Selected Duets For Flute Podcast

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 26 Number 2, performed by David Summer. This duet continues the group of duets by the composer Boismortier. Again, the flute one part states a short melodic theme alone at the beginning of the piece, followed by the second flute part beginning with the same short theme, now harmonized by the first flute. The metronome setting for this performance is dotted quarter note = 80.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 26 Number 1, performed by David Summer. A musical prelude usually serves as an introduction to a longer piece or some other event. This duet, like many of the duets in this section of the book, has the flute one part state a short melodic theme alone at the beginning of the piece. Then, when the second flute part begins, it begins with the same short theme, now harmonized by the first flute. The composer of the duets in this part of the book, Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, was a French baroque composer of instrumental music. He was one of the first composers to be able to make a living writing music without having a patron. The repeat of the second section is omitted here and metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 69.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 24 Number 3, performed by David Summer. This duet is entitled Tambourin, which is a piece of music that is written in imitation of a drum. The word comes from the French word "tambourin" meaning an old type of drum. A Tambourin is usually in 2 and is meant to be played in a lively manner. There is a percussion instrument with a similar name called a tambourine. The tambourine was especially popular in 1960's and 70's pop music. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 76.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 22 Number 16, performed by David Summer. This minuet (a dance in 3/4 time) again features "question and answer" sections where the second flute part seems to be "answering" a question "posed" by the first part. Here, dynamics also play an important part in the question and answer sections. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 132.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 21 Number 15, performed by David Summer. This duet is marked "Allegro con spirito", or fast with spirit. It features a sort of musical "cascade effect", where the flute 1 part plays several repeated notes and the flute 2 part starts on the same note, then moves in a descending line. There are no repeats in this performance and the metronome setting is eighth note = 132.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 19 Number 13, performed by David Summer. This duet is entitled "A Trumpet March". Sometimes, when I assign this duet to a student, I re-title it "A Flute March". Like many of the duets in the first part of the book, this duet features some back and forth or "question and answer" sections. The tempo and the feel, as the title suggests, is march-like. The march-like feel would make this duet appropriate for a processional, perhaps as a processional for a wedding or graduation, for example. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 96.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 18 Number 11, performed by David Summer. This duet is entitled "Gavotte". A gavotte (sometimes spelled as "gavot" or "gavote") is a dance that was especially popular during the Baroque period. It is usually characterized as being in a moderate tempo, with 2 beats to the measure and starting with an eighth note pickup. A pickup note (also known as an anacrusis) is a note that appears at the beginning of a piece in an incomplete measure. The time in the measure is made up for at the end of the piece. A pickup note may also appear at the beginning of a section and there may be more than one. In this duet, notice the 4 measures of back and forth dynamic change from soft to loud. Like some of the earlier duets, the dynamic pattern gives this duet a sort of "question and answer" feel. Since this duet is a bit longer than many of the others, the repeats are omitted. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 92.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 17 Number 10, performed by David Summer. This duet is entitled "Giga". Like the similar duet, entitled "Jigg" from one of last month's episodes this is an energetic dance form in a fast 6/8. A Giga (or Gigue) is a lively baroque dance originating from the British jig. It was imported into France in the mid-17th century and usually appears at the end of a suite. Again, this is 6/8 time at a fast tempo, played "in 2". That is, heavily accenting the first and the fourth beats of the measure. The metronome setting for this performance is dotted quarter note = 84.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 16 Number 9, performed by David Summer. This duet features an interesting "back and forth" or "question and answer" feeling. This, combined with the Allegro tempo, makes the duet especially challenging for some students. Since this duet is a bit longer than many of the others, the repeat of the second section is omitted. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 100.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 13 Number 4, performed by David Summer. This duet is entitled "Menuet". It's a spelling variation on the word "Minuet". A minuet is a social dance of French origin, in 3/4 time, for two persons. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 118.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 13 Number 3, performed by David Summer. The duet is entitled "Jigg". It's a spelling variation on the word "Jig". A "Jig" is an Irish dance form and the tunes for these are generally in a fast 6/8. They are played in a light manner. When 6/8 is at a fast tempo, it's often said to be "in 2". That is, where you are heavily accenting 2 beats to a measure, the first and the fourth beats. The metronome setting for this performance is dotted quarter note = 72.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 12 Number 2, performed by David Summer. This duet is entitled "Italian Rustic Dance". It's played at a lively tempo with many "staccato", or "detached" notes. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 144.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 12 Number 1, performed by David Summer. The first duet in this section is an "Air" or, in Italian, an "Aria" or tune. It should be playing in a flowing style. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 116.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 7 Number 8, performed by David Summer. This piece is marked Grazioso and is similar to the duet with the same tempo marking on page 5. It should be played "with grace" or "gracefully". Notice the contrary motion in several of the measures, particularly in the "A" section, which help to give the duet a "strong" sound. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 94.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 6 Number 7, performed by David Summer. This piece is marked Allegretto, which is a moderately fast tempo between Allegro and Moderato. The term Allegretto is literally the diminutive form of word Allegro, meaning the tempo Allegretto is a little slower than Allegro. Notice the call and response form of this duet, the 2 beats of 16th notes, which goes back and forth between the 2 flutes. This continues until the end of each section when the 2 flutes play the 16th notes together. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 80.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 6 Number 6, performed by David Summer. This piece is marked Andante, which literally means a "walking" tempo. It's between Adagio and Allegretto. Notice the use of syncopation throughout the duet, making it seem like it's being played faster than it really is. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 82.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 5 Number 5, performed by David Summer. This piece is marked Moderato, which means at a moderate tempo. I've always thought of this duet as sounding somewhat like a processional. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 112.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 5 Number 4, performed by David Summer. This piece is marked Grazioso, which means "with grace" or "gracefully". It should be played smoothly and with a certain elegance. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 108.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 4 Number 3, performed by David Summer. Like the first duet in this series, this duet should be played in a bright cheerful manner. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 116.

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 4 Number 2, performed by David Summer. This piece is marked Moderato, which means at a moderate tempo. Notice the syncopation sections that provide rhythmic contrast in the duet. This is the second duet in the book from the works of Francois Devienne. Devienne was a French composer and professor for flute at the Paris Conservatory. He was also a flutist and eventually became a professor of flute at the Paris Conservatory. The metronome setting for this performance is quarter note = 100.