alto flute

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.

Drei Romanzen, Op.94, by Robert Schumann

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

Alto Flute Part, PDF $6.49

Robert Schumann composed his Drei Romanzen (Opus 94) for oboe and piano in 1849, and Simrock published the first edition, Drei Romanzen für Hoboe, ad libitum Violine oder Clarinette, mit Begleitung  des Pianoforte, in 1851.  Others have created arrangements of this popular piece for additional instruments, including cello, alto sax, soprano sax, tuba, flute, and horn.  The 3 Romances are beautifully adaptable to the alto flute’s range and sonority.  We provide here the alto flute part; the piano part is readily available in the public domain, free, as a pdf download of the score for oboe and piano.  Here is a link to one such source: Piano Score.

Alto Flute part, 6 pages; Total, 8 pages

Fantasiestücke, Op.73, by Robert Schumann

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

Alto Flute Part, PDF $6.96

Robert Schumann composed his Fantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces) for clarinet and piano, but also arranged them for cello with piano.  Others have since created arrangements of this highly popular and frequently performed piece for a variety of additional instruments.  The Fantasy Pieces are charmingly adaptable as a work for alto flute and piano, and we offer here our alto flute transcription of the solo part. The edition does not include the piano part, but a suitable version 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, 6 pages; Total, 8 pages.

Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Op.102, by Robert Schumann

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

Alto Flute Part, PDF $6.99

We provide our transcribed alto flute part only; the piano score is in the public domain and available without charge from imslp.org.

Alto Flute part, 6 pages; Total, 10 pages.

Märchenbilder, Op.113, by Robert Schumann

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

Alto Flute Part, PDF $9.98

Alto Flute Part, 10 pages; Total, 12 pages.

Sonata in A minor, Op.105, by Robert Schumann

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

Alto Flute Part, PDF $8.99

Sonata in A Minor, Opus 105, was the first of two violin sonatas composed by Robert Schumann in 1851.  The first movement has a gentle melody very well suited to the alto flute and the kind of flowing piano accompaniment and overlapping harmonies one finds in much of Schumann's chamber music. The Allegretto, with its hesitations and shifting moods and motifs, is also well suited to the alto flute. The restless final movement is exciting and effective (and a workout for both players) whatever solo instrument is used. The range and dynamics of Schumann's violin part, as well as its character, fit the alto flute's nature and capabilities beautifully. We provide our alto flute transcription of the violin part; the piano score and original violin part  are available elsewhere in the public domain as free pdf downloads (click on the link).

Alto Flute part, 9 pages of music; Total, 12 pages.

Three Romances, Op.22, by Clara Schumann

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

Alto Flute Part and alternative Flute Part, PDF $8.99

Clara Schumann’s Drei Romanzen für Pianoforte und Violine, Op. 22, were written in 1853 and dedicated to the Schumanns’ great friend, the famous Hungarian violin virtuoso Joseph Joachim, with whom Clara performed the Three Romances when they concertized together on tours across Europe. The Romances are lovely, short pieces; melodic and expressive, they epitomize the Romantic era and represent true chamber music in the sense that both instruments are featured comparably, rather than the piano having a merely accompaniment role. They are nicely adaptable to wind instruments, and are particularly lovely when played on alto flute. Our transcription required few modifications to bring the original violin part completely in range for alto flute and provides flute-friendly, musically-appropriate alternatives to the occasional violin double-stop. Some flutists may wish to mix and match the three movements, preferring to play one or two of the Romances on alto flute and the third on concert flute, or vice versa; so, to that end, we have included in this edition a complete alternative part adapted for C-flute. We do not provide a re-notated copy of the score, however, since high-quality PDFs of the piano and violin score are freely available in the public domain, and are easy to use along with our flute transcriptions of the violin line. To download one such PDF of the score, please visit the imslp website.

Alto Flute part, 5 pages; Flute part, 5 pages; Total 14 pages.

