simple as it is, it makes for a good exercise in baroque ornamentation.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: easy
Sunday 5 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Duet in G major by Tulou

 from “Méthode de flûte”

This study for two flutes is taken from the celebrated Méthode de flûte by French flutist Jean-Louis Tulou, published in Paris in 1835.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: easy
Monday 6 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Study in C major by Boehm

 from “12 Studies”

This étude is the eleventh piece from a collection of Twelve Grand Studies for the flute by Theobald Boehm, the German inventor who perfected the modern Western concert flute and its improved fingering system.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 7 September 2021

Tune of the Day: The Gold Ring

 Traditional Irish jig

This old uilleann piper's tune, dating back at least to the first half of the 19th century, comes with a story. According to tradition, a farmer once surprised a fairy gathering on returning home late one night. The fairies were dancing to the music of a fairy piper, but they ran off after being startled by the intruder. The farmer was about to continue his journey home when he found a tiny gold ring, left behind after the flight of the fey folk. He managed to return it to the fairies, and in exchange they gave him this tune, which the fairy piper had been playing when he first surprised them.

Categories: Celtic Music Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 8 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks

 from “Pictures at an Exhibition”, transcribed for solo flute

Today we present the fifth movement of Modest Mussorgsky's famous suite for piano Pictures at an Exhibition, which has also become known through various orchestrations and arrangements, with Ravel's arrangement being by far the most recorded and performed.

This piece was inspired by a sketch (painted by Viktor Hartmann) of a costume for a picturesque scene in Petipa and Gerber's 1870 ballet Trilby, which portrayed dancers as canary chicks emerging from the shell.

Mussorgsky created a rapid, busy and aptly dissonant piano work, which perfectly embodies all the youthful energy of enthusiastic chicks yearning to be free.

Thanks to Elan for suggesting this piece!

Categories: Romantic Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 9 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Gallant Troubadour

 arranged for two flutes

Today's piece is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. It is a duet based on a traditional song set to words by Walter Scott. The origins of the melody are unclear; it is probably an old English tune, but at least one edition calls it “a celebrated French romance”.

Categories: Marches Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Friday 10 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Study in C major by Andersen

 from “24 Etudes for Flute”

This is the first piece from the first etude book written by Danish flutist and composer Joachim Andersen, his 24 grosse Etüden für Flöte, Op. 15, first published in Hamburg in 1885.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 11 September 2021

Tune of the Day: The Humors of Bantry

 Traditional Irish jig

American musicologist Samuel Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle, March to the Fife, 1981) calls this tune a “thoroughly characteristic Irish jig, probably of no great age”. Its earliest known appearance is in Francis O'Neill's collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Sunday 12 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Duchess of Devonshires Reel

 by Ignatius Sancho

This tune was composed by British writer and musician Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780), and was first printed in his Twelve Country Dances for the Year 1779.

Categories: Reels Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 13 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Duet in G major by Tulou

 from “Méthode de flûte”

This study for two flutes is taken from the celebrated Méthode de flûte by French flutist Jean-Louis Tulou, published in Paris in 1835.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 14 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Study in C major by Boehm

 from “12 Studies”

This étude is the last piece from a collection of Twelve Grand Studies for the flute by Theobald Boehm, the German inventor who perfected the modern Western concert flute and its improved fingering system.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 15 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Off to the Hunt

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest appearance of this jig is, without a title, in Irish violinist Richard Michael Levey's second collection of The Dance Music of Ireland, published in London in 1873. The title “Off the Hunt” was seemingly introduced by O'Neill in his Music of Ireland (1903).

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Thursday 16 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Tempo di Gavotta by Corelli

 from Violin Sonata in A major, transcribed for flute and keyboard

This is the fourth and final movement of Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli's Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, which was originally published in 1700 as part of his 12 Violin Sonatas, Op. 5.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 17 September 2021

Tune of the Day: La Cordelle

 arranged for two flutes

This duet is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. Judging by its title, it is probably based on a traditional French dance tune, even though we were not able to track down its origins. A cordelle is a kind of rope or ribbon used in some traditional French dances, particularly in the region of Provence.

