alto flute

Sicilienne, Op.78, by Gabriel Fauré

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

Alto Flute Part, PDF $3.79

Sicilienne (Opus 78) was composed by Gabriel Fauré in 1893 and first published as a chamber music version for solo cello or violin with piano accompaniment in 1898.  Numerous transcriptions of this popular piece have been made, including arrangements for flute and piano, viola and piano, horn and piano, flute and harp, 2 flutes and piano, flute and clarinet, and piano solo, among others.  Our alto flute part is a transcription based on the original violin and cello parts of the edition published by J. Hamelle in 1898.  We provide only the transcribed alto flute part; the piano accompaniment is readily available as a free pdf download of the original score for piano and cello, now in the public domain.

Alto Flute part, 2 pages of music; Total, 4 pages.

Fantasiestücke, Op.43, by Niels W. Gade

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

Alto Flute Part, PDF $6.99

Niels Wilhelm Gade (1817–1890) became the preeminent figure in 19th century Danish musical life after an early success in Copenhagen and five years in Leipzig as Mendelssohn's assistant and successor.  His Fantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces, Opus 43) for clarinet (or violin) and piano were published in 1864, apparently his only work published that year although others were in progress.  They are dedicated to the clarinetist "Herrn Kammermusiker Mozart Petersen."  Our flute transcriptions take into account the nature of the flute and the discrepancies between Gade's original score and the clarinet and violin parts.  We provide our alto flute part; the piano score is readily available in the public domain as a free pdf download of the score for clarinet and piano.  Here is a link to one such source: Piano Score

Alto Flute part, 7 pages; Total, 10 pages.

Elegy, Op.44, by Alexander Glazunov

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

Parts for Flute and Alto Flute, PDF $5.99

Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov (1865-1936) was a major composer in the late Russian romantic tradition.  His Elegy, Op.44, was written for viola and piano in 1893.  The viola melody is readily adaptable for other instruments, since it is without double stops, and has been transcribed here by John W. Pratt for either flute or alto flute.  The piece is about 6 minutes long, elegiac but not lugubrious.  It consists of a lovely melody in 9/8 time, enhanced by a simple but warm piano accompaniment.  The NSM edition includes a flute part and an alternative alto flute part, but does not include one for piano, since a suitable score is freely available at IMSLP.org.

Flute part, 2 pages; Alto Flute part, 2 pages; Total, 8 pages.

Zwei Charakterstücke, by Karl Eduard Goepfart

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

Alto Flute part and Piano score, PDF $8.99

Karl Eduard Goepfart (1859-1942) was a German pianist, composer and conductor. His Zwei Charakterstücke, Op. 27 (Two Character Pieces) were written for oboe and piano and first published in Leipzig in 1888. The two contrasting pieces are the very charming Mässig schnell, gehend and Mässig langsam (in ruhiger Bewegung) with its playful, energetic Lebhaft section. We prepared a transcription of this under-appreciated work for alto flute, complete with piano score. The pieces work well on alto flute, providing the accompanying pianist is sensitive to the alto flute’s lower sound power and projection capability, especially in the low register, compared to that of the oboe.

Piano Score, 8 pages; Alto Flute part, 3 pages; Total, 16 pages.

Lento - Bereavement, by Moritz Hauptmann

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

Piano Score and Alto Flute Part, PDF $3.99

Hauptmann's 3 Violin Duos, Op.16 were first published in 1832. The Lento (Bereavement) from Op.16 later was arranged for violin and piano by the renowned violinist, violist, and composer Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst. It is this arrangement by Henri Ernst, published in 1880, that served as the basis for NSM’s transcription of the piece for alto flute and piano. The mournful simplicity of the Lento is perfectly captured and beautifully rendered by the alto flute.

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

Adagio from Symphony No.24, by F. J. Haydn

Arranged for Alto Flute and Piano by John W. Pratt

Alto Flute Part and Piano Score, PDF $6.00

We offer a flute and piano edition of the gorgeous second movement Adagio for solo flute accompanied by strings from Haydn's Symphony No.24. An arrangement for alto flute that is mellower than that for flute but also extremely beautiful is obtained by lowering the pitch a minor third. Haydn's flute part needs no other change, nor does the cadenza that was written by Mr. Pratt for our C-flute edition. The string parts have been adapted to piano sonority in a number of ways, as well as transposing them in this alto flute edition. 

