alto flute

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

Transcribed 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

Listen to a computer-generated audio sample. 

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.

Divertimento No. 1 (Hob. II:21; Op. 2 No. 3) by Franz Joseph Haydn

Arranged for Flute Quartet by John W. Pratt (originally for string quartet plus 2 horns)

Score and Parts for Flute 1, Flute 2, Alto Flute, and Bass Flute, PDF $11.97

excerpted from John W. Pratt’s © preface to the edition:

“Haydn (1732-1809) is credited with developing the classical forms of both the string quartet and the symphony, starting from the loose structures and permissive instrumentation of Baroque instrumental music. … His first string quartets are his Opus 1 Nos. 1-4 and 6, and Opus 2 Nos. 1-6, thus eleven. Opus 1 No. 5 is somewhat later, added to make a set of 6, apparently a perfect number in music publication as well as in mathematics. Opus 2 Nos. 3 and 5 are quartet arrangements of two divertimentos including also two horns and listed in the Hoboken catalogue as II:21 and 22 … The spirit and spiritedness of the two divertimentos suit them to flute quartet, as does the distribution of activity. In addition, a flute quartet combines the unified timbre of a string quartet with the wind sound of the horns, while the early string quartets do not exploit the string sound per se. Transposition up a step puts the cello and viola parts of Hob. II:21 mostly within the bass and alto flute ranges and makes the violin parts if anything more comfortable for C flutes.”

There are 5 movements in total: I-Allegro molto, II-Minuet, III-Adagio, IV-Minuet, and V-Finale Allegro. To get some sense of how the Op. 2 No. 3 quartet works with flutes in lieu of strings, listen to this computer-generated audio clip of the first movement—realizing it will of course sound considerably better played in-person on real instruments.

Score, 11 pages; Flute 1 part, 6 pages; Flute 2 part, 6 pages; Alto Flute part, 5 pages; Bass Flute part, 5 pages; Total, 38 pages.

Divertimento No. 2 (Hob. II:22; Op.2, No.5) by Franz Joseph Haydn

Arranged for Flute Quartet by John W. Pratt (originally for string quartet plus 2 horns)

Score and Parts for Flute 1, Flute 2, Alto Flute, and Bass Flute, PDF $10.97

This is the second of Haydn’s two divertimenti, Hob. II:21 and II:22, that John Pratt has arranged for flute quartet, scored for two C-flutes, alto flute, and bass flute.  Both divertimenti were written originally for string quartet plus two horns, but were later adapted by others as quartet-only versions identified as Opus 2, No.3 and No.5.  Please see the text excerpted from Mr. Pratt’s preface to his arrangement of Haydn’s Divertimento No.1 (Op.2, No.3) for additional information that applies to both these works.  There are 5 movements in Op.2, No.5: I-Presto, II-Minuet, III-Largo, IV-Minuet, and V-Finale Presto.  Listen to this computer-generated audio clip from the second movement Minuet to get a sense of how the quartet sounds with flutes in lieu of strings. 

Score, 10 pages; Flute 1 part, 4 pages; Flute 2 part, 4 pages; Alto Flute part, 4 pages; Bass Flute part, 3 pages; Total, 28 pages.

Symphony 13, by Franz Joseph Haydn

Arranged 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.  

Concertino, Op.110, by J. W. Kalliwoda

Transcribed for Alto Flute by C.A.Vater

Alto Flute Part ― PDF $6.99

Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda (1801‒1866) was a Bohemian violinist, orchestra conductor, and prolific composer who wrote numerous compositions, including operas, symphonies, various works for violin and orchestra, piano pieces, and chamber music works.  He was considered a significant composer in his day, especially for pieces written early in his career, and his music received the praise of Robert Schumann.  Kalliwoda was immensely popular and a favorite of American concert-going audiences in the first half of the 19th century.

His Concertino, Op.110, for oboe and orchestra was first published by Schott in 1841.  An arrangement of the work for oboe and piano is available on imslp.org, in addition to an orchestral score and parts for oboe, violins I and II, violas, cellos, and basses.  Like many of Kalliwoda's earlier compositions, the Concertino is highly melodic and energetic.  We created a transcription of the solo oboe part for alto flute that gives alto flutists an opportunity to experience first-hand the joy of playing this style of classical 19th century bravura work, for which the alto flute is well-suited.   Perhaps it should be pointed out that Theodore Boehm, who developed the modern alto flute in G during the mid-1850's, intended that the alto become a new instrument in its own right, utilized in a variety of musical roles and characterized by a unique quality of sound.  Indeed, we think Boehm likely would have approved of our creating new opportunities, such as this transcription of the Kalliwoda Concertino, to show off the alto flute's versatility and the alto flute performer's virtuosity.

We provide our alto flute part only; appropriate parts for piano or orchestral accompaniment may be obtained as free pdf downloads from public domain resources, such as imslp.org.

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

On Wings of Song, Op.34, No.2, by Felix Mendelssohn

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

Alto Flute Part and Piano Score, PDF $5.99

Having made significant contributions as a poet, essayist, journalist, and critic, Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) is considered one of the great German writers of the 19th century.  Many of his romantic poems were chosen as the text for Lieder by such eminent composers as Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms.  The Heine poem Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, which translates into English as On Wings of Song, was set to music by Felix Mendelssohn and published as No. 2 of six songs for voice and piano constituting his Opus 34.  Auf Flügeln des Gesanges became one of Mendelssohn's most famous art songs, and remains popular to this day.  Arrangements and transcriptions of the music have been created for small orchestra, flute and guitar, flute and piano, violin and piano, two violins, cello and piano, treble choir, and piano solo, among others.  With its charming, simple melody and narrow pitch range, On Wings of Song is highly accessible and understandably a favorite of vocal and instrumental soloists of all levels.  Our transcription is in the key of G, and the song is especially mellow and lovely when played on alto flute. 

