duets: alto flute and piano

Sonata in G Major, K.301, by W. A. Mozart

Transcribed for Alto Flute (and Piano) by John W. Pratt

Alto Flute Part, PDF $4.99

This sunny sonata has two movements, an up-beat Allegro con spirito followed by an Allegro that is actually a sprightly minuet with a trio section in the minor, almost as near to a Beethoven scherzo as a Haydn minuet.  The violin leads as often as the piano, including at the beginning and throughout the trio, but is largely spared Mozart's typical keyboard passage work.  As with six other violin sonatas composed in 1778, the first of Mozart's maturity, the violin part rarely makes significant use of double stops and is in general very well suited to alto flute.  In fact, K.301 was begun with flute in mind. We provide our transcribed alto flute part.  The piano score is available in the public domain as a free pdf download from imslp.org/. 

For additional information about the seven Mozart Mannheim sonatas and their alto flute transcriptions, please read the Mozart’s Mannheim Sonatas article written by Mr. Pratt; the article was originally published by Flute Focus and subsequently republished by NSM on our Resources – Reviews and Articles page.

Alto Flute part, 4 pages; Total, 6 pages.

Fantasy Pieces, Op.2, by Carl Nielsen

Transcribed for Alto Flute by C.A.Vater

Piano Score and Alto Flute Part, PDF $9.99

The Fantasy Pieces for Oboe and Piano, Op.2 (Fantasistykker for obo og klavier) were composed in 1889, when Nielsen was 24.  They were written in the romantic idiom before his compositions became more experimental, chromatic, and dissonant.  Nielsen wrote the Fantasy Pieces for his good friend Olivo Kraüse, the Danish oboist and composer to whom the work is dedicated.  Nielsen and Krause were colleagues in the Royal Chapel Orchestra.   The Fantasy Pieces were premiered by Krause and the pianist Victor Bendix at a Royal Orchestra Soirée in Copenhagen in 1891.  Arrangements of the pieces for violin (with orchestra or piano), created by Hans Sitt, subsequently became quite popular.

Our transcription of the oboe part for alto flute is a simple transposition, as the entire oboe part falls nicely within the range of the alto flute.  Although the tonal characteristics of the alto flute and oboe are very different, the Fantasistykker sound so natural on alto flute that the listener might think that the two pieces were composed specifically for that instrument.

The first piece, Romance, is a beautiful andante that allows the alto flutist to exploit the rich, sensuous sonority of the instrument.  The contrasting second piece is a lively Humoresque in which the performer's lightheartedness and technical agility prevail.

Alto Flute part, 3 pages; Piano Score, 10 pages; Total, 18 pages.

Canzonetta, Op.19, by G. Pierné

Transcribed for Alto Flute and Piano by C.A.Vater

Piano Score and Alto Flute Part, PDF $6.99

Gabriel Pierné composed his Canzonetta for clarinet and piano (Op.19) in 1888, and it is among his most charming lighter works.  The number of commercial recordings of the piece attest to its enduring popularity, extending into the modern era.  Pierné dedicated this short, cheerful little song to his friend Charles Turban (1845-1905), the French clarinetist and professor of clarinet at the Paris Conservatory.  The main melody is bouncy and gay, and brings merriment to players and audiences alike.  Others have created transcriptions for alto sax and for flute.  The piece is just as delightful when played on alto flute, and we now offer our new edition for alto flute and piano.  Canzonetta would make a great encore piece for a concert or recital.

Alto Flute Part, 2 pages; Piano Score, 5 pages; Total, 10 pages. 

Pièce, Op.5, by Gabriel Pierné 

Transcribed for Alto Flute and Piano by Carol A. Vater

Piano Score and Alto Flute Part, PDF $6.99

The Pièce en sol mineur for oboe (or violin or cello) with accompaniment of piano was composed by Gabriel Pierné in 1883.  The alto flute is especially well-suited to this delightful, romantic piece, which falls completely and comfortably within the alto flute's range.  Our edition includes both the alto flute part and the piano score.   

Piano score, 5 pages; Alto Flute part, 2 pages; Total, 12 pages.

Albumblatt, by Max Reger

Transcribed for Alto Flute and Piano by Carol A. Vater

Piano Score and Alto Flute Part, PDF $3.97

This gorgeous and surprisingly complex Albumblatt in E-flat major was written by Max Reger in ~1902 and originally scored for clarinet and piano.  The piece is beautifully-suited to the range and sonority of the alto flute, and we provide here both our alto flute transcription of the clarinet part and a re-notated edition of the piano score.

Piano score, 2 pages; Alto Flute part, 1 page; Total, 5 pages.

Romanze, by Max Reger

Transcribed for Alto Flute in G and Piano by C.A.Vater

Alto Flute Part and Piano Score, PDF $4.99

Reger's Romanze is a lovely, short piece in G major, consisting of a single movement, Andante con moto. Written in 1902 for violin (or cello) and piano, the work was published by Breitkopf und Härtel ca.1920 and is now in the public domain. Numerous arrangements and transcriptions of the Romanze, including those for C-flute, trumpet, cello, clarinet, viola, or alto saxophone and piano, and even one for oboe and accordion, attest to the piece's popularity. The Romanze works beautifully on alto flute, and Noteworthy Sheet Music's 2016 edition includes both our transcribed alto flute part and a re-notated piano score.

Cover image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, PD-old: "Bavarian Landscape", by Albert Bierstadt (1830–1902).

Alto Flute Part, 1 page; Score 2 pages; Total, 6 pages.

Suite in A Minor, Op.103a, by Max Reger

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

Alto Flute Part, PDF $11.98

The Suite in A Minor for violin and piano by Max Reger was first published in 1908. The piece has been performed and recorded on flute, and arrangements of the beautiful Aria (3rd movement) have been published for violin and orchestra, as well as for cello and piano or organ. The piece is also highly suited to the rich, mellow sonorities of the alto flute. We offer here our transcription of all six movements of the violin part for alto flute. The piano part is readily available in the public domain as a free pdf download of the score for violin and piano. Here is a link to one such source: Piano Score

Alto Flute part, 12 pages; Total, 14 pages.

Sonata, Op.166, by Camille Saint-Saëns

Transcribed for Alto Flute (and Piano) by C.A.Vater and J.W.Pratt

Alto Flute Part, PDF $6.99

Sonata, Opus 166 (Oboe Sonata in D major) was composed by Saint-Saëns in 1921, the year of his death, and has since become a standard of the oboe repertoire.  Although written for oboe with accompaniment of piano, the piece is very well suited for alto flute.  Played by either oboe or alto flute, this Sonata provides the soloist with opportunities to demonstrate both technical expertise and expressive performance.  We provide here the alto flute part; the piano part is readily available in the public domain as a free pdf download of the original score for oboe and piano.  Here is a link to one such source: Piano Score

Alto Flute part, 7 pages; Total, 9 pages.

Sonatas, Op.137, by F. Schubert

Transcribed for Alto Flute and Piano by C. A. Vater & J. W. Pratt

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) wrote his three violin sonatas Opus 137 when he was barely 19.  They were published posthumously as 'Sonatinas', perhaps for marketing reasons, but they are full-scale sonatas in traditional classical style and format, the first having three movements and the others four.  These plus the violin sonata in A of the next year constitute fully half of Schubert's known works for piano and solo instrument.

Schubert's Op.137 sonatas are truly delightful, and we have adapted the violin parts for alto flute.  Where appropriate, changes have been introduced to better accommodate the range, sonority, and general characteristics of the alto flute.  Such modifications include occasional octave adjustments, dynamic changes, and suitable flute-friendly alternatives to the violin's doublestops.  We provide our transcribed alto flute parts; the piano scores are readily available in the public domain as free pdf downloads from imslp.org/.

No.1, Sonata in D major: Alto Flute part, 6 pages; Total, 8 pages. PDF $5.99
Preview 

Erlkönig, by Franz Schubert

Arranged for Cello (or Viola or Alto Flute) and Piano by John W. Pratt

Piano Score and Parts for Cello/Voice, Viola, and Alto Flute; PDF $11.99

Franz Schubert (1797-1828), inspired by reading Goethe's poem, wrote his song "Erlkönig" in a few hours in 1815. The song was an immediate hit, and continues to be popular to the present day. John Pratt has created a trio arrangement for flute, cello, and piano (click for more information), and also the duo version offered here with Schubert's solo voice part transposed for cello (or viola or alto flute), and with a less arduous alternative to Schubert's piano accompaniment.

Excerpted from Mr. Pratt's © preface:
"In the duo arrangement, Schubert's solo part is adopted without change. Thus the piano must provide the entire accompaniment, but rocking triplets and other pianistically felicitous passagework replace Schubert's unremitting repetition. The range of sonorities is also wider than Schubert's, though more restrained than that of the trio arrangement, where the flute enlarges the musical terrain. This accompaniment is offered as a less punishing alternative to Schubert's, to be played with a singer or any solo instrument. Solo parts are provided for voice or cello, viola, and alto flute."

Piano score, 6 pages; Cello, Viola, and Alto Flute parts, 2 pages each; Total, 22 pages.