2024 produced some fabulous flute music and these are the best!
Ian Clarke: Soft Rain and White Staircase for Flute and Piano
These pieces are beautiful. Soft Rain is an evocation of that lovely feeling of being out in a shower without a care in the world and White Staircase uses a rising and falling scale motif in the accompaniment to support an unsettled 5/8 flute line. They are both wonderful and this book is another sure fire winner from the imaginative pen of Ian Clarke. Difficulty Guide: 7-8
Hilary Taggart: Remember for Flute and Piano
This lovely piece which is based on a poem by Christina Rosetti brings out all the emotion associated with the loss of a loved one. The text is heart-felt and the melody follows its contour so very effectively that is easy to see the rising and falling of the lines as you play. Hilary Taggart not only completely understands how to write for the flute but also how to accompany it, so the piano part adds to texture, supporting the flute to allow the lines to really sing. This is beautiful and simple, and very touching. Difficulty Guide: 6
Stephanie Lupo: The Piccolo Intonation Book
This is a really thorough book. Each of the 39 short studies has suggestions for alternative fingerings for the particular note in focus and there can be 6 or 7 alternatives per note in some cases. The studies themselves are quite simply structured and great to play as exercises in their own right. Other subjects covered include air supply, tone and vibrato, as well as a detailed discussion on different types of piccolo. This is a challenging book but it is also extremely valuable, both as reference guide and as teaching aid. Difficulty Guide: 8-9
edited Weinzierl and Wachter: Flute Duets – Works from Four Centuries for Two Flutes
The range of repertoire on offer here is particularly interesting. Unusual pieces from well-known flute composers such as Kuhlau and Teleman are mixed with arrangements of Beethoven, Mozart and Mendelssohn classics. Less familiar names include Agrell and Rorich so there are plenty of tunes to choose from. Add in an atmospheric Genzmer vignette and two pieces which include some simple contemporary techniques and you have a long-lasting volume which will appeal to everyone. Even if your shelves are bursting with flute duets there’s always room for a book as good as this. Difficulty Guide: 5-8
Paul Edmund Davies: Daily Exercises: A Progressive Journey for Flute, Volume 1
Paul Edmund-Davies knows exactly what we need to improve at each stage of our development and gives us the ability to practice properly. His proven way of dividing up technique into the familiar topics of Breathing and Phrasing, Finger Work, Articulation and Intervals establishes excellent practice habits and all keys are covered in all exercises. This is a fully comprehensive approach which is endlessly useful. You will return to it time and time again! Difficulty Guide: 6-8