Alto Flute part, 1 page; Piano Score, 4 pages; Total, 8 pages.

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We also offer a professionally-printed hard copy edition of On Wings of Song for $10.18 plus a shipping and handling fee. Please use the Contact Us form to let us know which hard copy publication(s) you would like to purchase, along with your 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.  We do not ship outside of the USA, due to high postage fees.

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Concerto in D Major, K.412, by W. A. Mozart 

Transcribed (from horn and piano arrangement) for Alto Flute by C.A.Vater

Alto Flute Part, PDF $3.99

Mozart's Concerto for Horn in D major for Horn and Orchestra is scored for solo horn in D, with two oboes, two bassoons, and strings.  Henri Kling (1842-1918), horn player, composer, conductor, and professor, arranged the concerto for horn and piano.  We used the Kling arrangement as the source from which to create a transcription of the horn part for alto flute.  The piano score is in the public domain and available as a free pdf download from other sources such as imslp.org/.

The Concerto in D major, K.412 is a short work of approximately 8-10 min duration, consisting of only two movements - an Allegro and a Rondo Allegro. The movements are light and joyous, and pose no particular technical challenges to the alto flute player.  The written range is quite limited, extending only from D5 to E6.  Thus, this piece can be played by less advanced students as well as by more experienced alto flutists.   

Alto Flute part, 4 pages of music; Total, 8 pages. 

Concerto No.2 in E-flat major, K.417, by W. A. Mozart

Transcribed for Alto Flute (from horn and piano arrangement) by C.A.Vater

Piano Score and Alto Flute Part, PDF $9.99

Mozart wrote his Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major for Horn and Orchestra for his good friend, the virtuoso horn soloist Joseph Leutgeb (c.1745-1811), who became first horn in the orchestra of the Salzburg archbishop in 1770.  The concerto was completed in 1783.   Its movements are light, joyous, and teeming with melody: a wide-ranging opening allegro, a slow middle movement, and a final rondo. The second movement Andante is particularly lyrical and beautiful, whereas the concluding Rondo is quite comic with an obvious hunting theme.

The concerto was arranged for horn and piano by Henri Kling (1842-1918), horn player, composer, conductor, and professor.   We used the Kling arrangement, which was published ca.1890 and is now in the public domain, as the basis of our transcription of the concerto for alto flute and piano.  We introduced only minor changes to the solo horn line to adapt it for alto flute, and those alterations were made with sensitivity and the intention of preserving Mozart's inspired creation to the fullest extent possible.

Alto Flute part, 4 pages; Piano Score, 16 pages; Total, 22 pages.

Concerto in E-flat Major, K.447, by W. A. Mozart

Transcribed for Alto Flute (from horn and piano arrangement) by C.A.Vater

Alto Flute Part, PDF $5.99

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) wrote four horn concertos for his good friend Joseph Leutgeb (1732-1811).  Leutgeb was a virtuoso horn player, who served as principal horn in Salzburg and thus became a colleague of Leopold Mozart, during the young Wolfgang's early years.  Leutgeb appears to have remained a friend and inspiration for W. A. Mozart throughout the composer's life.

The Mozart horn concertos are delightful, joyous works.  The third horn concerto, K.447, like two of the three others, was written in the key of E-flat major.  It is thought to have been composed in 1787.   The work is in typical concerto form, consisting of three movements—an Allegro, a Romanze, and another Allegro, which together have an average performance duration time of approximately 15 minutes.

K.447, Concerto for Horn in E-flat major for Horn and Orchestra, is scored for solo horn in E-flat, with two clarinets, two bassoons, and strings.   Henri Kling (1842-1918), a horn player who was also a composer, conductor, and professor, arranged the concerto for horn and piano.  His transcription was published by Breitkopf und Härtel, n.d. (ca. 1890).  We used the Kling edition, now in the public domain and available as a free pdf download from imslp.org, to create a transcription of the horn part for alto flute.  Our edition incorporates adjustments that account for differences in range and sonority between the alto flute and horn, while striving to maintain the style and character of the original composition.

We provide the alto flute part only; the piano score (horn and piano) by Henri Kling is freely available from imslp.org.

Alto Flute part, 5 pages; Total, 8 pages.

Concerto in E-flat Major, K.495, by W. A. Mozart

Transcribed for Alto Flute (from horn and piano arrangement) by C.A.Vater

Alto Flute Part, PDF $7.99

Mozart's Horn Concerto No.4, K.495, was composed in 1786 and scored for solo horn, with two oboes, two horns, and strings (bassoon ad libitum).   The work consists of three movements—Allegro moderato, Romanza-Andante, and Rondo-Allegro vivace—with the rousing Rondo clearly evoking a hunt scene.   The horn player Henri Kling (1842-1918) created arrangements of all the Mozart horn concerti for horn and piano.   His transcription of K.495 was published by Breitkopf und Härtel, n.d. (ca. 1882).  We used the Kling edition, now in the public domain and available as a free pdf download from imslp.org, to create a transcription of the horn part for alto flute.  Our edition incorporates adjustments that account for differences in range and sonority between the alto flute and horn, while striving to maintain the style and character of the original composition.

We provide the alto flute part only; the piano score (horn and piano) by Henri Kling is freely available from imslp.org.

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