Friday 1 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Study in B-flat minor by Fürstenau

 from “26 Exercises”

This highly-syncopated study is the twenty-fourth piece from 26 Übungen (26 Exercises) by German flutist and composer Anton Bernhard Fürstenau, first published in 1835.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 2 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Wild Mountain Thyme

 Traditional Scottish/Irish folk song

This folk song is a variant of the early-19th-century ballad “The Braes of Balquhither” by Scottish poet Robert Tannahill and Scottish composer Robert Archibald Smith, which was in turn most likely based on an 18th-century traditional air. The adaptation into the modern version of “Wild Mountain Thyme” was performed by Belfast musician Francis McPeake (1885–1971), who first recorded it with his family in the 1950s. Tannahill's original lyrics include a number of phrases that McPeake carried over into his song, including the lines “Let us go, lassie, go” and “And the wild mountain thyme”.

Thanks to Mark for contributing this arrangement for three flutes!

Categories: Ballads Love songs Slow airs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Sunday 3 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Caprice in G major by Mercadante

 from “20 Caprices”

This Andante is the fourth piece from a collection of 20 Capricci by Italian composer Saverio Mercadante. It is not certain when these caprices were composed, but scholars tend to associate them with Mercadante's early years in Naples, between 1811 and 1814.

Categories: Classical Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 4 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Rondeau by Devienne

 from “Nouvelle Méthode pour la flûte”

This lovely rondeau is the third and last movement of the second Sonata for two flutes included in the Nouvelle Méthode théorique et pratique pour la flûte by the French flutist and composer François Devienne.

Categories: Classical Rondos Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 5 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Study in F major by Gariboldi

 from “15 Etudes modernes et progressives”

Today we propose the third piece from 15 Etudes modernes, élégantes et progressives by Italian Romantic flutist Giuseppe Gariboldi.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 6 April 2022

Tune of the Day: The Joy of My Life

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest known appearance of this jig is in Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. O'Neill found this as an unnamed and unpublished tune, and said it was a favorite with his contemporary Chicago musicians Delaney, Early and McFadden. In Irish Folk Music he writes: “A German bandmaster from Troy, New York, was so pleased with its rhythm that it fills a favorite place in his repertoire. To impress a German leader favorably is high honor indeed for an Irish jig.”

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Thursday 7 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Allegro assai by Tromlitz

 from Flute Partita in E minor

This the second movement of Partita No. 5 in E minor 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
Friday 8 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Duet in D minor by Granom

 from “24 Duets”

This is the sixth piece from XXIV Duets for two German Flutes, Adapted to the Capacity of all Degrees of Performers, composed by English flutist Lewis Granom and first published in London in 1747.

In a performance setting, this piece is intended to be played sandwiched between two instances of the preceding Duet No. 5.

Categories: Baroque Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 9 April 2022

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

 from “26 Exercises”

Today we propose the twenty-fifth study from 26 Übungen (26 Exercises) by German flutist and composer Anton Bernhard Fürstenau, first published in 1835.

It is an enharmonically altered version of study No. 13 from the same collection.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 10 April 2022

Tune of the Day: The Grumbling Rustic

 Traditional Irish jig

This jig is taken from Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. It is probably much older, though, as O'Neill found an elaborate four-part version in McGoun's Repository of Scots and Irish Airs (c. 1800) under the title “Gillan na Drover”.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Monday 11 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Caprice in D major by Mercadante

 from “20 Caprices”

This Allegretto is the fifth piece from a collection of 20 Capricci by Italian composer Saverio Mercadante. It is not certain when these caprices were composed, but scholars tend to associate them with Mercadante's early years in Naples, between 1811 and 1814.

Categories: Classical Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 12 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Devienne

 from “Nouvelle Méthode pour la flûte”

This duet is the opening movement of the second Sonata for two flutes included in the Nouvelle Méthode théorique et pratique pour la flûte by the French flutist and composer François Devienne.

Categories: Classical Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 13 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Study in C major by Gariboldi

 from “15 Etudes modernes et progressives”

Today we propose the fourth piece from 15 Etudes modernes, élégantes et progressives by Italian Romantic flutist Giuseppe Gariboldi.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 14 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest known appearance of this tune is in the American collection Howe's 1000 Jigs and Reels, published in Boston around 1867. Francis O'Neill called it “a grand and spirited double jig”, and included it in three of his classic Irish tune collections.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Friday 15 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Menuet con Variazioni by Tromlitz

 from Flute Partita in E minor

This minuet and its accompanying variations constitute the third and last movement of Partita No. 5 in E minor 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 Minuets Variations Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 16 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Duet in D major by Granom

 from “24 Duets”

This minuet is the seventh piece from XXIV Duets for two German Flutes, Adapted to the Capacity of all Degrees of Performers, composed by English flutist Lewis Granom and first published in London in 1747.

