flute

Grande Sonate, Op.62, by Franz Danzi

transcribed for Piano and Flute by John W. Pratt

Piano score and Flute part, PDF $14.99

excerpted from John Pratt’s foreword to the edition: 'Franz Danzi (1763-1826) was an active musician, cellist, and teacher in Mannheim, Munich, Stuttgart, and Karlsruhe.  A prolific composer, especially of music for the stage and chamber music from keyboard solos to sextets, he revered Mozart and mentored Weber.  His wind quintets are notable.  His Grande Sonate, Opus 62, for piano and basset horn, was published about 1823, along with an alternative cello part which sometimes differs from the basset horn part in other ways than octave transposition. // The sound of the basset horn varies widely, depending on its construction, who is playing, what is being played, and who is describing it.  George Bernard Shaw said, ''The devil himself could not make a basset horn sparkle.''  Burnet Tuthill, in Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music (1929), wrote of its "soft mellow timbre of rich beauty.”  E.T.A. Hoffmann likened its sound to the scent of red carnations (see Georgina Dobré, The Basset Horn, who says, pace Shaw, “Sparkle it certainly can!”).  That tent is broad enough to cover the characteristics of both the flute and the clarinet comfortably, and Danzi’s Grande Sonate alternates sparkle and mellow rich beauty in large measure.'  Since we at NSM have grown quite fond of this piece, we decided to transcribe it for both flute and clarinet, so we and our friends could enjoy playing it.  We offer here the flute edition, with a version for clarinet to follow in the coming weeks.

Piano score, 28 pages; Flute part, 7 pages; Total 40 pages.

Première Rhapsodie, by Claude Debussy

Transcribed for Alto Flute by C.A.Vater, with a Foreword by P.H.Bloom

Alto Flute Part ― PDF $5.99

Since its introduction as a morceau de concours for the Paris Conservatoire in 1910, Debussy's Première Rhapsodie has been an essential piece of the clarinet repertoire. ... Although most of the morceaux are, by definition, run-of-the mill exercises of virtuosity à la mode, a number have endured as works of significant musical merit.  Debussy's Première Rhapsodie is one such piece.  It's a vehicle for expressive interpretation and artistry, with charm, warmth, passion, and humor; a lasting treasure at the core of every clarinetist's collection of indispensable works. ... But a transcription?  Of a work by Debussy - the great colorist of instrumental sonority?  From clarinet to alto-flute? ... Each and every element, in fact, evokes the alto-flute! ... Of course the piece sounds different on the two instruments.  Although the sonic hues are different, the colors are just as vivid.  The distinct sonorities of the alto-flute support the nuance, the affect, and the power of the work. (excerpted from Peter H. Bloom © 2012)

We provide our alto flute part only; appropriate parts for piano or orchestral accompaniment may be obtained as free pdf downloads from public domain resources, such as imslp.org.

Alto Flute part, 4 pages; Total, 10 pages.

The Voice and The Flute, by John H. Densmore

Aria for Soprano and Flute

Facsimile Edition by Noteworthy Sheet Music

Piano Score and Part, $8.99

The Voice and The Flute is a work composed by John H. Densmore for soprano, flute, and piano, with lyrics written by Mary Gardenia.  Densmore was a native of Somerville, Massachusetts; he graduated from Harvard '04 and is perhaps best known for having composed the Harvard fight song "Veritas".  Our edition of Densmore's Aria for Soprano and Flute is a facsimile reproduction of the original 1922 edition published by the composer, and contains both the piano score and the part for the voice and the flute.  

Piano, Flute, & Voice score, 12 pages; Flute & Voice part, 6 pages; Total, 21 pages.

Song for Eric Dolphy, by Len Detlor

Edited and with a Preface by Peter H. Bloom

Contemporary Composition for Flute (or Alto Flute) Alone, $14.15

Mr. Bloom, in his Preface to Song for Eric Dolphy, writes: "Len Detlor (1941-2008) was an extraordinary artist whose creative vision, masterful technique, and depth of humanity transcended medium and category. As a composer, saxophonist and flutist, arranger, and music director, he was devoted to musical expression that was both elegantly structured and unconstrained." Len Detlor composed this evocative piece as a tribute to the legendary saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist Eric Dolphy (1928-1964), whose recordings remain highly influential across musical genres and generations.