Sechs Lieder, by Clara Schumann

Transcribed for Alto Flute by C. A. Vater

Part for Alto Flute (in lieu of voice); PDF $5.99

In her Sechs Lieder, Op. 13, Clara Schumann set to music six German poems—two written by Heinrich Heine (Ich stand in dunklen Träumen and Sie liebten sich beide), three by Emanuel Geibel (Liebeszauber, Der Mond kommt still gegangen, and Die stille Lotosblume) and one by Friedrich Rückert (Ich hab’ in deinem Auge).  Many of Clara Schumann’s songs were composed as gifts for her beloved husband Robert; they are romantic, melodic and highly expressive, and the Sechs Lieder of Op. 13 appropriately convey the broad array of intense emotions portrayed in the poetry that inspired them.  These songs, which are absolutely charming, are nicely adaptable for a solo instrument in lieu of voice.  They have been transcribed previously for violin or cello, and likely other instruments as well, but are particularly lovely when played on either alto flute or clarinet, instruments for which the voice line falls completely in range. Our Noteworthy Sheet Music editions of Op. 13 for alto flute or clarinet do not include re-notated versions of the score, since a high-quality PDF of the original piano and voice score is available free of charge in the public domain, and that piano accompaniment works perfectly well with our instrumental transcriptions of the voice line.  The score we used when creating our parts may be downloaded from the IMSLP website.  For NSM’s clarinet transcription of the Sechs Lieder voice line, please click the link.

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

Romance, by Alexander Scriabin

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

Parts, PDF $0.00

Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915), the mystic Russian composer with music to match, wrote nine mind-bending orchestral works and myriad mostly miniature piano pieces. He began as a "Russian Chopin" and ended planning a week-long "Mysterium" to be performed in the Himalayas using "an orchestra, a large mixed choir, an instrument with visual effects, dancers, a procession, incense, and ... mists and lights" (Wikipedia).

Please click on the links to download your free PDFs:

Transcription for clarinet required no changes of pitch.  Scriabin - Romance - Clarinet

The transcription for flute is raised an octave, except the last five measures.  Scriabin - Romance - Flute

The transcription for alto flute raises MM21-24 and MM36-48 an octave.  Scriabin - Romance - Alto Flute

The piano score is freely available on IMSLP.org.

Scriabin image courtesy of Wikimedia.org, PD-old.

Snow Pond Composers Workshop Anthology New Music for Flute 2015

Edited by Joshua Tomlinson, PDF $21.95

The first annual Snow Pond Composers Workshop took place June 7-13, 2015, under the direction of Edward Jacobs and Richard Nelson.  The workshop was part of the broader Snow Pond Music Festival taking place in Sidney, Maine.  Peter H. Bloom was the Visiting Performing Artist, and Elliott Schwartz was the Guest Composer.  The Snow Pond Composers Workshop Anthology—New Music for Flute 2015, edited by Joshua Tomlinson, includes all of the scores presented at the workshop:

  ED by Sean O. G. Burns | one player, on flute with kick drum and voice
  Where Wind Blows by William C. Edwards | solo flute
  Farewell to Charms by Henry Feinberg | solo flute
  Amuse-Bouche by Edward Jacobs | solo flute
        Published by American Composers Alliance, reprinted with permission.
  Stillness by Richard Nelson | trumpet, saxophone, guitar, bass, and drums/percussion;
        or, flute and electric guitar (or other small combination of instruments)
  Party On, Bloom!  by Alan Racadag | one player, on piccolo, C-flute, alto flute,
        and optional bass flute
  Soliloquy III by Elliott Schwartz | one player, on flute, piccolo, alto flute, and piano
        Published by American Composers Alliance, reprinted with permission.
  Something Human by Joshua Tomlinson | solo flute
  Indecision (...or maybe not) by Isaac Ward | solo flute
  Vyvirian Folk Songs by Julian Ward | solo flute
  Quicksilver by Joshua Zinn | solo flute

This is a remarkable collection of new music for flute, which Noteworthy Sheet Music is pleased to make available to the broader flute community.  Our edition includes composer biographies and performance notes, as well as the scores.  

Here's a YouTube link to a 9/23/2023 performance of ED by Peter H. Bloom: