Like many classical music lovers born in the early sixties, I was deeply affected by the prevalence of the Glenn Gould recordings of the J.S. Bach Goldberg variations growing up in Canada:
Glenn Gould BWV 988 remastered from 1955 and 1959 (on youtube)
Well what a thrill this week to find that Denis Bouriakov has transcribed several of the Goldberg Variations for flute and has just performed them in concert!
Denis Bouriakov plays J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations (video)
Denis doesn't yet have the sheetmusic available of his Goldberg arrangement but we look forward to it when there's time in his busy career! (see his other arrangements here (free) and here.)
Happy New Year everyone! Here is a new piece for solo flute that caught my ear over the holidays, "Luna con Joropo and viceversa" performed by the Venezuelan Flutist Alexis Angulo. (video)
"The performer is Alexis Angulo, a distinguished Venezuelan flutist, whose musical roots lie in the esteemed Venezuelan Orchestral System. He served for many years as the principal flutist of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. He is currently the Principal Flutist with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I have had the privilege of being his teacher during his early years of study, and I am honored to count him as a personal friend. It is with great pleasure that I invite you to experience this remarkable interpretation of my work, brought to life by this exceptional artist.
The enchanting spirit of the Venezuelan plains has always been an integral part of my music. The joropo, our national dance, has presented itself as a rich terrain of rhythmic and melodic challenges, which I have explored to the point of satiety. Composed in 2017, this piece once again evokes that magic, intertwining it with the bittersweet nostalgia of my father's memory. It is entirely original and authentic in its conception. With a high level of difficulty for the performer, Luna con joropo y vice versa promises daring and virtuosic acrobatics, while retaining the sweetness and nostalgia of the tonada.
Jon Raybould has just arranged this glorious section of Handel's Messiah for two flutes and organ or backing track. How beautiful! I can't wait to hear recordings of it with live flutists to hear the projection! Jon's message about his work is below, best, Jen
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Hello Flutists,
I have just arranged "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" from Handel's "The Messiah" - for 2 flutes and organ duet (3 hands). Video:
Notes: This is a version for 2 flutes - and organ for 3 hands (ie 2 organists). It's been arranged like this to increase accessibility for performances in church. Basically, organ reductions of the orchestral score are invariably very hard to play - especially the fast semiquaver (16th note) runs in thirds. So I've split the top line to be played by a second organist (primo) sat to the right of the main organist (secondo). The right-hand player plays music just on the treble clef with one hand; therefore this person might be a student or essentially a non-organist.
This is one of my most favourite, uplifting Christmas songs ever!! How incredible that Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. Happy holidays! Best wishes to all, Jon Raybould
I've just discovered this lovely arrangement of a Shostakovich Waltz (from the Ballet Suite No. 1) by flutist Paolo Taballione (video):
It's so great to hear someone do an encore arrangement of this for flute and piano!
For those not familiar with the work it is The Waltz, "The Music Box" from Shostakovich's Ballet Suite No.1. (page 19 of this score online).
Here's the original orchestration which is marvellous and unforgettable! (video)
And while we're on the topic of charming piccolo inclusive pieces that we dream of playing, what about the first two miniature movements of this charming piece of music below?
It's called Tveitt's 100 Hardanger Tunes op. 151. Ready to get dreamy with a piccolo? Take a listen to the piccolo and other woods in the first five minutes; first otherworldly floating for three minutes, and then actual goblins (at 3:40). Fantastic! (video):
Do feel free to comment below if you can direct us to more great arrangements of good flutey works. It's so great to hear new arrangements of these done with such colour. Can't wait to hear someone arrange the Tveitt (read more about this composer here)!
Update: Problem resolved Oct. 24th, 2024 yay!! :>)
If anyone was trying to order Christmas Carols, Wedding Duets, Roger Mather's "Art of Playing the Flute" orCeltic Flute Trios, for a few days the payment company Paypal were holding my Donationbutton hostage while waiting for me to realize they were doing so. I finally spoke to them in order to get the problem cleared up.
If ever you want to order sheetmusic or books, at anytime, just send a paypal for the amount in Canadian dollars to:
Way back in 1981 my then flute teacher told me that the best possible thing I could do at this point in time, was to go to the University of Toronto, not because getting a degree was that important, but to study privately, affordably, and in town with Jeanne Baxtresser. Best possible advice and to this day I love love LOVE her decisive, informed and incredibly musical playing.
(Unfortunately I didn't get to attend more than a masterclass before she whisked off to the Montreal Symphony and was no longer at U. of T.).
Nevertheless I learn tons and tons from listening to her playing every time I hear it, even today, even now, every time.
The other day I was sweating away, renovating the house, painting the walls with the classical radio on, and I heard the most exquisite music and didn't know what it was. Some most delightful chamber playing. Remarkable! In the distance, at first the flutist sounded for about four bars almost like a piccolo, it was so simple and lovely, and such a supportive bassoonist, so subtle! I rushed to the radio to hear the announcer say: "That was Jeanne Baxtresser and partner, bassoonist David Carrol playing Kuhlau opus 119."
But of course!!!
Here is the Kuhlau Rondo below so you can hear (hope I can find mvmts. I and II also, but not yet) and also a lovely Madeline Dring movement from her Trio. Enjoy!!
Jeanne Baxtesser and husband David Carrol play Kuhlau Trio op. 119 Rondo (III) (video)
Jeanne Baxtresser plays "Simplice", the 2nd mvmt. of Dring's Trio for flute, oboe and piano (video)
Best, Jen
who's renovating and working on other projects, that's why you haven't heard from me....do comment though if you hear what I'm talking about! Rock on Jeanne Baxtresser!
What a thrill ride on a Sunday afternoon. This is my absolutely favourite piece of music being played by the LA Phil an their entirely exciting/thrilled conductor. Wowza. Enjoy!
Dudamel rehearsing The Firebird with LA Phil (video)
