alto flute

Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, Op.129, by F. Schubert 

Obbligato Transcribed for Alto Flute in G by Peter H. Bloom

Alto Flute Part, PDF $5.99

In the preface to his transcription, Mr. Bloom writes: "In terms of color, nuance, expression, dynamics, and tessitura the obbligato works exquisitely on the alto flute.  Theobald Boehm (1794-1881) designed our first modern alto flute in 1847.  Had Schubert (born in 1797) survived to hear it, I have no doubt that he would have made the alto flute an essential part of his armory of orchestration. .... Der Hirt auf dem Felsen is very effective, also, in a purely instrumental arrangement for flute (taking the vocal line) and alto flute obbligato.  It's an ideal didactical vehicle for coaching the developing flutist in the art of rhetorical performance as well as a splendid concert/recital piece."

The premiere of Schubert's The Shepherd on the Rock, with obbligato transcribed for alto flute, was performed by D'Anna Fortunato (Mezzo-Soprano), Peter H. Bloom (Alto Flute), and Mary Jane Rupert (Piano) during a concert at the Gibson Theatre in Elmira, NY, on November 3, 2009, as part of the Elmira College Encore Series.

"Flutist Peter Bloom has done an invaluable service to Schubert and to concert singers by providing this charming arrangement, for alto flute, of the original clarinet obbligato to Der Hirt auf dem Felsen.  I've performed it in this version on several occasions and find that the flute timbre is alluring.  It's so easy to blend with and respond to the alto flute!  I believe that, had it been possible, the composer, himself, would have truly enjoyed this arrangement at a Schubertiade performance of his own."  —D'Anna Fortunato

We provide our alto flute transcription of the obbligato part, originally for clarinet.  The voice and piano parts are readily available as a free pdf download of the score, from sources such as imslp.org/.

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

Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, Op.129, by F. Schubert 

Voice Part Transcribed for Alto Flute in G by Carol A. Vater

Alto Flute Part, PDF $5.99

NSM published Peter H. Bloom's alto flute transcription of the clarinet obbligato from Schubert's Shepherd on the Rock in 2012. Please find information about that publication in our article for that edition. Later we realized that the voice part, which I (cav) have performed on flute in a flute/clarinet/piano group, would work much better when played on alto flute. So we created a transcription of the vocal part for alto flute. This alto flute transcription is to be played in an entirely instrumental version of Der Hirt auf dem Felsen for alto flute, clarinet (or alto flute), and piano, which as noted by Mr. Bloom, is "an ideal didactical vehicle for coaching the developing flutist in the art of rhetorical performance as well as a splendid concert/recital piece." Our alto flute transcription of the voice part is a simple transposition requiring no octave changes; the part falls naturally and beautifully within the alto flute range. The clarinet part and piano score are freely available at IMSLP.org.

Alto Flute part (in lieu of voice), 5 pages of music; Total, 10 pages.

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.