1. Celtic Grace, a CD by the Aureule Trio with Laura Gilbert, flute, Mary Hammann, viola, and Stacey Shames, assisted by David Weiss, flute. Available on Koch Classics CD 7660 Price: $14.95. To purchase or hear samples on-line go to: http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/7356143/a/Aureole+Trio+-+Celtic+Grace.htm

This lovely recording of artfully done arrangements of 18 Celtic folk melodies in the Celtic style is simply one of the most pleasant and inspiring releases of recent years. The utter simplicity and straightforwardness of the pieces and the limpid playing of the trio make this one of my favorites of the season. The playing throughout is very expressive with singing melodic work and sensitive accompaniments and interplay amongst the trio. They have several other recordings available and you can find out more about the ensemble and their CD at: http://aureoletrio.com/index.html

Of special interest is the mournful and mysterious sounding arrangement of O’Reily’s Grave by David Weiss, a well-known New York flutist and multi-instrumentalist heard in many TV shows, films and Broadway shows. The addition of Weiss to the trio, playing low whistle and Irish flute, brings out a richness of color and adds interesting ornamentation that makes this piece the most authentic sounding. The way flutist Laura Gilbert’s tone floats above the ensemble with seemingly effortless legato is bound to please flutists and casual listeners alike. Her light, sweet sound combined with the richness and depth of the viola and the flowing rhythmic and harmonic underpinning and energy of the harp make this ensemble seem as complete and angelic as their group’s name implies. (J.E.P.)

2. La Belle Vie; French Opera Fantasie, a CD by the Bell’Alma Duo. Michele Frisch, Flute and Kathy Kienzle, harp. Released by the Schubert Club of Minneapolis on SC CD 126. Price: $15.95 + 2.00 shipping. Purchase on line and hear samples here: http://www.bellalmaduo.com

This is the second album of operatic music released by this exceptional duo. Featuring splendid versions of well-known opera themes and arias by Bizet, Delibes, Duparc, and grand variations and fantasies by Chopin and Taffanel, this recording is especially valuable and interesting for the revelation of two outstanding new compositions: Daniel Sturm’s reworking of Horloges de Maurice Ravel and Laurent Petrigirard’s setting of “La Priere des Malades” from the opera The Elephant Man by Joseph Merrick. These are fresh and engaging major works that deserve a wide audience and repeated hearings. The performances are first rate and have the singing quality we have come to expect from this excellent duo. (J.E.P.)

3. Woodwind Music of Theodor Blumer, Vol. 3 , a CD by the Moran Woodwind Quintet featuring John Bailey flute, Wm. McMullen, oboe, Diane Cawein Barger, clarinet, Albie Micklick, bassoon, Allen French, horn, and Mark Clinton, piano. Released on Crystal Records CD 757. Price: $16.95. Order on-line and hear samples: www.crystalrecords.com/moranwoodwindquintet.html.

Theodore Blumer (1881-1964) is not well-known in the U.S., but his devotees are growing and his music definitely is worthy of a much wider audience. He lived a long and productive life as director and chief conductor of the Dresden and Leipzig Radio Orchestras. His compositions are late, late, late Romantic music with a special expressive flavor and a nostalgic but totally original view on an earlier age and style. This is the third recording of Blumer’s woodwind composition by the excellent and well-balanced Moran Woodwind Quintet from the University of Nebraska and they have a strong understanding of this composer’s style and an abundance technique musicianship to make it shine. The first work on this recording is the Serenade and Theme and Variations, Op 34. All the performers are outstanding, but this brilliant work has a number of sections that feature the exceptionally fleet and dazzling soloistic playing of flutist Bailey and clarinetist, Barger. The ensemble is tight, the intonation spot on, and these energetic and sensitive performances are some of the best chamber music you will hear.

The 10 short Waltzes, Op. 56 for flute and piano are tuneful, charming and pleasant with a good variety of harmonic color and light lilt to them. They are Hausmusik and not intended as major works, though in the hand of this fine performer they sound full and mature. Bailey’s performance is flowing and rich with a good deal of intensity and resonance when called for in Blumer’s suites for flute and piano: From the Plant World, Op. 56 and From the Animal Kingdom, Op. 57A. Each of these 12 movements provides a musical portrait of a different type of flora and fauna. Pianist Mark Clinton’s accompaniments are very subtle and supportive throughout with a fine sense of rubato and direction of the phrase; while John Bailey’s smooth flute playing displays a wide variety of moods and colors to match each movement’s varying characteristics and mood. (J.E.P.)

4. Tootin’ with my Tutor, a duet book by Howard Vance. Available from TootPick Publishing. Price: $15.00. Order on-line at: http://www.howardvance.com/tootpick/tootpick.htm

This new book from Howard Vance is a dandy. It has so many good tunes all in one place and with very musical and interesting original parts for the 2nd flute. I especially like the range and level of technique used. This duet book would allow a beginning to intermediate level flutist to have some fun while learning quickly and making smooth progress. Putting in lots of helpful supplemental material on scales, chords, arpeggios, musical terms, and practice suggestions makes this a very special book. The addition of guitar chords symbols makes it possible for these short works to become fuller ensemble performance pieces or allow the teacher to lend their flute students a supportive accompaniment from the piano.

Most anthologies for beginning and intermediate flutists are uneven at best, and generally just have the melodies. This new book of Howard Vance’s is just plain interesting, practical, and usable for a variety of situations from the student's first time learning of the notes and melodies, to the application of their new found knowledge and skills, to learning to listen and play with a duet partner, to mastering intonation problems with the support of the teachers part, to recreational music making, to serious study of intonation, phrasing, and musicianship. I wish I had had something like this available when I was a student and when I was teaching beginning and intermediate students. (J.E.P.)

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