Sunday 1 July 2018
from “Amusement militaire”
This jig is the fourth movement of Amusement militaire, a suite for solo instrument (“musette, vielle, flute and oboe” according to the original edition) and continuo by the French Baroque composer Nicolas Chédeville.
The title probably refers to the German town of Lambrecht (formerly St. Lambrecht), located about 6 km northwest of Neustadt an der Weinstraße (thanks to Fried for pointing this out!). It is also possible, however, that it refers to the feast of Saint Lambert, which is celebrated every year on September 17.
Monday 2 July 2018
arranged for flute duet
This ballad was composed in 1802 by the famous Irish poet, singer and songwriter Thomas Moore.
The present arrangement for two flutes appeared in Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in 1833.
Tuesday 3 July 2018
from “40 Esercizi per Flauto”
Today's piece is the eleventh study from 40 Esercizi per Flauto (40 Exercises for Flute), Op. 101, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.
Wednesday 4 July 2018
Traditional Scottish reel
The earliest appearance of this sweet Scottish reel can be found in Robert Bremner's A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances, published in London in 1757.
Thursday 5 July 2018
for solo flute
This is the eighth piece from a collection of 17 Capricci for Flauto Traverso by Italian flutist and composer Filippo Ruge. Born in Rome around 1725, Ruge appears to have spent most of his professional life in France, and especially in Paris, where several of his compositions were published, ranging from small-scale chamber music to large-scale symphonic works.
Friday 6 July 2018
Traditional Scottish air, arranged for two flutes
The present arrangement for two flutes of the traditional Scottish air “The Bonny Boat” appeared in Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833.
Saturday 7 July 2018
from “Melodic Exercises”
This is the very 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.
Sunday 8 July 2018
Traditional English tune
The earliest appearance of this melody is in Alexander McGlashan's Collection of Scots Measures, published in Edinburgh in 1781. It is listed under the title “Danced by Aldridge”, a reference to the great Irish-born dancer of the late 18th century Robert Aldridge. Imported to America, the melody became very popular in all regions and genres.
The particular Rickett honored in the title is probably John Bill Ricketts, a circus promoter who came from England to Philadelphia in 1792. He reportedly delighted his audiences by dancing hornpipes on the backs of galloping horses.
Monday 9 July 2018
for flute and piano
Today another contribution from our guest composer from the Netherlands. This time an earlier piece for flute and piano, the Op. 7, written back in the fall of 1985.
The piece is named “Allegretto”, but this is somewhat misleading as the lightweight allegretto opening theme is quickly succeeded by a slower two-part canon where flute and piano are chasing each other. The heart of this piece is a long melancholic and drawn-out melody in the flute that reaches height after height. After a reprise of the frivolous introduction, the piece ends with a soothing epilogue that somewhat resembles the melody of the canon and brings rest through a descending yet hopeful closure.
Tuesday 10 July 2018
by Michel Pignolet de Montéclair, for two flutes
This is the second movement of the fourth 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. The title of the movement, “La Rieuse”, translates literally as “The Laughing One”.
Thanks to Marco for suggesting this piece!
Wednesday 11 July 2018
from “40 Esercizi per Flauto”
Today's piece is the twelfth study from 40 Esercizi per Flauto (40 Exercises for Flute), Op. 101, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.
Thursday 12 July 2018
Traditional Irish reel
This Irish reel was collected by Chicago police captain Francis O'Neill, who included it in his collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in 1922.
Friday 13 July 2018
for solo flute
This is the ninth piece from a collection of 17 Capricci for Flauto Traverso by Italian flutist and composer Filippo Ruge. Born in Rome around 1725, Ruge appears to have spent most of his professional life in France, and especially in Paris, where several of his compositions were published, ranging from small-scale chamber music to large-scale symphonic works.
Saturday 14 July 2018
Traditional tune, arranged for two flutes
This lively flute duet is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833. The origins of the tune are unfortunately unknown.
Sunday 15 July 2018
from “Melodic Exercises”
This is the very 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.
Monday 16 July 2018
Traditional Irish jig
This jig is one of the most enduring and popular pieces in the Irish repertoire, and has even spread to other genres. It is, for example, a staple for contra dancing. Connaught (or Connacht) is one four provinces of Ireland (along with Leinster, Munster, and Ulster), named for the ancient tribe who lived there, the Connachta.