Categories: Dance tunes Traditional/Folk Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 18 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Study in A minor by Andersen

 from “24 Etudes for Flute”

This is the second piece from the first etude book written by Danish flutist and composer Joachim Andersen, his 24 grosse Etüden für Flöte, Op. 15, first published in Hamburg in 1885.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 19 September 2021

Tune of the Day: The Highway to Dublin

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest appearance of this jig is in American musician Giles Gibbs's 1777 flute manuscript, under the title “Right Way to Dublin”. It was then printed in James Aird's A Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, published in Glasgow in 1782.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Monday 20 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Mungos Delight

 by Ignatius Sancho

This tune was composed by British writer and musician Ignatius Sancho (1729–1780), and was first printed in his Twelve Country Dances for the Year 1779.

Categories: Jigs Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 21 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Duet in C major by Tulou

 from “Méthode de flûte”

This study for two flutes is taken from the celebrated Méthode de flûte by French flutist Jean-Louis Tulou, published in Paris in 1835.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 22 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Study in B minor by Romanino

 from “20 Studi progressivi e dilettevoli”

This study is the sixth piece from 20 Studi progressivi e dilettevoli per il Flauto (“20 progressive and delightful studies for the flute”) by Italian flutist Camillo Romanino.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 23 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Sergeant Early's Jig

 Traditional Irish jig

This tune is taken from Francis O'Neill's 1903 collection Music of Ireland. The title refers to Chicago Police Sergeant James Early, a piper originally from County Leitrim, who had a store of tunes in a manuscript consisting of the first few bars of each. O'Neill said of him: “Kindly, unassuming, patient, tolerant, helpful and hospitable.”

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Friday 24 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Preludio by Corelli

 from Violin Sonata in F major, transcribed for flute and keyboard

This is the opening movement of Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli's Violin Sonata No. 10 in F major, which was originally published in 1700 as part of his 12 Violin Sonatas, Op. 5.

Categories: Baroque Sonatas Difficulty: easy
Saturday 25 September 2021

Tune of the Day: My Ain Fireside

 Scottish ballad, arranged for two flutes

This duet is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. It is an arrangement of a popular Scottish ballad with words by Elizabeth Hamilton (1756–1816). Blake attributes the tune to “Sinclair”, probably Scottish singer John Sinclair (1791–1857), who helped popularize the song.

Categories: Ballads Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Sunday 26 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Study in D major by Andersen

 from “24 Etudes for Flute”

This is the fifth piece from the first etude book written by Danish flutist and composer Joachim Andersen, his 24 grosse Etüden für Flöte, Op. 15, first published in Hamburg in 1885.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: advanced
Monday 27 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Castle Donovan

 Traditional Irish jig

This tune is taken from Francis O'Neill's 1903 collection Music of Ireland. The title “Castle Donovan” refers to the remains of an Irish tower house in a valley near Drimoleague, County Cork, which was the seat of the Clann Cathail sept of the O'Donovans for a period during the 16th century.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Tuesday 28 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Allegro moderato by Tromlitz

 from Flute Partita in D major

Today we present the opening movement of Partita No. 1 in D major for solo flute by German flutist and composer Johann Georg Tromlitz, which was first published in Leipzig as part of his Sechs Partiten für Querflöte solo.

Categories: Classical Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 29 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Duet in C major by Tulou

 from “Méthode de flûte”

This study for two flutes is taken from the celebrated Méthode de flûte by French flutist Jean-Louis Tulou, published in Paris in 1835.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 30 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Study in A major by Romanino

 from “20 Studi progressivi e dilettevoli”

This study is the seventh piece from 20 Studi progressivi e dilettevoli per il Flauto (“20 progressive and delightful studies for the flute”) by Italian flutist Camillo Romanino.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate