Free Flute Sheet Music

Tune of the Day: Whistle an' I'll Come to You My Lad

This air was reputedly composed by fiddler John Bruce of Braemar, Scotland. He took part in the Jacobite rising of 1745, but was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle when Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated. No one knows when the air was composed, although c. 1750 has been suggested.

Niel Gow's Complete Repository (1806) identifies the tune as “Irish”, perhaps because a version was used by Irish dramatist John O'Keefe as the vehicle of a song (beginning “Since love is the plan, I'll love if I can”) for his 1783 comic opera The Poor Soldier.

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

Tune of the Day: Study No. 30 in G minor

Today's piece is the thirtieth study from 40 Esercizi per Flauto (40 Exercises for Flute), Op. 101, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Tune of the Day: Leise rieselt der Schnee

“Leise rieselt der Schnee” (“Softly falls the snow”) is one of the most popular German carols. The lyrics are from a poem by Eduard Ebel, originally published in 1895 as “Weihnachtsgruß” (“Christmas greeting”). The melody is sometimes also attributed to Ebel, though this attribution is probably spurious, especially considering that Ebel only published the text of the song.

Ebel's winter poem was originally subtitled “ein Kinderlied”, meaning “a children's song”. It wasn't intended as an Advent or Christmas song, but because of its Christmas references it became a popular carol during the early weeks leading up to Christmas.

Thanks to Gabriela for suggesting this tune!

Tune of the Day: Capriccio in F major by Quantz

This capriccio is one of 24 pieces attributed to the famous German flutist and composer Johann Joachim Quantz to have survived in a manuscript titled Fantasier og Preludier. 8. Capricier og andre Stykker til Øvelse for Flöÿten af Quanz (“Fantasies and Preludes. 8 Caprices and other Pieces for Exercise for the Flute by Quantz”). This manuscript has been kept in the Giedde Collection (named after its founder, Danish composer W.H.R.R. Giedde) in the Royal Library of Copenhagen, which hosts a fairly comprehensive collection of flute music from the second half of the 18th century.

Tune of the Day: Duet in D major by Devienne

This lovely little duet is taken from the Nouvelle Méthode théorique et pratique pour la flûte by French flutist and composer François Devienne, published in 1794.

Tune of the Day: Study in C minor by Kummer

This is the twentieth piece from 24 Etudes mélodiques, Op. 110 by German flutist and composer Caspar Kummer. This collection has also been published in English as 24 Melodic Exercises.

Tune of the Day: Dwa serduszka

This traditional Polish love song was recently made internationally famous by the 2018 movie Cold War (Zimna wojna), directed by Paweł Pawlikowski. The song appears throughout the film in a variety of arrangements, speaking of “two hearts, four eyes” and a love that can never be.

Thanks to Vikki for suggesting this tune!

Tune of the Day: Largo by Boismortier

This is the opening movement of the first sonata from Sonates pour la flûte traversière avec la basse, Op. 19 by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. These sonatas were originally published in Paris in 1727.

Tune of the Day: Two Menuets by Montéclair

These two minuets constitute the second movement of the first 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-flat major by Hugues

Today's piece is the thirty-first study from 40 Esercizi per Flauto (40 Exercises for Flute), Op. 101, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Tune of the Day: Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her

“Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her” (most often translated as “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come”, although a more literal translation would be “From High in the Heavens, that's where I come from”) is a hymn text about the Nativity of Jesus, written by Martin Luther in 1534. The hymn is most often sung to a melody that first appeared in 1539, and that was likely composed by Luther as well. This version quickly became a classic Christmas carol, and many famous composers referred to it in their compositions, including Eccard, Praetorius, Pachelbel, J.S. Bach, J.C. Bach, von Weber, Mendelssohn, Stravinsky, and many others.

Thanks to Gabriela for suggesting this tune!

Tune of the Day: Capriccio in G major by Quantz

This capriccio is one of 24 pieces attributed to the famous German flutist and composer Johann Joachim Quantz to have survived in a manuscript titled Fantasier og Preludier. 8. Capricier og andre Stykker til Øvelse for Flöÿten af Quanz (“Fantasies and Preludes. 8 Caprices and other Pieces for Exercise for the Flute by Quantz”). This manuscript has been kept in the Giedde Collection (named after its founder, Danish composer W.H.R.R. Giedde) in the Royal Library of Copenhagen, which hosts a fairly comprehensive collection of flute music from the second half of the 18th century.

Tune of the Day: Duet in B minor by Devienne

This short duet in B minor is taken from the Nouvelle Méthode théorique et pratique pour la flûte by French flutist and composer François Devienne, published in 1794.

Tune of the Day: Study in B-flat major by Kummer

This is the twenty-first piece from 24 Etudes mélodiques, Op. 110 by German flutist and composer Caspar Kummer. This collection has also been published in English as 24 Melodic Exercises.

Tune of the Day: Alle Jahre wieder

“Alle Jahre wieder” (“Every year again”) is one of the most well-known German-language Christmas carols. It dates back to 1837, when Wilhelm Hey wrote its lyrics. A couple different tunes have been associated with these lyrics over the years, but none of them ever became as popular as the melody by Friedrich Silcher (1842) that is sung today.

Tune of the Day: Allemanda by Boismortier

This allemande is the second movement of the first sonata from Sonates pour la flûte traversière avec la basse, Op. 19 by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. These sonatas were originally published in Paris in 1727.

