Free Flute Sheet Music

Tune of the Day: The Lass of Patie's Mill

Patie's mill stood on the banks of the river Irvine, which flows into the sea north of Ayr, Scotland. The poet Allan Ramsay, walking near the mill with his friend the Earl of Loudoun, had his attention drawn to “a rustic girl of uncommon beauty” spreading hay in a nearby field. His lordship observed that the girl would make a fine subject for a song, and within hours the poem was completed.

The melody, which is believed to date from the middle of the 16th century, was first published in Orpheus Caledonius (1725). In his Caledonian Companion (1743), James Oswald, on dangerously slender evidence, identifies the composer as the Italian David Rizzio, Mary Queen of Scots' secretary, music-master, valet de chambre, and perhaps lover, who was brutally done to death in Holyrood Palace in 1566 (his bloodstains are still shown to visitors by helpful guides). Although this is not verified, the tune has a definite Italian flavor.

The song was heard parodied in John Gay's 1729 The Beggar's Opera, under the title “I like the fox shall grieve”. In Ireland, the tune was adapted, re-titled to “Carolan's Cap”, and attributed to the famous Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1734).

Thanks to Phil for suggesting this tune!

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Locatelli

This Allegro is the second movement of the tenth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.

Tune of the Day: Hope Told a Flattering Tale

“Hope Told a Flattering Tale” is the title of an English-language version of the famous soprano aria “Nel cor più non mi sento” from Giovanni Paisiello's 1788 opera La molinara.

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

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

This is the twenty-sixth piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.

Tune of the Day: Drimmin Dhoun Oge

This Irish air is taken from the 3rd volume of O'Farrell's Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes, published around 1806. Francis O'Neill published a version of this tune in his collection under the title The Young Black Cow.

Tune of the Day: Minuetto by Locatelli

This minuet and its many variations constitute the third and final movement of the tenth of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.

Tune of the Day: Duet in C major by Berbiguier

This is the fourth duet from Trente-six Petits Duos Mélodiques Faciles et Chantants pour deux Flûtes (36 Easy Flute Duets) by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.

Tune of the Day: Study in G major by Hugues

Today's piece is the first study from 30 Studi, Op. 32, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues. As the indication at the beginning of the piece states, this study is to be played with single tonguing.

This study has also been published as the fourth piece in a selection of 24 Studies for Flute from Hugues's Opp. 32 and 75.

Tune of the Day: Lament of the Aran Fisherman

This air is taken from Francis O'Neill's collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. O'Neill notes: “Mr. Francis E. Walsh of San Francisco noted this air from the singing of Seamus Moriarty, a native of Kerry. The verses bewailed the drowning of a fisherman”.

Tune of the Day: Adagio by Bellinzani

This is the opening movement of the eighth sonata from Sonate a flauto solo con cembalo, o violoncello (“Sonatas for solo flute with harpsichord or cello”) by Italian Baroque composer Paolo Benedetto Bellinzani, originally published in Venice in 1720.

Thanks to Marco for suggesting this piece!

Tune of the Day: Now At Moonlight's Fairy Hour

This flute duet is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. It is an arrangement of a song composed by Newcastle-upon-Tyne organist Thomas Thompson to a poem by English author Ann Radcliffe.

Now, at Moonlight's fairy hour, When faintly gleams each dewy steep,
And vale and Mountain, lake and bow'r, In solitary grandeur sleep;

When slowly sinks the evening breeze, That lulls the mind in pensive care,
And Fancy loftier visions sees, Bid Music wake the silent air.

Bid the merry, merry tabor sound, And with the Fays of lawn or glade,
In tripping circlet beat the ground, Under the high trees' trembling shade.

“Now, at Moonlight's fairy hour,” Shall Music breathe her dulcet voice,
And o'er the waves, with magic pow'r, Call on Echo to rejoice.

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

This is the twenty-seventh piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.

Tune of the Day: Father Tom O'Neill

This Irish air was collected by Chicago police captain Francis O'Neill, who included it in his collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in 1922. He remarks: “A ballad of 19 verses sung to this air recited the conspiracy of an infatuated wealthy heiress in County Armagh to inveigle or coerce a young clergyman, the son of a widow, into matrimony; and the frustration of her designs by the confession of an accomplice.”

Tune of the Day: Im wunderschönen Monat Mai

This Lied is taken from Dichterliebe (“A Poet's Love”), the best-known song cycle by Robert Schumann. Composed in 1840, it sets to music 16 short poems by the famous German poet Heinrich Heine.

In beautiful May, when the buds sprang,
love sprang up in my heart.
In beautiful May, when the birds all sang,
I told you my desire and longing.

Parts of the piece have recently been featured in the K-pop song “Summer Rain” by GFriend, which was released in 2017.

Thanks to Olivia for suggesting this piece!

Tune of the Day: Duet in C major by Berbiguier

This is the fifth duet from Trente-six Petits Duos Mélodiques Faciles et Chantants pour deux Flûtes (36 Easy Flute Duets) by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.

Tune of the Day: Study in C major by Hugues

Today's piece is the third study from 30 Studi, Op. 32, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

This study has also been published as the fifth piece in a selection of 24 Studies for Flute from Hugues's Opp. 32 and 75.

Tune of the Day: Graine Uaile

This Irish air is taken from O'Farrell's Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes, published between 1804 and 1810. In Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody (1922), tune collector Francis O'Neill remarks:

This was the earliest setting of this famous old air which the editor could trace. A florid version entitled “Granu Weal or ma-ma-ma” obtained from McDonnell a renowned piper in 1797 is to be found in Bunting’s 3rd collection. The sub-title represents certain passages wherein a repeated note reinforced by concords on the regulators produced tones like ma-ma-ma. Grainne ni Mhaille, who flourished in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was the most forceful character of her day. Her Irish maiden name became one of the allegorical titles by which Ireland is poetically known, and eclipses totally those of her two husbands, O'Flaherty and Sir Richard Bourke. In the course of time, the original Irish name became corrupted to “Granu Weal”, “Graina Uaile", “Grainu Mhaol”, and other forms.

Tune of the Day: Largo by Locatelli

This short Largo is the opening movement of the eleventh of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.

It is quite interesting how this piece takes a turn to D minor and then ends on a half cadence, even though the next movement goes back to D major straight away.

Tune of the Day: The Evening Gun

This song, based on a poem by Thomas Moore, was set to music by Boston-based music teacher and composer John Paddon (1775 or 1776–1846).

Remember’st thou that setting sun, The last I saw with thee,
When loud we heard the evening gun Peal o’er the twilight sea?
Boom!—the sounds appeared to sweep Far o’er the verge of day,
Till, into realms beyond the deep, They seemed to die away.

Oft, when the toils of day are done, In pensive dreams of thee,
I sit to hear that evening gun, Peal o’er the stormy sea.
Boom!—and while, o’er billows curled. The distant sounds decay,
I weep and wish, from this rough world Like them to die away.

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

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

This is the twenty-eighth piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.

Tune of the Day: Did You See My Man Looking For Me?

This Irish air was collected by Chicago police captain Francis O'Neill, who included it in his collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in 1922. O'Neill remembers the following verse of this old folk song:

Did you see my man,
He was a fine man?
Did you see my man looking for me?
He wore a green jacket, a pair of white stockings,
A hump on his back and he's blind in one eye;
A corduroy breeches; his brogues full of stitches
Did you see my man looking for me?

Tune of the Day: Rough Diamond Rag

This gorgeous ragtime piece for flute and guitar was contributed to our collection by its composer, guitarist Peter Pope. Thank you for sharing your music with us, Peter!

Tune of the Day: Duet in F major by Berbiguier

This is the sixth duet from Trente-six Petits Duos Mélodiques Faciles et Chantants pour deux Flûtes (36 Easy Flute Duets) by French Romantic composer Benoit Tranquille Berbiguier.

Tune of the Day: Study in G major by Hugues

Today's piece is the fourth study from 30 Studi, Op. 32, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.

This study has also been published as the sixth piece in a selection of 24 Studies for Flute from Hugues's Opp. 32 and 75.

Tune of the Day: Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór

“Sí Beag, Sí Mór” (“Small Fairy Mound, Big Fairy Mound”, from the word Sí for ‛fairy mound’ or ‛fairy hill’ in Irish Gaelic) is usually attributed to the famous blind harpist and singer Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1738) as his first composition, which he wrote based on an old tune titled “The Bonnie Cuckoo”. The collection Fiddlers Philharmonic describes the tune as a “beautiful old Irish air, usually played simply and leisurely, and occasionally played as a waltz”. Sí Mór (Sheemore) and Sí Beag (Sheebeg) are also two ancient pagan burial sites situated close to each other in south County Leitrim, Ireland.

In modern times, the tune has been recorded by many artists, initially by Planxty on their 1973 debut album Planxty, and by The Chieftains in 1975, on their The Chieftains 5 album (as part of their suite “The Humours of Carolan”). It was performed live on numerous occasions by Fairport Convention, who also recorded it as a single in 1985, and whose fiddler Dave Swarbrick used to showcase it live in his touring partnership with Simon Nicol. It is commonly played on the fiddle and is also a favorite of various fingerstyle guitarists, including Tony McManus and Pierre Bensusan.

Thanks to Francisco for suggesting this tune!

Tune of the Day: Allegro by Bellinzani

This is the second movement of the eighth sonata from Sonate a flauto solo con cembalo, o violoncello (“Sonatas for solo flute with harpsichord or cello”) by Italian Baroque composer Paolo Benedetto Bellinzani, originally published in Venice in 1720.

Tune of the Day: The Last Link is Broken

This sentimental song, first published around 1831, is usually attributed to a composer and arranger named William Clifton, about whom very little is known. At least one publication, however, claims that the subject was “selected from Mozart”. The lyrics, on the other hand, come from a poem by Fanny Steers (1797–1861), an English painter best known for her small-scale landscapes.

The last link is broken that bound me to thee,
And the words thou hast spoken have rende'rd me free;
That bright glance, misleading, on others may shine;
Those eyes smiled unheeding when tears burst from mine.

I have not loved lightly, I'll think on thee yet,
I'll pray for thee nightly till life's sun has set.

The present arrangement for two flutes appeared in Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. Therein, it is erroneously attributed to Lord Byron.

Tune of the Day: Study in C-flat major by Prill

This study in C-flat major (that's right, all notes flat!) is the twenty-ninth piece from 30 Etüden in allen Tonarten für Flöte (“30 Studies in All Keys for Flute”), Op. 6, by German flutist Emil Prill. It was first published in Leipzig in 1894.

Tune of the Day: Sweet Castle Hill

This air is taken from Francis O'Neill's collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in Chicago in 1922. The cited source is a P.J. Healy from San Francisco.

Tune of the Day: Andante by Locatelli

This rich Andante is the second movement of the eleventh of 12 sonatas for flute and continuo by Italian composer Pietro Antonio Locatelli, originally published in Amsterdam in 1732.