1) Donate to Hurricane Katrina relief fund. Flute Network regularly reviews and recommends recordings from small labels and self-produced records with limited distribution. Here is a way to support these artists and donate to victims of the devastation of the recent hurricane in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama:

     Over 5000 musicians have chosen to donate ALL money from the sale of their CD “directly” to the Red Cross disaster relief fund. You can hear and buy their CDs here: http://cdbaby.com/group/redcross

      If you've been seeing the images of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and have thought about donating to help those in need, please consider buying some albums from that page. You're free to listen to up to half of every album in instant-streaming MP3, so I hope you use this as an excuse to discover some great new music while knowing your money is going to a good cause. (J.E.P.)

EDITORIAL ADDITON, Nov. 16 2005 --- We've just learned of another ongoing resource for people interested in what's going on regarding recovery in New Orleans, and especially for musicians there -- and we're delighted to get to share this link with you: http://www.silvernightingale.com/norlean2.html

2)CD: O Bell’Alma; Music from the Opera, a recording by MICHELE FRISCH, flute and KATHY KIENZLE, harp. Released on the Minneapolis Schubert Club’s Thousand Lakes label, CD SC119. This CD is available from their website (http://www.schubert.org/Purchase-Recordings.html) or from Flute World, or any Barnes and Noble store. Price: $15.00 plus shipping and handling.

     This fine recording by Minneapolis musicians Frisch and Kienzle of works based on operatic melodies is just dazzling in its clarity, emotional intensity, and singing performances. Frisch’s flute tone emulates the expressive nuances of the human voice with subtle shading, a variety of colors, and soaring vocal lines. Her well- modulated and flexible sound exemplifys Moyse’s ideal of Tone Development Through Interpretation: she transcends the instrument and communicates the intentions of the composer and the emotion of the song. Harpist Kienzle provides accompaniments, interludes, and duets that match the flute with surety and interpretive freedom. These two outstanding musicians clearly have digested their operatic experiences in the pit.

     In addition to an excellent choice of brilliant variations on opera themes, entr’actes, dances, best loved melodies, and extracts of famous operatic gems, this recording contains Daniel Sturm’s new work, Musetta Dreams, which uses material from La Boheme as the basis of a fantasia-like synthesis of both the spirit and melodic fragments of the well-known aria, “Musetta’s Waltz.” The result is a poignant, moving, and totally original composition that deserves to enter the main body of the flute repertoire. (J.E.P.)

3) Lovebirds, a CD recording by LISA-MAREE AMOS and PETER SHERIDAN, accompanied by pianist Richard Berent. Released by Married Flutes, P.O. Box 88601, Los Angeles, CA 90009. You can hear and download samples at their website: (www.marriedflutes.com) or purchase entire CD on-line from www.Cdbaby.com. Price: $16.99 plus shipping and applicable tax.

     This Los Angeles area duo concertizes under the name “Married Flutists” and they obviously have much affection for the flute, the works performed -- and each other. Their playing is lovely and very simpatico with tones that blend and complement each other. The literature is fresh, the performances are extremely well done, and the overall impression of the CD is one of sensual tone and romantic expression. Included are the world premiere of the beautiful Dos Arbolitos by Steven Van Wye; Caesar Giovanni’s Theme for Quiet Day; Trevor Wye’s arrangement of Gabriel Faure’s Sicilienne and Canticle de Jean Racine; two works by Gary Schocker, Three Dances and the title track Lovebirds; and Trio Serenade by Peter Schickele. This is the kind easy listening classical music that will win a wider audience for chamber music. We need more of this style and level of playing. (J.E.P.)

4) Music: Sonata for Flute and Piano by NATHAN ZALMAN. Published by Falls House Press. P.O. Box 7121, Nashua, NH. 03060. Phone: (603) 888-6444. Price: $16.00 plus shipping.

     Zalman has an extensive catalog of interesting, challenging, and accessible chamber music for winds; and this recent composition is destined to be widely played and enjoyed by flutists. The four movements programmatically represent the “mountains and valleys” of Zalman’s musical and personal journey. Although there are a few rapid and tricky high register passages, this work is very playable and is sure to be an audience pleaser. (Zalman is an accomplished flutist and knows how to write idiomatically for the instrument.) It should become nice alternative in the 20th contemporary style for student recitals as well as for professional players. His harmonic style has just enough rhythmic punch and dissonance for interest while presenting a piano part that is both playable and provides a varied, colorful and supportive accompaniment. (Flutist/publisher Doug Worthern gave a brilliant and well-received performance of this Sonata at a “headliners” concert at the recent NFA convention in San Diego; we look forward to release of a recording of this outstanding new work in the near future.) You can learn more about this composer/performer, his publications, his life, his teaching methods, and his performances at: http://www.unc.edu/~zalman/ (J.E.P.)