Tune of the Day: Rolla to Cora

This flute duet appears in Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. The book identifies it as an “Indian melody”, but it is unclear whether it refers to India or to American Indians (i.e., Native Americans). Unfortunately we could not find any mention of the title “Rolla to Cora” outside of this volume.

Tune of the Day: Study in E-flat major by Hugues

Today's piece is the thirty-second study from 40 Esercizi per Flauto (40 Exercises for Flute), Op. 101, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Tune of the Day: O du fröhliche

“O du fröhliche” (usually translated to English as “O, how joyful”) is a popular German Christmas carol. Its original text was authored by Johannes Daniel Falk (1768–1826), a philosopher and poet who, after losing four of his seven children to typhoid fever, founded a rescue house for abandoned children in the German city of Weimar. In 1816, he dedicated this song to the children of the orphanage. The melody was taken from the anonymous Catholic hymn “O Sanctissima” (“O most holy”, also known as “Sicilian Mariners Hymn”), which he found in J.G. Herder's book Stimmen der Völker in Liedern (Voices of the Peoples in Songs) after hearing it sung by Pietro Granucci, an Italian foundling under his care. In Falk's original text, the song was titled “Allerdreifeiertagslied” (Song for three holidays), highlighting the three major festivals of Christianity: Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.

Thanks to Gabriela for suggesting this tune!

Tune of the Day: Capriccio in G major by Quantz

This capriccio is one of 24 pieces attributed to the famous German flutist and composer Johann Joachim Quantz to have survived in a manuscript titled Fantasier og Preludier. 8. Capricier og andre Stykker til Øvelse for Flöÿten af Quanz (“Fantasies and Preludes. 8 Caprices and other Pieces for Exercise for the Flute by Quantz”). This manuscript has been kept in the Giedde Collection (named after its founder, Danish composer W.H.R.R. Giedde) in the Royal Library of Copenhagen, which hosts a fairly comprehensive collection of flute music from the second half of the 18th century.

Tune of the Day: Air by Montéclair

This air is the third movement of the first 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 minor by Kummer

This is the twenty-second piece from 24 Etudes mélodiques, Op. 110 by German flutist and composer Caspar Kummer. This collection has also been published in English as 24 Melodic Exercises.

Tune of the Day: Es wird scho glei dumpa

The words and music of this carol appeared in print for the first time in 1884, with lyrics credited to Anton Reidinger (1839–1912), a Catholic priest who lived in Upper Austria (Oberösterreich). Because this carol is in Austrian dialect, the spelling varies slightly from source to source; in standard German (the official language of Austria), the title is “Es wird schon gleich dunkel”, which means “It will soon be dark”. The melody is based on an old Austrian hymn honoring Mary which dates back to the 17th century, but Reidinger's contribution to the new melody was substantial, to the point that some consider him the composer of the music.

This carol is still popular today, and is often performed by choirs during the Christmas season. In the early 80s, it was brought to international popularity by the disco group Boney M., who included an English-language version titled “Darnkess Is Falling” in their 1981 Christmas Album.

Tune of the Day: Affettuoso by Boismortier

This is the third movement of the first sonata from Sonates pour la flûte traversière avec la basse, Op. 19 by the prolific French Baroque composer Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. These sonatas were originally published in Paris in 1727.

Tune of the Day: Duet in D major by Devienne

This short, lively duet is taken from the Nouvelle Méthode théorique et pratique pour la flûte by French flutist and composer François Devienne, published in 1794.

Tune of the Day: Study in C minor by Hugues

Today's piece is the thirty-third study from 40 Esercizi per Flauto (40 Exercises for Flute), Op. 101, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

Tune of the Day: Dunse Dings A'

The title of this tune refers to Duns, an ancient town high in the Border hills. “Dunse dings a'” means “Duns beats/surpasses all”, an expression of local pride. One of the greatest medieval philosophers, John Duns Scotus (c. 1266–1308), was born there. He was renowned throughout Europe, and lectured in Oxford and Paris. Unfortunately, his views were the object of severe criticism and scorn by 16th-century philosophers, who accused him of sophistry and even coined the term ‛dunce’ in derision.

The earliest appearance of the tune in print is in Neil Stewart's A Collection of the Newest and the Best Reels, or Country Dances, Adapted for the Violin or German Flute, published in Edinburgh in 1761.

Tune of the Day: Capriccio VI in G major

This capriccio is one of 24 pieces attributed to the famous German flutist and composer Johann Joachim Quantz to have survived in a manuscript titled Fantasier og Preludier. 8. Capricier og andre Stykker til Øvelse for Flöÿten af Quanz (“Fantasies and Preludes. 8 Caprices and other Pieces for Exercise for the Flute by Quantz”). This manuscript has been kept in the Giedde Collection (named after its founder, Danish composer W.H.R.R. Giedde) in the Royal Library of Copenhagen, which hosts a fairly comprehensive collection of flute music from the second half of the 18th century.

Tune of the Day: A Puzzle For Students

This a waltz for two flutes is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. Unfortunately Blake offers no indication of the origin of the piece, and searching the web for its mysterious title proved fruitless.

Tune of the Day: Study in F major by Kummer

This beautifully ornamented Larghetto is the twenty-third piece from 24 Etudes mélodiques, Op. 110 by German flutist and composer Caspar Kummer. This collection has also been published in English as 24 Melodic Exercises.

Tune of the Day: Matinée

This tune appears in Harding's All-Round Collection of Jigs, Reels and Country Dances, published in New York in 1905. It is categorized as a “Buck Dance”, suggesting that the melody was employed as the vehicle for a latter 19th century solo stage dance.