Here's a YouTube link to a 9/23/2023 performance of Song for Eric Dolphy by Peter H. Bloom:

Flute part, 7 pages; Total, 10 pages.

The Golden "Reade" Flute, by Eugene A. Dieter

Flute Part and Piano Score ― PDF $7.99

Elmer Reade (1898-1986), to whom The Golden "Reade" Flute is dedicated, served a long and distinguished career, first as a flutist with the U.S. Army Band and then as a conductor and music director of the Air Force Band at Mitchell Field, New York.  Eugene A. Dieter graduated from the first class of the US Army Music School in 1941 and was appointed a bandmaster.  Following the Second World War, Dieter accepted a bandmaster position with the Air Force Band and remained active until his retirement in 1966.  Likely, it was as an Air Force band colleague of Elmer Reade's that Dieter was inspired to compose The Golden "Reade" Flute. (excerpted from the foreword © by P. H. Bloom)

Not at all militaristic in character, The Golden "Reade" Flute is more a lovely barcarole, a single Andante moderato movement in 6/8 time.  It offers interesting writing for both parts, so flutist and pianist will be equally pleased.  The title refers to the gold flute by William S. Haynes upon which Reade regularly performed.

Piano score, 4 pages; Flute part, 2 pages. 

Portrait Charmant, by Raphael Dressler

Gassett Collection - Facsimile Edition by C.A.Vater/Noteworthy Sheet Music

Part for Flute or Violin and Piano Score, PDF $3.00

Raphael Dressler (1784-1835) was a well-known Austrian flutist and composer.  He wrote more than 100 compositions for flute and published a popular flute method book, New and Complete Instructions for the Flute.  His career included a position as first flutist in the Kärntnerthor Theater orchestra in Vienna and many years as a teacher and performer in London.  Dressler's Portrait Charmant is the fifth of his Douze Thèmes Favoris pour Pianoforte et Flûte (ou Violon).  The piece is a short work, simple yet indeed charming, and playable by flutists (or violinists) and pianists of many skill levels.  A favorite of ours, Portrait Charmant can also be played effectively as a solo work for flute or violin alone.

For additional information about the Gassett Collection, please see see our article An Introduction to the Gassett Collection.

Piano score, 3 pages; Flute or Violin part, 1 page; Total, 8 pages.

Salute to New York, A Song for the Flute, by Louis Drouet

Edited and with a Foreword by P. H. Bloom
Piano Score and Flute Part, PDF $5.99

We have posted Peter H. Bloom's fascinating and highly informative © foreword to this edition, in its entirety, elsewhere on our website, under Resources - Reviews & Articles, so please visit that page for additional historical details regarding the composer, Salute to New York, the New York Crystal Palace, and Hall & Son's flutes, beyond the short excerpts and paraphrases included here.

Louis-Francois-Philippe Drouet (1792-1873) is one of the most highly esteemed flute virtuosi in history.  Innumerable contemporary press accounts of his concert triumphs throughout Europe attest to his technical brilliance and exquisite musicianship.  He was a prolific and accomplished composer, author, flute theoretician, and pedagogue.  His many etudes are still prescribed as tools for flute mastery.  His Method of Flute Playing (1830) and 72 Studies on Style and Taste (1855) provide us with useful information concerning instrumental technique and performance practice in the mid-nineteenth century.

The exquisite Salute to New York, A Song for the Flute was performed by Mr. Drouet at the Crystal Palace in New York, on the occasion of its grand reopening under the new management of showman P. T. Barnum in 1854.  Our renotated edition of the piece was edited by flutist Peter H. Bloom, who also has enhanced the original piano score with the addition of chord changes in order to broaden the scope of potential players.

