trio

For Children, by Béla Bartók
piano pieces based on Hungarian and Slovakian folksongs

Selected pieces arranged as woodwind duos, trios, or quartets by John W. Pratt and presented in multiple editions, organized by instrumentation and nationality.

Béla Bartók was not only a major composer in a post-Romantic extended tonal style, but he was also a superb pianist with a precise technique, a scholarly explorer of folk music, and a serious pedagog. Folk melodies and harmonies strongly influenced his music, both indirectly and often directly, including many of his orchestral and chamber works, as well as solo piano pieces ranging in difficulty from easy to virtuosic. His For Children (Gyermekeknek, 1908-1909, Sz. 42) was written for solo piano, and the original Books 1 and 2 contained 42 pieces after Hungarian folksongs and 43 pieces after Slovakian folksongs, respectively. Besides the usual purposes of music written for children, Bartók sought to broaden their musical experience with, for instance, modal and other scales, and harmonies outside the traditional western canon. For Children  is by no means pablum; though the notes may be easy to play, these pieces have a lot else to offer. They were written when Bartók’s folksong research was well under way and his notational efforts at their peak. Students, teachers, and every-day players can make as much of them as they like ... as simple tunes for beginners content to learn basic notes and rhythms, or as more advanced studies on articulation, musicality, etc.        —extracted from the preface by JWP

John Pratt has arranged selected pieces from the For Children books as various duos, trios, and quartets for wind instruments.  As presented originally by Bartók, many of the folksongs are entirely or mostly in two voices, like Bach’s two-part inventions in style if not structure or harmony, and thus convenient for wind duo and no more childish for Bartók than Bach.  Many others are also adaptable to duos of flute or oboe and clarinet or bassoon, mostly by spreading the left-hand chords in time.  Still others of the For Children pieces are more suitable for a wind trio of flute (or oboe), B-flat clarinet, and bassoon, or a quartet of flute, oboe, B-flat clarinet, and bassoon.  To compare the specific songs included in our editions with the complete set arranged for piano available in Bartók’s publications, visit the For Children listing on imslp.org.

All of the NSM editions described below are available as downloadable PDFs.  We provide scores, but not separate parts, as all players can easily play off copies of the scores, which are organized for convenient page turns when the PDFs are printed two-sided in their entirety.  Click the Preview button to view a page of the score from each edition. To order, in the table at the bottom of this webpage, check the box for the edition you would like to purchase, click Add to Cart, then click Checkout.

► Bartók - For Children, Book 1 - selected pieces arr. as Duets for Flute (or Oboe) and Clarinet 
This edition includes 25 pieces from Book 1 arranged as duets; all of them can be played by B-flat clarinet and either flute or oboe, but for six of the pieces we also include alternative versions with octave changes that are better suited to oboe.  The pieces included are Nos. 1-15, 22-26, 29, 31, 21, 40, and 42. Click to listen to computer-generated audio samples from the score; audio clips of #11 "Me and the Rain" with flute and clarinet and #32 "Wedding Day and Night" with oboe and clarinet are separated by a brief pause. 

Score, 26 pages; Total, 30 pages.
Preview: Book 1, Flute (or Oboe) and Clarinet

► Bartók - For Children, Book 1 - selected pieces arr. as Duets for Oboe (or Flute) and Bassoon 

Our oboe (or flute) and bassoon edition includes the same 25 pieces from Book 1 as our flute and clarinet edition described above, except here they are arranged and optimized as duets for oboe and bassoon, with alternative versions better suited for flute and bassoon provided for two of the folksongs.

► Bartók - For Children, Book 2 - selected pieces arr. as Duets for Flute (or Oboe) and Clarinet 

Our Book 2 edition of arrangements for flute (or oboe) and clarinet duo includes 23 pieces: Nos. 1-6, 8, 10-13, 16-20, 22, 25, 26, 29, 31, 35, and 36.  All of these pieces can be played by B-flat clarinet and either flute or oboe, but we also include alternative versions that are more suitable for oboe for three of the pieces. 

► Bartók - For Children, Book 2 - selected pieces arranged as Duets for Oboe (or Flute) and Bassoon 

The oboe (or flute) and bassoon edition includes the same 23 pieces from Book 2 described above for flute and clarinet, here arranged and optimized as duets for oboe and bassoon, with an alternative version better suited for flute for one of the pieces.

► Bartók - For Children, Book 1 - selected pieces arranged as Trios for Flute (or Oboe), Clarinet, and Bassoon 

In this trio edition, we present 20 songs from Book 1, including 14 that are also available as duo arrangements in the editions listed above and 6 that are only offered in our trio edition. The pieces are Nos. 1-9, 11, 13-15, 19, 20, 30, 35, 39, 41, and 42.  The trios are arranged for flute or oboe, B-flat clarinet, and bassoon.  Click to listen to a computer-generated audio sample from #39 "Insect Wedding".

Score, 21 pages; Total, 24 pages.
Preview: Book 1, Flute (or Oboe), Clarinet, and Bassoon Trio

► Bartók - For Children, Book 2 - selected pieces arranged as Trios for Flute (or Oboe), Clarinet, and Bassoon 

Here Mr. Pratt offers eighteen of Bartók’s Book 2 Slovakian folksongs in arrangements for a woodwind trio of flute or oboe, B-flat clarinet, and bassoon; the pieces included are Nos. 2, 3, 7, 9, 11-14, 16, 17, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 33, and 42.  Ten of these songs are also included in our duo arrangement publications.

► Bartók - For Children, Book 1 - selected pieces arranged for Wind Quartet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon)

This edition includes eleven of Bartók’s Hungarian folksongs in arrangements for a woodwind quartet of flute, oboe, B-flat clarinet, and bassoon.  Two of these songs, Nos. 19 and 20, are also included in our trio arrangement publication, but none are replicated in the duo arrangement editions; the quartet publication includes Book 1 Nos. 16-21, 27, 28, and 36-38.

Score, 11 pages; Total, 14 pages.
Preview: Book 1, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon Quartet

► Bartók - For Children, Book 2 - selected pieces arranged for Wind Quartet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon)

This edition presents seventeen of Bartók’s Book 2 Slovakian folksongs in arrangements for woodwind quartet (flute, oboe, B-flat clarinet, and bassoon).  Four of these songs, Nos. 11, 14, 25 and 28, are also included in our trio arrangement publication, and several are included in the duo arrangement editions. The Book 2 songs arranged here as quartets are Nos. 5, 8, 11, 14, 15, 18, 23- 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 34, 37, 38, and 43. Click to listen to a computer-generated audio sample that consists of ~32” of song #5 Bird in Flight (Theme & part of Var.1, through m34), followed immediately by #18 Former Flame in its entirety.

Ecstasy, Op.19 No.2, by Mrs. H. H. A. Beach

Two versions, for "Low voice (in Db)" or "High voice (in Eb)", with Alto Flute Obbligato (transcribed) and Piano.
Alternative parts for Alto Flute Solo and Bb Clarinet Obbligato.
Program Notes by Peter H. Bloom.

Piano Scores, Voice Parts, Alto Flute Obbligato Parts, and alternative Alto Flute Solo Parts and Clarinet Obbligato Parts; PDF $8.99

Noteworthy Sheet Music was thrilled to publish our edition of Amy Marcy Cheney Beach's song Ecstasy in 2017, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth. The idea to make Ecstasy available to a broader combination of players and singers came from flutist Peter H. Bloom, who proposed that the piece would be an excellent vehicle with which instructors might inform students (early and advanced alike) about interpretation of the highly romantic late 19th century idiom. To that end, we have packaged together in a single edition Mrs. H. H. A. Beach's two versions of Ecstasy, for "low voice (in Db)" and "high voice (in Eb)", with each version including transcriptions of the obbligato (originally for violin) for either alto flute in G or clarinet in Bb, and an alternative solo part in the form of an alto flute transcription of the voice line. Thus, multiple performance variations are possible, including high or low voice and piano with either alto flute or clarinet obbligato, or fully instrumental versions for alto flute and piano, or two alto flutes and piano, or alto flute, clarinet, and piano. 

Scores, 8 pages (4 pages each version); Voice parts, 2 pages (1 page each version); Alto Flute Obbligatos, 2 pages (1 page each version); Clarinet Obbligatos, 2 pages (1 page each version); Alto Flute solo parts, 2 pages (1 page each version); Total, 20 pages.

Ablaze She Came in the Dream, by Peter H. Bloom

Contemporary Composition for Flute, Cello, and Guitar (or Electric Guitar)

Flute, Cello, & Guitar Parts, and Score, PDF $22.97

Ablaze She Came in the Dream by flutist Peter H. Bloom was scored in its original version for flute, viola, and guitar.  This intriguing piece comprises eleven brief episodes, which may be repeated any number of times.  It is intended to serve as an interpretive vehicle for the performers and thus should be executed freely and expressively.  Ablaze received its premier performance in November, 2014, in Boston as part of the Church of the Advent Library Concert Series and featured Mr. Bloom on flute, Frank Grimes on viola, and Anastasiya Dumma on electric guitar.

In the spring of 2016, NSM received a request for a cello version of Ablaze; we complied by creating, in collaboration with the composer, an adaptation for flute, cello, and guitar.  Ablaze is not only an exciting piece to hear, it's fun to play as well.  Both the viola and cello editions are suitable for adventurous, advanced players.  Those wishing to purchase one of our Ablaze editions and then order an additional alternative viola or cello part for a small charge should use the Contact Us form to let us know; we'll make arrangements to accommodate your request.

Score, 23 pages; Flute Part, 11 pages; Guitar Part, 12 pages; Cello Part, 12 pages; Total, 66 pages.

Ablaze She Came in the Dream, by Peter H. Bloom

Contemporary Composition for Flute, Viola, and Guitar (or Electric Guitar)

Flute, Viola, & Guitar Parts and Score, PDF $22.97

Flutist Peter H. Bloom is no stranger to Noteworthy Sheet Music or to our customers, as he has contributed several popular arrangements and transcriptions to our catalog and he also serves as an editorial consultant for NSM.

Now we are very pleased to offer this newly published (2014) and highly intriguing original composition by Mr. Bloom entitled Ablaze She Came in the Dream.  The piece comprises eleven brief episodes written for the unusual trio combination of flute, viola, and guitar (or electric guitar).   Ablaze is intended to serve as an interpretive vehicle for the performers and thus should be executed freely and expressively.   The work is suitable for advanced players.

Click to access a recording of the premier performance of Ablaze which took place on November 21, 2014 in Boston, MA, as part of the Church of the Advent Library Concert Series.  The performance features Peter H. Bloom on flute, Frank Grimes on viola, and Anastasiya Dumma on electric guitar.

Score, 23 pages; Flute Part, 11 pages; Guitar Part, 12 pages; Viola Part, 12 pages; Total, 66 pages.

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We also offer a professionally-printed hard copy edition of Ablaze She Came in the Dream for $45.88 plus a $5.95 shipping and handling fee. Due to prohibitively high international shipping rates, we ship print editions only to addresses in the USA. Please use the Contact Us form to let us know which hard copy publication(s) you would like to purchase, along with your email contact information and USPS mailing address. We will then send you a PayPal invoice for the sale and, once we receive notice from PayPal that you have paid for the item(s), we will ship your music to the address provided for delivery in 7-10 business days.

Drei Duette, Op.20, by Johannes Brahms

Transcribed for Mixed Voice, Instruments, and Piano by John W. Pratt

Score for Soprano, Alto, and Piano; Transcribed upper voice Parts for Violin/Oboe, Alto Flute, and A-Clarinet; and Transcribed lower voice Parts for Violin/Oboe, Alto Flute, A-Clarinet, and Viola; PDF $12.99

Composed in 1858–1860, the Drei Duette, Op. 20, for soprano and alto are the earliest of Johannes Brahms' duets and quartets for solo voices and piano. The three songs are titled Weg der Liebe (1. Teil), Weg der Liebe (2.Teil), and Die Meere. Except for brief canonic passages in No. 1, the voices have the same words, sung simultaneously, mostly in parallel thirds and sixths. The accompaniments are straightforward, without Brahmsian ensemble challenges but not without harmonic interest. Many have found the songs Mendelssohnian. The words come from the collection Stimmen der Völker of Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803). The first two are translations by Herder of two parts of a Northern English folk poem Love will find out the Way. The third is Italian in origin.

The vocal parts lie well for many instruments, opening the possibility of mixed voice and instrument, as well as fully-instrumental, performances. If one voice is replaced by an instrument, no words will be lost and the result will be a song with wonderful instrumental obbligato and piano accompaniment. If two instruments are used, the result is a beautiful "song without words." We include in our edition transcriptions of both voices for oboe/violin, alto flute in G, and clarinet in A, and of the lower voice for viola as well. Our transcriptions provide slurs to suggest a vocal style to instrumental players and to facilitate coordination of the instrumental parts with those of the voices. We also provide a re-notated piano/vocal score, in which repeat signs are used in the second and third songs to save page turns, rather than writing out the multiple stanzas as in the original. For those needing only the piano/vocal score, the Breitkopf & Härtel edition is in the public domain and freely available on imslp.org.

Piano/Vocal Score, 10 pages; Instrumental Parts, 3 pages each; Total, 42 pages.

Trio in A Minor, Op.114, by Johannes Brahms

Transcribed for Alto Flute (with Cello and Piano) by Carol A. Vater

Alto Flute Part, PDF $5.99

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) composed the Trio in A Minor for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in 1891 and subsequently created an alternate arrangement in which viola was substituted for the clarinet. The expressive qualities, range, and rich, dark tones of the alto flute are well-suited to this beloved piece.  In creating this transcription of the clarinet part for alto flute, every effort has been made to maintain the spirit and character of the original composition.  We provide here the Brahms Trio in A minor alto flute part; the piano and cello parts are readily available in the public domain as free pdf downloads of the original score and parts.  Here is a link to one such source:  Piano Score and Cello Part 

This was the very first piece I (cav) played on alto flute, before I had my own alto and had to borrow one from the music school; of course, I fell in love with the Trio and with the alto. 

