1. Michigan Flute Legends; Music for Flute Ensemble performed by the Western Michigan Flute Orchestra directed by Darlene Dugan and David Wells. Price $15.00. Learn more about this outstanding group and order the CD at: http://westmichiganfluteassociation.com/. This select ensemble is an outgrowth of an extensive program of adult, high school, and junior high school flute choirs with participants from around the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Their recording is a great example of how the popularity of the flute playing by professional, serious amateurs, and community flute ensembles has flourished and spread throughout the country.

The works on this CD are well-chosen and attractive, and the ensemble plays with a full sound, balanced voices, clean rhythmic articulation, and excellent intonation. The selections feature four very proficient and talented Michigan composers: Darlene Dugan, David Wells, Richard Cerchia, and the well-published and very popular Catherine McMichael, who has written a good number of excellent flute ensembles and solo works. The pieces performed include a Fantasia on Celtic Tunes by Cerchia; three clever and compelling musical adventures by Wells; poignant descriptive music, such as McMichael’s lovely Legend of the Sleeping Bear (a large multi-movement work with narration); and a Patchwork Christmas medley arranged by Dugan. (You also can hear this excellent ensemble at the upcoming NFA convention in Kansas City in August 2008)

2. Two Piccolo CDs from Nan Raphael. A frequent question on Internet flute chat groups is “can you recommend a good piccolo solo for me to play at an upcoming contest/audition/recital.” These challenging and delightful newly released recordings will go a long way towards answering these pleas. Here is a fresh spring bouquet of light and appealing pieces for every taste:

Hands Across the Seas, featuring Nan Raphael, piccolo, and Brad Clark, piano. Price: $15.00. Available from CDBaby at http://cdbaby.com/cd/nanraphael -- or -- directly from Nan Raphael through her website: http://www.nanraphael.com/.

This recording presents works by diverse set of foreign composers who have favored us with both small and large works for the little flute: 1) Pipeaux by Johannes Donjon; 2) Les Quatre Elements by Pascal Proust; 3) Concerto in an olden style by Larry Singer; 4) Sonata 1 for Piccolo by Mike Mower; 5) “Air” from the Concerto for Piccolo by Barry McKimm; 6) Onivatto by Raymond Guiot; and 7) Concertino by Allan Stephenson.

Nan Raphael has a warm, sweet sound that is well-modulated and never harsh, though when occasionally called for her high notes have that idiomatic ring and incisiveness that is the piccolo’s natural strong point. It is in the bigger works, the concerto and concertino works by Singer, McKimm, and Stephenson, that the inherent character and true potential of the piccolo come to the fore with a fullness and an expressive tone that refutes the all too common prejudices towards this small wonder.

Piccolos Four Hands, performed by Duo 8va with Nancy Mulholland and Nan Raphael on piccolos, accompanied by Brad Clark, piano, and Joe Mcintyre, percussion. Available at CDBaby for purchase or download: http://cdbaby.com/cd/nrnm -- Price: $15.00

The gamut of piccolo music from the last century to the present is revealed in this album. From the light-hearted “Golden Age of the Piccolo” (the 1890s to 1920s) when many early recordings and concert bands in America featured the brilliance of the piccolo as found in Joy of Living by J.W. Cole; Piccolinette by Jules Pillevestre, and Fluttering Birds by Jean Genin, to folk styles of the Basque region of Spain with Elkarrizketa by Robert Casado, to a moody and mysterious Legend by Carol Barnett, this CD is full of surprises and delights. Then, on to the more riveting, serious, dissonant and minimalist styles: Petaki by Ole Buck; MKF Squared by Nicolas Underhill; and Two Duos for Piccolo and Flute by Roger Nixon. Finally, Toot Suite by Linda Holland will have you on your feet moving with its dance movements and then down in the depths of your soul with a “Pavane” that is melancholy as any ever heard.

Mulholand and Raphael have a wonderful blend and balance—and pitch control that is unusually keen and on the mark. This CD disproves the old saw about what is worse than one piccolo. Their playing is musical, well-shaped, and easy to listen to. Whether you are a devoted flute and piccolo player or seldom listen to concert music, their musicianship and expressiveness will win you over.

3. Miyazawa Plays Caliendo; Three Flute Sonatas by Christopher Caliendo. A CD recording, featuring Mizazawa flute artists Laurel Ann Maurer, Jill Felber, and Clare Southworth along with pianist Bryan Pezzone. Released by Aldus Gramophone. Price: $20.00 Order on-line and hear samples online at: http://www.christophercaliendo.com/cds.html

This recording presents three complete flute sonatas by Caliendo--pieces in a more formal mode than his very popular tango works for flutes and guitar, but still very melodic, playful, and full of spirit, nonetheless. Sonata No. 1 (dedicated to Brazilian flutist Tadeu Coelho) has the most clearly popular and Latin influences, while showing a serious compositional style that well-structured and highly original in harmony and style. Flutist Lauren Maurer’s plays the piece with mastery and a full, rich tone. Sonata No. 2 displays Jill Felber’s big sound and facile technique. Likewise, Clare Southworth’s rendition of Caliendo’s Sonata No. 3 shows off her warm tone, dazzling technique, and clean articulation as she brings out the jazzy/bluesy feel of this piece. Pianist Pezzone (who is the ubiquitous accompanist in Southern California these days besides working as a recording studio player as well as with Jim Walker in his “Free Flight” jazz group) is adept in any style from classical to modernism and plays here with the sure technique and passion he is noted for. Three excellent flutists playing interesting new music supported by an outstanding pianist—what more could you want?

4. The Complete W.F. Bach Flute Duos performed by Laurel Zucker and Sara Andon. Released on Cantilena Records CD 66028-2. Available at many on-line record stores, such as CDBaby, ITunes, Amazon, etc., or order a CD direct for $14 or download an MP3 version for $10 at: http://www.laurelzucker.com/buy_cd.php?cd=30

This recording contains a series of six splendid works for two flutes by Wilhelm Friedeman Bach (1710-1784), the eldest son of J.S. Bach: the Duettos in e minor, E major, F major, G major, E major; and f minor. The flute seems to have been a special favorite of W.F. Bach; the great majority of his chamber music works feature the flute. These pieces for two flutes have a distinct and individual character that is refreshing and appealing. W.F. Bach combines some of the best features of Baroque and Pre-classic gallant styles with an Romantic sentiment. While it might seem a bit obsessive to listen to all of the duos straight through at one sitting, they are very interesting and original pieces that would do well when stored in the random play mode of your IPod or MP3 player. (This is the kind of music you “wish” your local coffee house would put on their playlists to accompany your morning brew and frappuccinos treats. As played by this fine pair, W.F. Bach’s music has the bite and vigor of expresso and the smoothness of latte while adding a froth-like sweetness on top.)

Zucker and Andon have lovely sounds, with matching colors, intensities, vibrato speeds, and phrasing. This “twinning,” combined with their impeccable intonation and singing interpretations, makes the beautiful suspensions and parallel thirds achingly beautiful at times. You will want to hear more--and they have also released recently two other fine CDs of Mozart’s Duets and of J.S. Bach’s Trio Sonatas. [Full-disclosure: Sara Andon is a graduate of my university, Cal State San Bernardino, and we are justly proud of her.]

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