The Flute Network Recommends.....a CD, thematic studies, and duets
... as appearing in the February 2005 issue

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1)Take Wing -- Premiere Recordings for Piccolo featuring Lois Bliss Herbine. Available on Crystal Records CD 713. Crystal Records, Inc. 28818 NE Handcock Road, Camas, WA 98607. Phone: (360)-834-7022 Price: $16.95, plus shipping.

      An ambitious project presenting the first recordings of a number solo and chamber works for piccolo, this is a generous helping of interesting and varied works for an instrument that has a growing repertory due to the outstanding and tireless work of enthusiastic and talented piccoloists, such as Herbine, who performs with Philadelphia’s Orchestra 2001, Peter Nero’s Philly Pops and the Mann Festival Orchestra. Works recorded include: Daniel Dorff’s Sonatine de Giverny for piccolo and piano; Allen Krantz’ Song of Spring for piccolo and guitar; Willard Elliot’s Fantasy for solo piccolo; David Loeb’s Preludes for solo piccolo Vol. 4; Michael Daugherty’s The High and Mighty; Vincent Persichetti’s Parable for solo piccolo; Stephen Mager’s Soltarello (the Falcon) for piccolo and harp; and Night Flight by Howard Buss.

     Herbine’s portrayal of the Daugherty is especially appealing and impressive—this work is destined to become a standard in the literature for piccolo with such vivid and artistic performances as this. Throughout this recording, she plays with a very sweet and singing sound which both blends and contrasts well with her colleagues: Charles Abramovic, piano (whose clean and very musical playing is sensitive and supportive), Allen Krantz, guitar, Allison Herz, clarinet, and Sophie Bruno, harp. You can hear samples of movements from these works at: www.crystalrecords.com . (This company has produced and distributed solo music by woodwind players for many years and their catalog contains solo recordings by a number of other distinguished flutists.) (J.E.P.)

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2) Symphony Themes for Flute and Piano, arranged by Costel Puscoiu. Available from Mey Bay Publications, #4 industrial Drive, Pacific, MO 63069 Price: $9.95, plus shipping.

      This is Mel Bay’s latest offering in a large series of flute music albums oriented toward developing flutists and contains excellent arrangements of twenty-eight famous orchestral works, including works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Brahms, Franck, Dvorak, and Tchaikovsky, which will inspire and engage the younger flutist as they are introduced to themes from some of the best and most frequently performed works of the symphonic literature. These are not excerpts of solo flute parts, but rather skillful extractions of the most important tunes along with playable and full-sounding piano reductions of the full orchestral accompaniment, which provide the harmonic background, textures, and context of the themes presented in the flute part.

     For teachers of junior high school and high school students, this anthology will be an excellent supplement and break from the usual diet of technical studies, etudes, duets, and standard collections of easier solos. These famous melodies would also be excellent sightreading material and a great way to introduce students to some of the best music literature in the world. (J.E.P.)

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3) Flute and Guitar Duets for Any Occasion arranged and edited by Mark Hanson. Released by Accent on Music publications, PMB#252, 19363 Willamette Dr. West Linn, OR 97068. Phone Orders: 1-800-313-4406 (Also distributed to retail stores by Music Sales Corporation, New York, NY.) Price: $19.95.

      An anthology of eleven flute/guitar duets drawn from works by Debussy, J.S. Bach, Renborn, Hanson, and Ortiz as well as traditional favorites such as “ The Foggy Dew,” two versions of “Greensleeves” (one traditional, one in a jazzy-style), and pieces from Renaissance, Celtic, Folk, and Jazz styles, this compilation is quite moderate in its demands from the flute but the guitar parts vary from the easy to more advanced.

      Well-known performer, arranger, and guitar teacher Hanson provides both standard notation and tablature for the guitar part in these very tasty and idiomatic settings of familiar works. The book will be useful in recreational playing as well as for casual gigs. A CD recording is include with beautifully performed renditions of all the works in the book. The flute playing of Dave Ross is very musical with a freely blown, clear, limpid tone that contrasts nicely with the clean and rhythmic strumming and fretwork of guitarist, Mark Hanson. Each part is on a separate track allowing either instrument to have professional practice partner. An excellent addition to the repertoire for this combination. (Hanson has many fine guitar methods, duets, transcriptions, etudes, and anthologies available. See his website (www.AccentOnMusic.com ) for more samples of his work and publications by other well-known guitarists.) (J.E.P.)


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