Probably the earliest appearances of the tune in print is in R.M. Levey's The First Collection of the Dance Music of Ireland, published in London in 1858.
Tuesday 17 July 2018
from “Amusement militaire”
This rondeau is the fifth movement of Amusement militaire, a suite for solo instrument (“musette, vielle, flute and oboe” according to the original edition) and continuo by the French Baroque composer Nicolas Chédeville.
As with several other Op. 6 movements, the title probably refers to a German town; possibly Sankt Wendel, which is located near the current French border about 30 km north-east of Saarbrücken.
Wednesday 18 July 2018
by Michel Pignolet de Montéclair, for two flutes
This “dialog” is the opening movement of the fourth 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.
Thanks to Marco for suggesting this piece!
Thursday 19 July 2018
from “40 Esercizi per Flauto”
Today's piece is the thirteenth study from 40 Esercizi per Flauto (40 Exercises for Flute), Op. 101, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.
Friday 20 July 2018
Traditional Irish reel
This Irish reel was collected by Chicago police captain Francis O'Neill, who included it in his collection Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, published in 1922. The first part of the tune is similar to that of “The Factory Lass”.
Saturday 21 July 2018
for solo flute
This is the tenth piece from a collection of 17 Capricci for Flauto Traverso by Italian flutist and composer Filippo Ruge. Born in Rome around 1725, Ruge appears to have spent most of his professional life in France, and especially in Paris, where several of his compositions were published, ranging from small-scale chamber music to large-scale symphonic works.
Sunday 22 July 2018
arranged for two flutes
Though its title clearly stems from the Jacobite era, this tune is certainly older, and has had many names. It appears to be based on a dance tune called “Pot Stick”, whose first appearance is in the 2nd volume of John Walsh's Caledonian Country Dances, published circa 1737.
The present arrangement for two flutes is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833.
Monday 23 July 2018
from “Melodic Exercises”
This is the 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.
Tuesday 24 July 2018
Traditional English dance tune
This melody is used for a stick dance collected from Lichfield, a cathedral city in the county of Staffordshire, England. Hammerwich is a small village not far from Lichfield , and the dance forms part of the Lichfield Morris tradition.
Local lore gives that the dance refers to an incident in the High Middle Ages when some of the Hammerwich inhabitants set fire to woods in Cannock Forest. The history is contained in parish records: “on the 14th January 1262 Villeins from Hammerwich went out and burnt a wood, to the injury of the King's game”. The aptly-named town of Burntwood stands on the spot now.
Thanks to Phil for suggesting this tune!
Wednesday 25 July 2018
from “Amusement militaire”
This “prelude” is the sixth movement of Amusement militaire, a suite for solo instrument (“musette, vielle, flute and oboe” according to the original edition) and continuo by the French Baroque composer Nicolas Chédeville.
The title might refer to a German town or locality, like many of the other pieces from this collection.
Thursday 26 July 2018
by Michel Pignolet de Montéclair, for two flutes
This is the third movement of the fourth 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. In Greek mythology, Terpsichore was one of the nine Muses, and goddess of dance and chorus.
Thanks to Marco for suggesting this piece!
Friday 27 July 2018
from “40 Esercizi per Flauto”
Today's piece is the fourteenth study from 40 Esercizi per Flauto (40 Exercises for Flute), Op. 101, by Italian flutist, composer and arranger Luigi Hugues.
Saturday 28 July 2018
Traditional American hornpipe
The only known appearance of this hornpipe in print is in Harding's All-Round Collection of Jigs, Reels and Country Dances, published in New York in 1905.
Sunday 29 July 2018
by Heather Jones, for solo flute
Today's piece was contributed to our collection by Heather Jones. It was inspired by a famous photograph of the Earth taken from lunar orbit by astronaut Bill Anders in 1968, during the Apollo 8 mission.
Monday 30 July 2018
arranged for three flutes
This famous minuet appears in the finale of Act I of Mozart's 1787 opera Don Giovanni. The present arrangement for three flutes is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833.
Tuesday 31 July 2018
from “Melodic Exercises”
This is the fourth 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.