Friday 9 January 2026
by Scott Joplin
The “Combination March” was Joplin's second published march. Appeared in 1896, it demonstrated the composer's ability to assemble well-structured themes, and is not all that far off from the ragtime he would be writing in short order. Joplin had been traveling with his Texas Medley Quartette (actually double that since there were eight members) and secured publication in Temple, Texas during their tour. The context of the title is unclear, whether Joplin is referring to a combination of styles or ideas, or the group with which he was playing.
Thanks to Guido from Brazil for suggesting this piece!
Thursday 8 January 2026
Traditional Irish jig
This jig was entered twice into the mid-19th-century music manuscript of Irish uilleann piper and cleric James Goodman, set in two different keys. Around the same time, the tune appeared in R.M. Levey's First Collection of the Dance Music of Ireland (1858).
A version for the Northumbrian small-pipes entitled “Puddle the Butter” was printed in 1913 by collector Cecil Sharp, originally from the music manuscript collection of the Crawhall family.
Wednesday 7 January 2026
from “30 Caprices for Flute Solo”
This is the second étude from Sigfried Karg-Elert's 30 Caprices: a “Gradus ad Parnassum” of the modern technique for flute solo.
Tuesday 6 January 2026
traditional folk song, arranged for flute trio
Today's piece was kindly contributed to our collection by its composer, Cheryl Cleveland-Kannianen. It is an arrangement of “Wayfaring Stranger”, a beautiful and haunting traditional melody with unclear beginnings. It likely has its origins in the African American Spiritual, but also contains elements of a Scottish Ballad and influences from the German hymn tradition.
This work is appropriate for an intermediate flute trio or flute choir. The arrangement is written for three flutes, but violin may also work well, especially for Flute 3 with a few minor octave adjustments.
Dr. Cheryl Cleveland-Kannianen is a retired scientist who is now pursuing a Music Degree at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, with a focus on arranging and composition. Cheryl has been a participant in various flute choirs within the Raleigh Area Flute Association (RAFA) for over a decade.
Monday 5 January 2026
from Dvorak's opera “Rusalka”
Antonín Dvořák's opera Rusalka was composed in 1901, and based on the fairy tales of Karel Jaromír Erben and Božena Němcová. A Rusalka is in fact a water sprite of Slavic mythology, usually inhabiting a lake or river. This is one of the most successful Czech operas, and represents a cornerstone of the repertoire of Czech opera houses.
Arguably the most popular excerpt of this opera is Rusalka's aria “Song to the Moon” from Act I. The good-natured old Spirit of the Lake, Jezibab, is enjoying the singing of the Wood Nymphs, when his daughter, Rusalka, approaches him sadly. She tells him that she has fallen in love with a handsome young prince and wishes to become human in order to know the bliss of union with him. Deeply saddened, the Spirit of the Lake consents to her request, and leaves. All alone, Rusalka sings this beautiful aria, confiding in the moon the secrets of her longing.
Sunday 4 January 2026
Traditional Scottish/Irish jig
The earliest appearance of this jig is in John Anderson's A Selection of the most Approved Highland Strathspeys, published in Edinburgh in 1789. The tune was later adopted in Ireland, and can notably be found in Francis O'Neill's early-20th-century collections under the title “Tie the Petticoat Tighter”.
Saturday 3 January 2026
from “Thirty Easy and Progressive Studies”
This is étude No. 19 from Italian Romantic composer Giuseppe Gariboldi's collection of 30 Etudes faciles et progressives.