Alto Flute part, 2 pages; Alto Flute & Piano score, 4 pages; Total, 10 pages.

Adagio from Quartet in E Major, Op.17, No.1, by F. J. Haydn

Transcribed for Alto Flute and Piano by John W. Pratt

Alto Flute Part and Piano Score, PDF $8.00

Haydn's early quartets, especially the three sets of six written between 1768 and 1771 (Opus 9, Opus 17, and Opus 20), advanced the development of the classical string quartet enormously in all respects. The third movement of Opus 17, No. 1 is an Adagio with a beautiful violin melody that is harmonized simply by the other three strings. Whereas Haydn's more complex movements generally are unsuitable for transcription, the relative simplicity of this gorgeous Adagio makes it an exception. We present here a transcription for alto flute and piano. The melody is highly effective on the alto flute, and the other string parts are readily adaptable to the piano.   

Alto Flute part, 2 pages of music; Piano score, 6 pages; Total, 12 pages. 

Adagio from Quartet in F Major, Op.17, No.2, by F. J. Haydn 

Transcribed for Alto Flute and Piano by John W. Pratt

Alto Flute Part and Piano Score, PDF $8.00

The third movement of Haydn's Opus 17, No. 2, like that of Opus 17, No. 1, is an Adagio with a beautiful violin melody that is harmonized simply by the other three strings.  The melody is compelling on alto flute, with just a few changes to accommodate its sonic differences from the violin.  Lest the effect be too placid when the lower string parts are transferred to the piano, our piano transcription elaborates them in the style of Haydn's keyboard music in several places.  We also incorporate a few changes for better sonority and to disentangle the voices where the string parts have overlaps and unisons that are poorly suited to the piano.  All told, this transcription is highly effective and a delight for both players.  

Alto Flute part, 2 pages of music; Piano score, 6 pages of music; Total, 12 pages.

Fantasia in C major, by F. J. Haydn

Arranged as a Duet for Flute and Alto Flute by John W. Pratt

Flute Part, Alto Flute Part, and Score ― PDF $12.99

Fantasia in C major (Op.58; Hob. XVII:4) was written by Haydn in 1789 for the pianoforte.  Based on a folk song about a farmer's wife chasing her cat, one can easily imagine in the music kittenish scampering, stealthy approaches, unexpected pounces, and mad chases with abrupt changes of direction.  The style and playfulness of the piece are beautifully suited to the agility and sparkle of flutes.  The transcription is able to capture the feel Haydn intended, with new coloring, while at the same time affording flutists the joy of experiencing the work first-hand.  (adapted from JWP's foreword to the edition)

Please click the Preview button to see p1-2 of the mini-Score (in concert pitch).  After opening the file, adjust the orientation using "View - Rotate View - Clockwise" in your pdf reader program.

Flute part, 6 pages; Alto Flute part, 7 pages; Mini-score, 6 pages; Total, 22 pages. 

Quartet, Op.1, No.1, by Franz Joseph Haydn

Arranged for Flute Quartet by John W. Pratt (originally for strings)

Score and Parts for Flute 1, Flute 2, Alto Flute, and Bass Flute, PDF $15.99

The earliest quartets of Franz Joseph Haydn are not precursors of the later works wherein he developed the form and style of the classical string quartet, but rather divertimenti written for four friends when he was about 25.  Most of these early works have five movements: fast, minuet/trio, slow, minuet/trio, fast; and their slow movements feature beautiful, elaborate, gently accompanied melodies. 

The divertimento style and instrumental character of these early pieces does not evoke strings specifically or necessarily, and thus arrangement for other instruments is natural and might expand enjoyment of these wonderful first significant Haydn works to other players and audiences.  In John Pratt’s arrangement of Haydn’s Op.1, No.1 (Hob.III:1), most of the range issues for flutes were solved by transposition up a step, a few more by exchanging the two inner voices in places or by octave transpositions.  This lovely, effective arrangement is for a flute quartet consisting of two concert flutes, alto flute, and bass flute; the edition is available exclusively from Noteworthy Sheet Music.  

Score, 19 pages; Parts for Flute 1, Flute 2, Alto Flute and Bass Flute, 5 pages each; Total, 46 pages.