Tune of the Day: Flute Voluntary
Today's piece was kindly contributed to our collection by guest composer Paul Merkus.
This “Flute Voluntary” was originally written for trumpet and piano in early 2003, but has recently been transcribed for flute and piano by octavating the flute part. The original intent was to exploit the characteristic “signalling” effect that a trumpet can do well, but obviously, the flute can also do this well!
After a piano introduction, the piece begins with the exposition of the theme, accompanied by a walking bass in the piano. In the development, the flute plays the theme strongly and radiantly in the relative key of C minor. After a short piano interlude, the flute plays a counter-theme in a higher register, which in the second instance is boosted by diminished chords. The piano then returns to the opening theme in a grand maestoso style, and the flute answers with rhythmic variations pushing to a climax. A short interlude marks the transition to a solo cadenza featuring virtuoso scale patterns, landing on a trill that marks the return of the piano and a reprise of the original theme.