Alto Flute part, 13 pages; Total, 15 pages.

Two Songs, Op.91, by Johannes Brahms

Transcribed for Clarinet by John W. Pratt (part originally for viola)

Clarinet Part, PDF $6.99

The two chamber music songs of Brahms' Zwei Gesänge, Op.91 were composed specifically for his dear friends, the violinist/violist Joseph Joachim and the mezzo-soprano Amalie Schneeweiss, who were married in 1863.  The songs (for alto, viola, and piano) were written over 20 years apart, but Brahms published them together as Op.91 in 1884.

"Gestillte Sehnsucht", which appears first in the Op.91 pairing, was actually written second, in 1884.  The song sets the text of the poem by Friedrich Rückert (1788-1866).  "Gestillte Sehnsucht" is a nature poem, filled with images of forests at sunset, gentle breezes, and twittering birds.  Rückert is famous not only for his exquisite poems themselves but also for the great inspiration his work provided to numerous prominent composers, in addition to Brahms.  "Geistliches Wiegenlied" (Sacred Cradle Song) was first composed in 1863-1864, and later revised.  The viola opens with the melody of the medieval Christmas carol "Joseph, lieber Joseph mein."  The singer has her own variation of the melody, and enters after the first stanza of the viola's carol.  The song is a beautiful cradle-rocking lullaby, in 6/8 time.

It is said that the viola was Brahms' favorite stringed instrument, and the composer gave the viola a major role in both of these songs, allowing it to open both pieces before the singer enters.  Clarinetists have long coveted these viola parts, and various performances have provided clear evidence that a successful outcome can be achieved with the substitution of a clarinet for the viola in Op.91.  So when a clarinetist friend of ours asked us to create a transcription for him, we gladly obliged.  Our edition of the clarinet part adapts the first song, "Gestillte Sehnsucht", for clarinet in A, and the second, "Geistliches Wiegenlied", for clarinet in Bb.  The original piano score and voice part are in the public domain, readily available as free PDF downloads from IMSLP.org.

Clarinet part, 4 pages; Total, 8 pages.

Acht Stücke, Op.83, by Max Bruch

Transcribed for Alto Flute (with Clarinet and Piano) by Davies, Pratt, and Vater

Alto Flute Part, PDF $9.98

Originally scored for clarinet, viola, and piano (or violin, cello, and piano), Bruch's Acht Stücke (Eight Pieces) adapts nicely for a trio with clarinet, alto flute, and piano. Bruch's beautiful melodies are well served by the rich tones of the alto flute. 

In creating this transcription of the viola part for alto flute, we have taken great care to maintain the spirit and character of the original instrumentation.  We provide here the alto flute part.  The piano and clarinet parts are readily available in the public domain as free pdf downloads of the score and parts.  Here is a link to one such source:  Piano Score and Clarinet Part

Alto Flute part, 17 pages; Total, 19 pages.

The Voice and The Flute, by John H. Densmore

Aria for Soprano and Flute

Facsimile Edition by Noteworthy Sheet Music

Piano Score and Part, $8.99

The Voice and The Flute is a work composed by John H. Densmore for soprano, flute, and piano, with lyrics written by Mary Gardenia.  Densmore was a native of Somerville, Massachusetts; he graduated from Harvard '04 and is perhaps best known for having composed the Harvard fight song "Veritas".  Our edition of Densmore's Aria for Soprano and Flute is a facsimile reproduction of the original 1922 edition published by the composer, and contains both the piano score and the part for the voice and the flute.  

Piano, Flute, & Voice score, 12 pages; Flute & Voice part, 6 pages; Total, 21 pages.

Trio, Op.45, by Louise Farrenc

Transcribed for Viola by C.A.Vater and J.W.Pratt (originally for cello)

Viola Part, PDF $9.99

The Farrenc Trio for Flute, Cello, and Piano, Op.45 is a big romantic piece, at times stirring, sweet, stormy, sad, dramatic, or lively, but always compelling throughout its entire four movements. As a flutist, I have enjoyed playing this piece many times, so I was intrigued and delighted to receive a request from flutist Peter H. Bloom that NSM prepare a transcription of the cello part for viola, so that his group Ensemble Aubade could perform a flute/viola/piano version. As Peter Bloom commented, the Trio is “not just a good piece to have been written by a woman in the 19^th century; it’s a very good piece for anyone to have written anytime.” The Trio actually feels perfect for the viola, as most of the original cello part lies within viola range, and sections that do not can be modified for the viola tessitura without straying significantly from the composer’s musical intent. Our edition provides only the transcribed viola part; PDFs of the original score and flute part are freely available at imslp.org. —cav

Viola Part, 12 pages; Total, 16 pages.