SKU: A0.563092

This song was composed by Noel Gallagher for Oasis in 1995 for their second studio album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? According to Gallagher, Wonderwall describes an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself; the song remains one of the most popular that the band has released, and is often performed in an acoustic arrangement by Gallagher. I have changed the groove to a cool jazz one in this arrangement for flute and piano.

SKU: A0.1287662

Strauss and the Dance of the Seven Veils

The Dance of the Seven Veils is a performance by Salome before King Herod Antipas, depicted in modern stage productions, literature, and visual arts. This dance is an elaboration of the New Testament story of the Feast of Herod and the execution of John the Baptist. While the New Testament does not give the dance a name, the title Dance of the Seven Veils originated from the 1893 English translation of Oscar Wilde's French play, Salome, which included the stage direction Salome dances the dance of the seven veils. Richard Strauss also incorporated the dance into his opera Salome in 1905.

The concept of Salome's dance involving seven veils can be traced back to Wilde's play, where he was influenced by earlier French writers who portrayed Salome as a symbol of female lust. Wilde envisioned the dance as an act of unveiling, symbolizing the revealing of Salome's true self. He drew inspiration from Gustave Flaubert's story Herodias, in which Salome performs a hand dance to please Antipas. Wilde initially intended to follow Flaubert's version but later changed his approach.

The idea of the dance being associated with veils can be linked to the popularity of veil dances during that time, which were westernized interpretations of Middle Eastern dance styles. Notably, the dancer Loïe Fuller was known for her veil dances. Wilde's play did not provide a detailed description of the dance, but it is commonly assumed to involve a series of veils being removed, symbolizing the process of unveiling oneself.

Strauss's operatic adaptation of Salome also includes the Dance of the Seven Veils. Although the dance remains unnamed in the music, Salome's sexual fascination with John the Baptist seems to motivate her request, while Herod appears pleased. The visual interpretation of this scene can vary depending on the production, with some emphasizing its eroticism. Strauss specified that the dance should be thoroughly decent, as if it were being done on a prayer mat, but some performances have portrayed it in a more explicit manner.

James Strauss's choice to program well-known orchestral pieces for the flute and piano stems from the technical challenges they present, both instrumentally and interpretatively. It allows the flautist to explore different timbres and a romantic style of playing, inspired by Orchestral mass sustained phrases and intense vibrato found in this repertoire. Transcribing orchestral pieces for the flute presents certain difficulties, such as playing loudly and with a full tone in the lower register or producing high notes that gradually fade away. Despite these challenges, the purpose is to challenge the flute's traditional role and explore its expressive capabilities through this repertoire.

SKU: A0.1031107

This is a lively arrangement of the Allegro theme taken from the 1st movement of Haydn's Symphony No. 104 - one of Haydn's London symphonies. The allegro is arranged here for flute and piano, but can easily be played on violin or other instruments suited to the range. The range of the flute part is from C-sharp5 (octave above middle C), to a high E (E6) - a range that would approximately suite a flautist at Grade 3 level - upper end of easy/beginner. The piano accompaniment has been arranged to be at the higher end of easy - with some more complex elements including octave and running quaver passages. Dynamics and articulation have been added in as a guide only. This download includes a score and separate flute part. 

The original work was written in 1795 while Haydn was living in London and was premiered to great acclaim. It remains a popular choice today for concerts around the world. This arrangement could work nicely alongside an arrangement of the second movement - or as part of a medley of short pieces in a concert.

The expected duration of the piece is likely to be between 1.5 to 2 minutes long, though the arrangement can be played at a tempo suiting the individual performer. Some professional performances of this work would be more in the range of one minute only! I hope you enjoy this arrangement and I'd welcome any feedback by email to franmatt100@gmail.com. 

SKU: A0.548696

A Flute Christmas/Easter classic! Duration: 4:55 Score: 3 pg. Flute part: 1 pg. Piano reads from the score. Schubert seems to have composed this piece as a song-setting. This is because he wanted to portray a poignant emotional event from a poem. The poem was Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake. Consequently, this song became an integral part of Schubert's Song cycle. Therefore the cycle is called: the Lady of the Lake. In the poem, Ellen Douglas is the Lady of the Lake. The lake is probably Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands. First of all, Ellen goes with her father to stay in the Goblin's cave. They go because he earlier refused to join in a rebellion against King James. Roderick Dhu, the chief of the rebellious Alpine Clan, marches up the mountain with his army. But before the battle, he, first of all, hears Ellen singing. She is singing a prayer calling for help from the Virgin Mary. Schubert's piece was first performed at the castle of Countess Sophie Weissenwolff in Steyregg, Austria.  Schubert dedicated the arrangement to her, and as a result, she became famous as the lady of the lake.The incipit of Ellen's song is Ave Maria which is Latin for Hail Mary. It seems like this similarity led Schubert to adapt the melody to accommodate the Roman Catholic prayer Ave Maria. Consequently, the Latin version of Ave Maria finally became more famous than the original so that consequently many believe he wrote the Latin version first.

Schubert

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) was, in fact, a famous Austrian composer. Moreover, he composed during the late Classical and early Romantic periods. Schubert was comparatively prolific. He wrote more than 600 secular vocal works, seven symphonies, and, correspondingly, a massive amount of piano and chamber music. Critics agree, as a matter of fact, that his most famous works include his Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 (also known as the Trout Quintet), the Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 (Unfinished Symphony), the last sonatas for piano (D. 958–960), and the song cycles Die schöne Müllerin (D. 795) and Winterreise (D. 911).

Education

Schubert was furthermore a musical child prodigy. He studied violin with his father as well as piano with his older brother. In addition, when Schubert was eleven he studied at Stadtkonvikt school, where he became familiar with the orchestral music of Haydn, Mozart, and likewise Beethoven. In due time he left school and returned home where he studied to become an educator; nevertheless, he continued studying composition with Antonio Salieri.

Performance

Eventually, Schubert was admitted to the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde as a performer. This appointment straightaway established his name in Vienna as a composer and pianist. Finally, he gave his only composition recital in 1828. He died suddenly a few months later probably due to typhoid fever.

Legacy

Schubert’s music was by and large underappreciated while he was alive. There were all in all only a few enthusiasts in Vienna. After he died, however, interest in his work in fact increased. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, and other famous composers in due time discovered his compositions. Nowadays, historians rank Schubert expressly among the greatest composers of the era, and his music remains in general very popular.

 

SKU: A0.548688

An Alto Flute Christmas/Easter classic! Duration: 4:55 Score: 3 pg. Alto Flute part: 1 pg. Piano reads from the score. Schubert seems to have composed this piece as a song-setting. This is because he wanted to portray a poignant emotional event from a poem. The poem was Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake. Consequently, this song became an integral part of Schubert's Song cycle. Therefore the cycle is called: the Lady of the Lake. In the poem, Ellen Douglas is the Lady of the Lake. The lake is probably Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands. First of all, Ellen goes with her father to stay in the Goblin's cave. They go because he earlier refused to join in a rebellion against King James. Roderick Dhu, the chief of the rebellious Alpine Clan, marches up the mountain with his army. But before the battle, he, first of all, hears Ellen singing. She is singing a prayer calling for help from the Virgin Mary. Schubert's piece was first performed at the castle of Countess Sophie Weissenwolff in Steyregg, Austria.  Schubert dedicated the arrangement to her, and as a result, she became famous as the lady of the lake.The incipit of Ellen's song is Ave Maria which is Latin for Hail Mary. It seems like this similarity led Schubert to adapt the melody to accommodate the Roman Catholic prayer Ave Maria. Consequently, the Latin version of Ave Maria finally became more famous than the original so that consequently many believe he wrote the Latin version first.

Schubert

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) was, in fact, a famous Austrian composer. Moreover, he composed during the late Classical and early Romantic periods. Schubert was comparatively prolific. He wrote more than 600 secular vocal works, seven symphonies, and, correspondingly, a massive amount of piano and chamber music. Critics agree, as a matter of fact, that his most famous works include his Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 (also known as the Trout Quintet), the Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 (Unfinished Symphony), the last sonatas for piano (D. 958–960), and the song cycles Die schöne Müllerin (D. 795) and Winterreise (D. 911).

