Flute Audition, What pieces are good ones?! Options

[cakey2004]

I'm auditioning for a couple of post-grad places at music colleges later this year and was wondering if anyone knew of a couple of good flute pieces to play, preferably one unaccompanied? Have done my first diploma so around that standard would be useful!

Thanks!!

I'm so nervous!! What a huge deal this is!!!! :(

[dacapo]

I'm auditioning for a couple of post-grad places at music colleges later this year and was wondering if anyone knew of a couple of good flute pieces to play, preferably one unaccompanied? Have done my first diploma so around that standard would be useful!

If you're into Baroque music a really good performance of one of the Telemann Fantasias could be an interesting choice. I'm fascinated by the way he can make one player sound as if they are playing counterpoint! Or a bit later, are you familiar with the CPE Bach Sonata? I think it's less well known than the JS Bach one. I won a woodwind prize at GSMD playing that one an extremely long time ago.

On the accompanied side do you know Elizabeth Maconchy's Colloquy? There are separate movements so you wouldn't have to do all of it.

Let us know what you choose.

Best of luck

[andante_in_c]

I'll second dacapo's suggestions for Baroque unaccompanied pieces. If you want something more modern how about Varese's Density 21.5, or one of the Piazzolla Tango Etudes. The other unaccompanied piece I love is William Alwyn's Divertimento, and you could pick and choose movements from this.

I really like Anne Boyd's pieces for flute and piano - I'm doing Cloudy Mountain for my LRSM - and they're a bit less run-of-the-mill than some of the standard stuff like Chaminade or Poulenc. It might also be worth looking at American repertoire as it's less well-known in the UK (I'm assuming you're in the UK).

[tamsin]

As an aside thought, and not entirely relevent, do you think unaccompanied baroque pieces like the one you've mentioned can work as concert pieces?

As I have a complete lack of someone to accompany me on the piano, they're about all I have at the moment that are at performance standard, but I'm a little concerend they could come aacross as a bit technical, and frankly dull; especially as I'm not the most expressive and musical performer!

[andante_in_c]

As an aside thought, and not entirely relevent, do you think unaccompanied baroque pieces like the one you've mentioned can work as concert pieces?

As I have a complete lack of someone to accompany me on the piano, they're about all I have at the moment that are at performance standard, but I'm a little concerend they could come aacross as a bit technical, and frankly dull; especially as I'm not the most expressive and musical performer!

The Telemann Fantasias are fantastic and couldn't possibly be dull. There's so much contrast built into each one with tempo changes and different moods. I'd pick a couple in complementary keys (I like the D minor and the D major together, for example).

[Garkleine]

There is a study in Book 2 of 76 Graded Studies for Flute called "Jade By Philippe Ferroud". It has been set for Grade 7. At the back of the study book it tells you that this piece is one of a set of 3 pieces for solo flute. I decided to order them as I quite like having "full sets" and they are really rather nice, very playable and very french. The other 2 pieces are more demanding than the Jade and one is twice as long - any good? <_<

[tamsin]

I never realised Jade came from a set (it was my favourite exam piece that I played) can you remember the publishers etc?

Funny... the Telemann D Minor is my favourite, though I find the D major a bit of a pig. All that jumping around just doesn't work if you only play through it about once a week! Guess it'd work out if I practised it a bit more though.

[Garkleine]

The details for the "jade set" can be found at the back of the study book 2. :)

[andante_in_c]

I didn't like the Allegro of the D major until I found the hidden theme amongst the notes. I was so bowled over by his cleverness that I've loved the movement ever since.

[sarah-flute]

I like the D Minor one, too.

I really really need to get hold of a cd - I had two possibles come through the used thing on Amazon (Gallois and Rampal) and the stinking thing rejected my card so I missed them both :(

[tamsin]

The problem is, my Study book 2 is AWOL (gone missing... think I might have lent it to someone) that why I asked. :)

I've never disliked the allegro, though I'm never sure if flute is the best instrument for it, I always think it would work better on guitar or something! Is there a way to draw out the theme more, eg, by putting emphasis on certian notes in each pattern?

[andante_in_c]

One way I've tried is by tonguing the notes of the theme, and slurring on to the others. One of my students played it that way in her Grade 8 exam, and got 28 for it, so the examiner must have found it OK. I wasn't sure after I did it whether I liked the effect or not, but she had already learned it that way so we didn't change it.

[Garkleine]

Tamsin,
Trois Pieces pour flute by Pierre Octave Ferroud Editions Salabert.
It cost £5.90 from June Emerson very recently. :)

[sarah-flute]

Tamsin,
Trois Pieces pour flute by Pierre Octave Ferroud  Editions Salabert.
It cost £5.90 from June Emerson very recently. :)

3 pieces for less than 6 quid - miraculous! Why is sheet music so expensive? :(