Episodes

  • Page69 #2, Waltz

    Page69 #2, Waltz
    Dec 20 2009
    Selected Duets for Flute, Page 69 Number 2, Waltz, performed by David Summer. A waltz is a ballroom dance in triple meter (usually 3/4 time). Couples dance close together, with the man's right hand on the woman's back or around her waist. The tempo marking for this duet, "Allegro vivace", indicates a tempo that's faster than an Allegro. This fast tempo is commonly found in waltzes originating in Vienna. Austrian composer, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, was also a virtuoso pianist. His style of writing bridges the classical and romantic musical periods, with most of his pieces being, naturally enough, for piano. He wrote several pieces for multiple pianos, also operas, masses and more. Hummel's Trumpet Concerto in Eb, is part of the standard performance literature for trumpet. It's a very melodic piece, well worth searching out. The metronome setting for this performance is half note = 144.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • Page68 #1e, Rigodon II from Sonata VI, Op.5

    Page68 #1e, Rigodon II from Sonata VI, Op.5
    Dec 6 2009
    Selected Duets for Flute, Page 68 Number 1e, Rigodon II from Sonata VI, Op.5, performed by David Summer. This second Rigodon presents a good opportunity for the teacher to talk about arpeggios, since the second flute part is littered with them. For both of these rigadoon duets, the student should practice both flute parts. Teacher and student might even exchange parts on the repeats. The metronome setting for this performance is half note = 80.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • Page68 #1d, Rigodon I from Sonata VI, Op.5

    Page68 #1d, Rigodon I from Sonata VI, Op.5
    Nov 22 2009
    Selected Duets for Flute, Page 68 Number 1d, Rigodon I from Sonata VI, Op.5, performed by David Summer. The title of this duet, "Rigodon" is a variant on the spelling of rigadoon. A rigadoon is a dance for two couples in quick double time. The rigadoon originated in Provence, France, in the 15th-century and is named after a dancing master from Marseilles. It became popular at the court of Louis XIV from the 1670s and spread to most of the courts of Europe. Couples dance side by side without holding hands and at certain moments make a springing step called the pas de rigaudon. The metronome setting for this performance is half note = 88.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • Page67 #1c, Adagio from Sonata VI, Op.5

    Page67 #1c, Adagio from Sonata VI, Op.5
    Nov 8 2009
    Selected Duets for Flute, Page 67 Number 1c, Adagio from Sonata VI, Op.5, performed by David Summer. This third movement from Sonata VI, Op.5, by Johann Quantz changes to the key of G major (the relative major to e minor). It's slow enough so that performers are advised to count eight notes as getting one beat, as I do for this performance. Quantz was not only a prolific composer of music for the flute, as well as the author of the afore mentioned book "On Playing the Flute", he also made flutes of his own design. Probably the most famous recipient of these instruments was King Frederick the Great. Quantz built many flutes for Frederick while serving the King. To modern western musicians, Quantz's most interesting addition to his flute is a key for D# even though the enharmonic Eb key was already present on the flute, as it is today. This was to satisfy the desire to play using a system called "just intonation", which was prevalent until about the middle of the 19th century, before the widespread adoption of the "equal temperament" system most widely used in western music today. The metronome setting for this performance is eigth note = 88.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • Page66 #1b, Allegro from Sonata VI, Op.5

    Page66 #1b, Allegro from Sonata VI, Op.5
    Oct 25 2009
    Selected Duets for Flute, Page 66 Number 1b, Allegro from Sonata VI, Op.5, performed by David Summer. This second movement from Sonata VI, Op.5, by Johann Quantz retains the key of e minor from the first movement but this movement is a lively Allegro. In addition to numerous musical compositions for flute, Quantz is also the author of a seminal musical treatise for the instrument entitled "On Playing the Flute". "On Playing the Flute" belies its title by containing not only a wealth of information on flute playing, but also by covering a wide range of subjects including breath control and musical accompaniment as well as more general musical topics such as performance anxiety. The book was used by his students as the basis for a "school of flute playing" and remains relevant today. It is still in print and makes a worthy addition to any flutist's library. There are no repeats in this performance and the metronome setting is dotted quarter note = 66.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • Page66 #1a, Adagio from Sonata VI, Op.5

    Page66 #1a, Adagio from Sonata VI, Op.5
    Oct 11 2009
    Selected Duets for Flute, Page 66 Number 1a, Adagio from Sonata VI, Op.5, performed by David Summer. Johann Joachim Quantz is a name that is well known by professional flutists as well as advanced flute students. Quantz wrote over 300 concertos and many flute sonatas. This duet is from one of his early efforts, Sonata VI, Op.5. He also wrote many collections of flute duets, probably the most popular today being his "Six Duets For Two Flutes Op.2". Although he traveled widely, studying music in the first half of his life, Quantz spent his last 30 years, from 1741 to his death in 1773, in Dresden under the service of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. This recording is the first of 5 movements of the Sonata. The other 4 movements will be presented over the next 4 podcast episodes. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 69.
    Show More Show Less
    1 min
  • Page65 #20, Minuet

    Page65 #20, Minuet
    Sep 27 2009
    Selected Duets for Flute, Page 65 Number 20, Minuet from Duettino, Op.42,No.8, performed by David Summer. This Minuet, by James Hook, is from his collection of short flute duets entitled "12 Duettinos, Op. 42". (Duettino meaning a short or concise duet.) James Hook was a prolific English baroque composer, composing what may have been the first clarinet concerto written by an English composer. Like many baroque composers, he was a church organist and used the instrument as a compositional aid. James Hook was an extremely popular and successful composer. Hook became wealthy from his compositions, he encouraged young musicians and he was noted as a generous and jovial family man. The second repeat is omitted from this performance and the metronome setting is quarter note = 100.
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins
  • Page64 #19, Allegretto

    Page64 #19, Allegretto
    Sep 13 2009
    Selected Duets for Flute, Page 64 Number 19, Allegretto, performed by David Summer. This piece is an Allegretto, which again is a moderately fast tempo between Allegro and Moderato. Like many of the previous duets, this one also has some imitative characteristics. This duet is either by Henry Eccles or his brother John Eccles, both of whom were English baroque composers. The metronome setting for this performance is half note = 76.
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins