Thursday 11 December 2025
Traditional Irish jig
This single jig is taken from Francis O'Neill's collection Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. The tune has been employed for the English country dance “Jack's Health” since at least the early 1970s. As a result, it is sometimes erroneously assumed to be an old English dance tune.
Wednesday 10 December 2025
from Köhler's “25 Romantic Studies”
This is the last étude from Ernesto Köhler's 25 Romantic Studies, Op. 66. It consists of a lively “Allegro vivo” in E major and a melancholic Andantino in A minor.
Tuesday 9 December 2025
Flute duet by J.B. de Boismortier
This is the last duet in D major from the 55 Easy Pieces by Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. The French word faineant indicates an irresponsible or lazy person.
Thanks to Paolo for contributing this piece!
Monday 8 December 2025
by Claude Debussy
Debussy wrote “La plus que lente” for solo piano in 1910. The title of this waltz may be translated as "The Even Slower Waltz" or, more literally, "The More Than Slow". Despite its title, “La plus que lente” was not meant to be played slowly: lente, in this context, refers to the valse lente genre that Debussy attempted to emulate. Typical of Debussy's caustic approach to naming his compositions, it represented his reaction to the vast influence of the slow waltz in France's social atmospheres.
“La plus que lente” is marked “Molto rubato con morbidezza”, indicating Debussy's encouragement of a very flexible tempo. Molto rubato (literally, “very stolen”) allows the player great rhythmic freedom, while con morbidezza means “softly”, “tenderly”.
The original version of this piece was scored in G-flat major (with six flats in the key signature), but flutists usually play it transposed to G major, since this key better fits the playing range of the flute... not to mention that it's way easier to read!
Sunday 7 December 2025
Traditional Irish jig
This jig appears to be unique to Chicago Police Captain Francis O'Neill's collection The Dance Music of Ireland, published in 1907.
Saturday 6 December 2025
from Köhler's “25 Romantic Studies”
This is étude No. 8 from Ernesto Köhler's 25 Romantic Studies, Op. 66. Make sure not to insist on the eighth-notes that come after a triplet, and try to play the piece wittily but clearly.
Friday 5 December 2025
from “20 Easy and Melodic Studies”
This is duet No. 5 from the first volume of Twenty Easy Melodic Progressive Studies by Ernesto Köhler. As for all duets of the collection, the second flute part is meant to be played by the teacher.
Thanks to Bruno for contributing this piece!