Score, 4 pages; Flute part, 2 pages; Total, 14 pages.

Ballada, Op. 15, by Antonín Dvořák

Transcribed for Alto Flute and Piano by C.A.Vater

Alto Flute Part and Piano Score, PDF $7.99

The Czech composer Antonín Leopold Dvořák (1841-1904) first visited England in 1884, at the invitation of the Philharmonic Society of London. He conducted several of his works there and and was commissioned to compose a new symphony for the Philharmonic Society, his Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op.70, which he conducted in London on April 22, 1885. Dvořák, who was well-received in England for his longer works, including cantatas and oratorios, was asked by London publishers to write shorter compositions as well. The Ballada, composed by Dvořák in late 1884 shortly after he completed his Symphony No. 7, was written specifically for publication in the Christmas edition of the London Magazine of Music. It is a short work of approximately six minutes duration for violin and piano. Written in the key of D minor, the Ballad's outer sections are solemn and melancholy while the contrasting central Allegro agitato is fervid and intense. The piece works nicely on alto flute, and our transcription required few adaptations from the original violin part.

[Sources for Dvořák biographical information: Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians (Eighth Edition, Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky) and the internet website http://www.antonin-dvorak.cz/en/ballad.]

Score, 8 pages; Alto Flute part, 3 pages; Total, 14 pages.

Romance, Op. 11 by Antonín Dvořák

Arranged for Solo Flute and Flute Choir by C. A. Vater (originally for solo violin and orchestra)

Score and Parts for Solo Concert Flute, 4 Concert Flutes, 2 Alto Flutes, 2 Bass Flutes, and 1 Contrabass Flute, PDF $21.97

Czech composer Antonín Dvořák based his Romance, Opus 11 on the slow movement of his String Quartet in F minor, composed in 1873, re-working that Andante con moto quasi allegretto to create two versions of the Romance, one for solo violin and orchestra (B.39) and another for solo violin and piano (B.38). The Romance is one of Dvořák’s most magnificent melodic works, teaming with romance, lyricism, and emotional intensity. I created a solo flute version of this piece for my personal use, and I so enjoyed playing it that I shared it with a flutist friend / NSM editorial consultant, who suggested that the Romance might be nicely adaptable for flute choir. I took on that challenge and created this arrangement, scored for flute solo with the accompaniment of four concert flutes, two alto flutes, two bass flutes, and one contrabass flute. A few changes have been incorporated in the solo part, bringing the violin’s lowest notes into concert flute range and providing appropriate alternatives to the occasional double stops. Likewise, the various string and wind parts created by Dvořák for his orchestral arrangement (available on IMSLP.org) have been modified in places to suit members of the flute family. Of course, any work played by a flute choir will sound very different than when played by an orchestra, but in arranging this piece for flute choir, every effort has been made to maintain the spirit, character, balance, and flow of Dvořák’s exquisite Romance.

The parts in our edition have been formatted for convenient page turns when the complete PDF is printed 2-sided in its entirety. If a more compact version of the score is desired, however, please select a “2 pages per sheet” printer option for the score and print the score pages separately from the parts.

Score, 60 pages; Solo Flute part, 4 pages of music; Flutes 1-4 parts, each 3 pages of music; Alto Flute 1 part, 4 pages of music; Alto Flute 2 part, 3 pages of music; Contrabass Flute part, 3 pages of music; Total, 104 pages.

Romantische Stücke, Op.75, by Antonín Dvořák

Transcribed for Alto Flute (and Piano) by J.W.Pratt and C.A.Vater

Alto Flute Part, PDF $6.99

Antonin Dvorak's Romantische Stücke (Romantic Pieces) was composed originally as a trio for two violins and viola but was later rearranged by the composer as a piece for violin and piano.  We created a transcription of the violin part for alto flute; the piano part is readily available in the public domain as a free pdf download of the score for violin and piano.  Here is a link to one such source: Piano Score.

Alto Flute part, 7 pages; Total, 10 pages.