SUGGESTED LISTENING
Works are alphabetized by composers last name within the ensemble type. Solo works include works for unaccompanied soloist, concertos with orchestral accompaniment, and works for flute/piccolo and piano.
Works for Solo Flute/Piccolo
This list is a small selection of works considered to be the standard repertoire on the flute. It is worth noting that so called "serious" music composition is historically dominated by compositions by men from primarily Western Europe, but as we move forward into 21st century music, we see a greater variety of compositional voices.
C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788)
Sonata in a minor
Concerto in d minor
Hamburger Sonata in G major
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Suite in b minor
Sonata in A major
Sonata in e minor
Partita in a minor
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4
Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Canzone
Bela Bartok (1881-1945)
Suite Paysanne Hongroise
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Duo for Flute and Piano
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Syrinx
J. Demersseman (1833-1866)
Grand Air Varie
Franz Doppler (1821-1883)
Fantasie Pastoral Hongroise
Nocturne, Op. 17
Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013)
Sonatine
Kazuo Fukushima (1930- )
Mei
Charles Griffes (1884-1920)
Poem
Howard Hanson (1896-1981)
Serenade
Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
Sonata
Acht Stucke
Katherine Hoover (1937- )
Reflections
Arthur Honeggar (1892-1955)
Danse de la Chevre
Georges Hue (1858-1948)
Fantasie
Jacques Ibert (1890-1962)
Piece
Concerto
Jeux
Frank Martin (1890-1974)
Ballade
W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Concerto in G major
Concert in C major for flute and harp
Andante and Rondo
Walter Piston (1894-1976)
Sonata
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Sonata
Les Chemins de L'amour
Serge Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Sonata
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Vocalise
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Sonata in a minor, "Arpeggione"
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Three Romances, Op. 94
Otar Taktakishvili (1924-1989)
Sonata
G.P. Telemann (1681-1712)
Sonata in F major for piccolo
12 Fantasies
Suite in a minor
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Piccolo Concerto in C Major, RV 443
Concerto in g minor, "La Notte"
Works for Small Ensembles
Denes Agay (1911-2007)
Five easy dances for wind quintet
Ludwig Beethoven (1770-1827)
Serenade in D Major, Op. 25 for flute, violin and viola
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Halil for flute, 2 percussionists and piano
Franz Doppler (1821-1883)
Andante and Rondo
Eric Ewazen (1954- )
Ballade, Pastorale and Dance for Flute, Horn and Piano
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Wind Quintet in A flat, Op. 14
Katherine Hoover (1937- )
Trio for Flutes
Celebration
Friedrich Kuhlau (1786-1832)
Flute Duets, Op. 10, Op. 39, Op. 81, and Op. 102
Libby Larson (1950- )
Barn Dances for Flute, Clarinet and Piano
Katherine McMichael (1954- )
A Gaelic Offering
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet
G.P. Telemann (1681-1712)
6 Canonic Sonatas
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Quinteto em Forma de Choros
Bachjanas Brasileiras for flute and bassoon
Chen Yi (1953- )
Qi, for flute, cello, piano and percussion
ORCHESTRAL LISTENING
A large part of the flute repertoire and many auditions have excerpts from orchestral masterpieces. Here are the most common excerpts, with links and timing. This list was selected primarily from Jeanne Baxtresser's "Orchestral Excerpts for Flute".
