FLUTE TRIOS for FESTIVE OCCASIONS - Brian Childers, who is well known for his choral compositions and music for handbells, has taken simple, well known tunes and has developed them into more complex and reasonably challenging ensemble pieces, suitable for intermediate level students...

In recent years there has been somewhat of a revival of interest in the music of British composers from the 1940’s to 60’s – composers such as William Alwyn, York Bowen and Sir Lennox Berkeley are again being performed and recorded after a period of relative lack of interest in their music. I am happy to see this as there are many fine works in the flute repertoire from these composers and others of the era...

Playing related injuries among musicians, including flautists, have been widely reported in the literature. While a clear link has not been established between early teaching and later manifestations of pain, it is reasonable to assume that placing the neck, shoulders, hands, or back in awkward positions for extended durations, especially over a period of years, may result in cumulative trauma (overuse/repetitive strain) injuries.

“Les Treteaux”, a colourful trio for flute, alto saxophone and piano written in the 1960’s by the French composer Pierre Max Dubois which encompasses a range of moods from witty to sentimental and completely ‘over the top’. This piece is great fun to play and also to work at with students from a good intermediate to advanced level.

Louis Moyse (1912 – 2007), was the son of Marcel Moyse and equally well known in his own right as a player, teacher and composer for flute. As well as these delightful works for flute ensemble, there are a number of other works to explore by Louis Moyse, two sonatas for flute and piano as well as Introduction, Theme and Variations and three unaccompanied pieces.

For this issue, I want to take a look at something a little different in the way we combine flute with others in a chamber ensemble by introducing Betty Roe’s charming settings of Shakespeare for medium voice, flute and piano. For me, matching the flexibility and nuances of the voice is one of the most enjoyable playing experiences, and one which can bring out different qualities in playing – compared, for example, to playing with other winds.

Danzas Costeñas – flute, clarinet and guitar / piano George Barcos
These three short pieces for flute, clarinet and either guitar or piano, have proved to be very popular and accessible for intermediate level students – either to prepare as entry for the NZ Community Trust Schools Chamber Music Contest, or for fun. And they are very suitable too for NCEA Level One or Two group assessments.