Categories: Baroque Minuets Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Sunday 17 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Study in E-flat minor by Fürstenau

 from “26 Exercises”

Today we propose the twenty-sixth study from 26 Übungen (26 Exercises) by German flutist and composer Anton Bernhard Fürstenau, first published in 1835.

It is an enharmonically altered version of study No. 14 from the same collection.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: advanced
Monday 18 April 2022

Tune of the Day: The Humors of Ballycastle

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest known appearance of this jig is in Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903.

There are two places named Ballycastle in Ireland: one is a small town in County Antrim (Northern Ireland), the other a village in County Mayo. It is uncertain which one the title refers to.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Tuesday 19 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Caprice No. 6 in D major

 from “20 Caprices”

This triplet-based Allegretto is the sixth piece from a collection of 20 Capricci by Italian composer Saverio Mercadante. It is not certain when these caprices were composed, but scholars tend to associate them with Mercadante's early years in Naples, between 1811 and 1814.

Categories: Classical Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Wednesday 20 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Devienne

 from “Nouvelle Méthode pour la flûte”

This duet is the opening movement of the third Sonata for two flutes included in the Nouvelle Méthode théorique et pratique pour la flûte by the French flutist and composer François Devienne.

Categories: Classical Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 21 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Study in E minor by Gariboldi

 from “15 Etudes modernes et progressives”

Today we propose the fifth piece from 15 Etudes modernes, élégantes et progressives by Italian Romantic flutist Giuseppe Gariboldi.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 22 April 2022

Tune of the Day: The Girls of Banbridge

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest appearance of this jig in Irish collections is in Francis O'Neill's Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. However, the tune is probably older, as very similar melodies (such as “The Sylph”) can be found in English manuscripts dating from the early 19th century.

Banbridge, located in County Down about 15 miles south of Belfast, was once an important stop on the Dublin to Belfast stagecoach route. It features a very unusual main street, rising to a steep hill before leveling out. In 1834 an underpass, commonly known as “The Cut”, was built to prevent horses with heavy loads from fainting before reaching the top of the hill.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Saturday 23 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Tromlitz

 from Flute Partita in C major

This the opening movement of Partita No. 6 in C 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
Sunday 24 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Duet in D major by Granom

 from “24 Duets”

This march is the eighth piece from XXIV Duets for two German Flutes, Adapted to the Capacity of all Degrees of Performers, composed by English flutist Lewis Granom and first published in London in 1747.

Categories: Baroque Marches Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Monday 25 April 2022

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

 from “26 Exercises”

Today we propose the eighth study from 26 Übungen (26 Exercises) by German flutist and composer Anton Bernhard Fürstenau, first published in 1835.

Categories: Etudes Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Tuesday 26 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Wellington's Advance

 Traditional Irish jig

This jig, commemorative of the Duke of Wellington, England's Napoleonic Wars hero, is taken from Francis O'Neill's collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. O'Neill identifies “Wellington's Advance” as an Ulster tune, and says it was “unknown in the Southern provinces” of Ireland.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy
Wednesday 27 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Caprice in B minor by Mercadante

 from “20 Caprices”

This is the seventh piece from a collection of 20 Capricci by Italian composer Saverio Mercadante. It is not certain when these caprices were composed, but scholars tend to associate them with Mercadante's early years in Naples, between 1811 and 1814.

Categories: Classical Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Thursday 28 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Adagio by Devienne

 from “Nouvelle Méthode pour la flûte”

This duet is the central movement of the third Sonata for two flutes included in the Nouvelle Méthode théorique et pratique pour la flûte by French flutist and composer François Devienne.

Categories: Classical Sonatas Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Friday 29 April 2022

Tune of the Day: Study in D major by Gariboldi

 from “15 Etudes modernes et progressives”

Today we propose the sixth piece from 15 Etudes modernes, élégantes et progressives by Italian Romantic flutist Giuseppe Gariboldi.

Categories: Etudes Romantic Written for Flute Difficulty: intermediate
Saturday 30 April 2022

Tune of the Day: The Old Man's Delight

 Traditional Irish jig

The earliest known appearance of this jig is in Francis O'Neill's celebrated collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. O'Neill obtained this tune from Chicago Police Patrolman John Kennedy, who in turn had learned it from his father.

Categories: Jigs Traditional/Folk Difficulty: easy