J. S. BACH
St. Matthew Passion
No. 58: "Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben", bars 1-19
Mass in b minor
No. 7: "Domine Deus", bars 1-22
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in b minor
Polonaise
Badinerie
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
"Eroica" Symphony no. 3 in Eb Major
Mvt. IV, bars 171-200
Symphony No. 4 in Bb Major
Mvt. II, bars 60-72
Leonore Overture No. 3
Bars 1-36
Bars 278-360
GEORGES BIZET
Carmen
Entr'acte (prelude to act III), Bars 1-23
L'Arlésienne Suite No. 2
Menuet, bars 1-42
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Symphony No. 1 in c minor
Mvt. IV, [B] to [C]
Symphony No. 4 in e minor
Mvt. IV, bars 89-105
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Prélude À Laprés-midi D'un Faune (Afternoon of a Faun)
Bar 1 to [3]
ANTONÍN DVORÁK
Symphony No. 8 in G Major
Mvt. IV, 8 before [D] to [E]
PAUL HINDEMITH
Symphonic Metamorphosis
Mvt. II, 2 before [A] to [B]
Mvt. III, 8 before [C] to 13 after [D]
GUSTAV MAHLER
Das Lied von der Erde
All excerpts come from mvt. VI, "Der Abschied"
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night's Dream
Schertzo, 12 before [P] to 23 after [Q]
Symphony No. 4 in A Major, "Italian"
Mvt. IV, Saltarello, bars 1-34
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Symphony No. 1, "Classical"
Mvt. II, [A] to [C]
Mvt. IV, bar 1 to [D]
Mvt. IV, 4 before [K] to 9 after [N]
Peter and the Wolf (Symphonic Tale for Children)
5 before [2] to 5 after [5]
2 before [8] to 12 after [8]
11 before [52] to 8 after [52]
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
William Tell
Overture, bars 176-226
MAURICE RAVEL
Bolero
Bar 1 to [1]
Daphnis et Chloé
3 before [176] to [180]
NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Russian Easter Overture
[A] to [B]
Cadenza before [C] to 9 after [C]
Capriccio Espagnol
IV. Scena e canto gitano
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS
Carnival of the Animals
10. Volière
RICHARD STRAUSS
Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks
1 before [3] to 7 after [8]
[32] to 5 after [35]
Salome
Salome's Dance, 2 before [D] to 4 after [H]
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Firebird Suite
[9] to 5 after [18]
Petrouchka
Bar 1 to [7]
[58] to [61]
1 before [103] to 5 after [107]
PETER ILYITCH TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 4 in F Major
Mvt. III, Scherzo, bars 133-170
Mvt. IV, bars 157-173
FLUTE PERFORMERS
THE BEST PERFORMERS WHO CAN ALWAYS DELIVER A GREAT PERFORMANCE
Emmanuel Pahud
Recordings by Pahud are consistent, technically exquisite, and have a warm, full tone. Pahud is one of my favorite performers of orchestral excerpts, and baroque and classical solos. Hear him play the first movement of the Mozart in G here.
Sir James Galway
Known for his technical prowess and his entertaining performances, Galway likes to have fun with his music, and often plays music outside the standard flute repertoire. Listen to Galway here.
Jeanne Baxtresser
Best known for her books on orchestral excerpts, Baxtresser is also a spectacular solo performer. Visit her website to hear recordings and learn more linked here.
Lorna McGhee
A younger performer, McGhee has a brilliant range of sounds and powerfully expressive performances. I like her recordings of 20th century compositions, especially in small ensembles where she works with tone colors to highlight the ensembles instrumentations. Hear her play Villa-Lobos here.
Goran Marcusson
Marcusson performs with an almost percussive intensity, bringing a rhythmic energy to music, making his performances of playful music stand out. The Prokofiev Sonata in D is a great example here.
OTHER GENRES
What else can you do with flute?
All these performers have a solid foundation on the flute, and take their skills to expand what we think of as flute repertoire.
Because of flute's unique method of tone production, much of the flutists face is left unencumbered, and able to sing (as seen here) or beatbox (link here). You can also get extended techniques such as multi-phonics (playing multiple notes at once) and whisper tones.
In a totally different vein, flute can be played for a wide variety of ensembles and performance types. Here, flutist Miriam Larson performs with the "Mean Lids" for a contra dance, a type of folk dance that has live music. Flute can also be found in some of the most popular jazz songs, such as "Spain" by Chick Corea. Flute is used as one of the most technically capable instruments in movie scores, as well as a color instrument. In the score to "The BFG", flute is used in a wide variety of places. In Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, flute and piccolo are used as color, but also as solo instruments.