Education

Schubert was furthermore a musical child prodigy. He studied violin with his father as well as piano with his older brother. In addition, when Schubert was eleven he studied at Stadtkonvikt school, where he became familiar with the orchestral music of Haydn, Mozart, and likewise Beethoven. In due time he left school and returned home where he studied to become an educator; nevertheless, he continued studying composition with Antonio Salieri.

Performance

Eventually, Schubert was admitted to the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde as a performer. This appointment straightaway established his name in Vienna as a composer and pianist. Finally, he gave his only composition recital in 1828. He died suddenly a few months later probably due to typhoid fever.

Legacy

Schubert’s music was by and large underappreciated while he was alive. There were all in all only a few enthusiasts in Vienna. After he died, however, interest in his work in fact increased. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms and other famous composers in due time discovered his compositions. Nowadays, historians rank Schubert expressly among the greatest composers of the era, and his music remains in general very popular.

SKU: A0.549636

Duration: ca 5:20, Score: 8 pages, solo part: 3 pages, piano part: 4 pages. One of Beethoven's finest and most famous works. Program for a recital, church meditation or school program.

Sonata Pathétique Op. 13

First of all, this is an arrangement of the second movement of Beethoven’s Sonata Pathétique. It seems like Beethoven wrote this piece before becoming troubled by deafness. Published in 1799, it consequently remains one of the most celebrated pieces Beethoven ever wrote. As a result of its popularity, the movement was therefore performed by Karl Haas. Hass recorded it for a popular radio show called: Adventures in Good Music.

Beethoven Background

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 –1827) was certainly a German pianist. Above all, he was probably one of the greatest composers in history. As a result, he is a pivotal character in the progress between the Classical and Romantic periods. He is certainly one of the most famous and hence important of all composers. Seems like his most familiar and noteworthy works include symphonies 1-9; piano concertos 1-5; and furthermore, the violin concerto. Also, certainly of extreme importance are the noteworthy 32 sonatas for the piano; the string quartets 1-16; the Missa solemnis; and likewise, his only opera, Fidelio.

Beethoven Overview

First of all, Beethoven was born and consequently raised in Bonn. Upon turning 21 he moved to Vienna probably to study composition with Haydn. That’s when he consequently grew a reputation as a brilliant pianist. Furthermore, he probably stayed in Vienna for the rest of his life. In his late 20s, it seems like his hearing certainly began to decline. It slowly declined until consequently, he was nearly totally deaf probably by the last decade of his life. As a result, he stopped conducting and performing. Nevertheless, he continued to compose. As a result, some of his greatest works probably come from this period.

First Period

Seems like we often divide Beethoven’s life into three periods. Period 1 begins with Beethoven’s arrival in Vienna. Hence, during this period, he mastered the Viennese style of Haydn & Mozart. He consequently began increasing the size and scale of his works. Furthermore, he experimented with extreme dynamics, and likewise extreme tempi. He worked similarly with chromatic harmony. His First and Second Symphonies, therefore, belong to this period. Other important works also belong here: the first six string quartets and the Sonata Pathétique, Op. 13.

Second Period

His second period probably began as soon as he realized that he was going deaf. During this period, it seems like he became obsessed with the idea of heroism. His works consequently become even larger and more massive. The most noteworthy of these include the symphonies 3 – 8, piano concertos 5& 6, 5 string quartets, several important piano sonatas (Waldstein and Appassionata), the Kreutzer violin sonata, the violin concerto and his only opera: Fidelio.

Third Period

In contrast, Beethoven's third period is branded above all by works of incredible intellectual depth, formal innovation, and penetrating expression. It seems like he continued to expand his works. Consequently, the string quartet Op. 131 spills over into seven connected movements. Likewise, in the Ninth Symphony, he adds choral forces to his orchestra probably for the first time in history. Even more, other works from this period include his Missa solemnis, the final 5 string quartets (including the enormous Große Fuge) and the final five sonatas for piano.