Flute Choir
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Haydn – Adagio from Symphony No.24 – trans. Solo Flute and Flute Choir
Adagio from Symphony No.24 by F. J. HaydnTranscribed for Solo Flute accompanied by Flute Choir, by John W. Pratt (originally for flute and strings)
Score and Parts for Solo Flute, Flutes 1 and 2, Alto Flute, and Bass Flute/Contrabass Flute, PDF $7.99
Haydn wrote his Symphony No.24 in 1764. Its second movement is a beautiful Adagio for flute solo accompanied by strings. The string parts are simple, with no double stops or extreme high notes, so they can be played comfortably by corresponding members of the flute family, except for a few low notes. This transcription for flute choir is therefore straightforward except that the alto flute sometimes plays violin notes that C-flutes cannot play or can use support playing, and similarly the bass flute plays some viola notes instead of or in addition to the alto flute playing them. Notes taken from the cello in its lowest octave have been raised an octave for bass flute, but there are fewer than one might expect. Perhaps one reason is that Haydn expected a (string) bass to be doubling the cello an octave lower, playing from the same part. If a contrabass flute is available, it can double the bass flute similarly, serving even more to enrich the sound. —adapted from JWP’s preface to the edition
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Score, 5 pages; Parts for Solo Flute, 2 pages; Flutes 1 and 2, 2 pages; Alto Flute, 1 page; Bass Flute/Contrabass Flute, 1 page; Total 19 pages.
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Dvořák - Romance, Op. 11 - arr. for Flute Choir
Romance, Op. 11 by Antonín DvořákArranged for Solo Flute and Flute Choir by C. A. Vater (originally for solo violin and orchestra)
Score and Parts for Solo Concert Flute, 4 Concert Flutes, 2 Alto Flutes, 2 Bass Flutes, and 1 Contrabass Flute, PDF $21.97
Czech composer Antonín Dvořák based his Romance, Opus 11 on the slow movement of his String Quartet in F minor, composed in 1873, re-working that Andante con moto quasi allegretto to create two versions of the Romance, one for solo violin and orchestra (B.39) and another for solo violin and piano (B.38). The Romance is one of Dvořák’s most magnificent melodic works, teaming with romance, lyricism, and emotional intensity. I created a solo flute version of this piece for my personal use, and I so enjoyed playing it that I shared it with a flutist friend / NSM editorial consultant, who suggested that the Romance might be nicely adaptable for flute choir. I took on that challenge and created this arrangement, scored for flute solo with the accompaniment of four concert flutes, two alto flutes, two bass flutes, and one contrabass flute. A few changes have been incorporated in the solo part, bringing the violin’s lowest notes into concert flute range and providing appropriate alternatives to the occasional double stops. Likewise, the various string and wind parts created by Dvořák for his orchestral arrangement (available on IMSLP.org) have been modified in places to suit members of the flute family. Of course, any work played by a flute choir will sound very different than when played by an orchestra, but in arranging this piece for flute choir, every effort has been made to maintain the spirit, character, balance, and flow of Dvořák’s exquisite Romance.
The parts in our edition have been formatted for convenient page turns when the complete PDF is printed 2-sided in its entirety. If a more compact version of the score is desired, however, please select a “2 pages per sheet” printer option for the score and print the score pages separately from the parts.
Score, 60 pages; Solo Flute part, 4 pages of music; Flutes 1-4 parts, each 3 pages of music; Alto Flute 1 part, 4 pages of music; Alto Flute 2 part, 3 pages of music; Contrabass Flute part, 3 pages of music; Total, 104 pages.
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Bach - Adagio and Fugue from BWV 564 – arr. Flute Quartet
Adagio and Fugue from BWV 564, by J. S. BachArranged for Flute Quartet by John W. Pratt
Score and Parts for Flute 1, Flute 2, Alto Flute, and Bass Flute, PDF $21.25
Among J. S. Bach's big organ works, the Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue, BWV 564 is atypical in ways that make it especially adaptable to transcription for winds, as we noted when transcribing it for woodwind quartet. The middle movement Adagio has an elaborate and gorgeous melody which lies comfortably for flute and can benefit greatly from the shaded, nuanced dynamics and articulations that a solo flutist can provide. The four-part Fugue is unusual, too—light and lighthearted, happily adaptable to woodwinds. The Adagio and Fugue are particularly well-suited to a flute quartet and these (but not the Toccata) are included in John Pratt’s arrangement of the piece for two flutes, alto flute and bass flute. Note that the score is presented with the alto flute line in concert pitch and the bass flute line shown in bass clef so as to easily see the range of all the flutes' notes; in the parts, of course, the alto flute is transposed and the bass flute is in treble clef.
Score, 10 pages; Flute 1 part, 4 pages; Flute 2 part, 3 pages; Alto Flute part, 3 pages; Bass Flute part, 2 pages; Total, 30 pages.
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Haydn – Symphony 13 - arr. for Multiple Flutes
Symphony 13, by Franz Joseph HaydnArranged for Multiple Flutes by John W. Pratt
Score and Parts for Flutes 1-4, Alto Flute, Bass Flute; PDF $23.95
This arrangement of Haydn’s Symphony No.13 is for a flute ensemble of any size including at least one bass, one alto, and two concert flutes. Third and fourth concert flute parts are also provided, and all parts can be doubled at will. If a contrabass flute is available, it can double the bass flute, serving to deepen and enrich the sound. The second movement is a beautiful Adagio cantabile, originally for solo cello accompanied by strings, which transcribes nicely for alto flute accompanied by the rest of the flute family. The trio of the symphony’s third movement has a delightful solo flute part with only string accompaniment. A large flute ensemble would be about the size of Haydn’s core orchestra at the time this symphony was composed; in our arrangement, Haydn’s original key has been raised a minor third to better suit the natural range of a flute ensemble.
Score, 17 pages; separate parts for Flute 1, Flute 2, Flute 3, and Flute 4, 6 pages each; Alto Flute part, 7 pages; Bass Flute part, 6 pages; Total, 68 pages.
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