Pahud new Opera CD

Dear Flutists,
Well this is a galvanizingly interesting video.
Emmanual Pahud playing opera works for flute.



I must say..... oh fabulouso!

The CD is available and live performances will be May 2010. This is a concert I hope with be broadcast on the internet. Let me know if there are any online viewings or pbs/showcase broadcasts, thanks.



Best,
Jen

Galway - Embouchure observation

Dear Flutists,

Thanks to all those who purchased my celtic flute trio music (last blog post).
I'll be adding more as they become available.

Meanwhile, feast your eyes on this James Galway video:



The above video has to the best for camera shots of the embouchure motions that Galway uses to move from low to high octaves. Seldom do you see such excellent close ups of just what every flutist wants to see.
I think this video is a fabulous study tool for intermediate and advanced flutists!
There is a clear diagram of the movements here in a previous blog post.

And if you're feeling all inspired, and want to see another new and excellent flute video, this one has a great Debussy Trio excerpt played by Emmanuel Pahud. Enjoy!



Enjoy and do please comment.
Best,
Jen

Celtic Flute Trios for sale

Celtic Flute Trio sheet music
For sale in pdf $8-$15 using paypal
(or gift-certificates)

Flutzalad Celtic Suites for c-flute trio
Level: Intermediate




Dear Flutists and flute teachers,

Yes, they are GORGEOUS, if I do say so myself.
I've arranged three suites of Celtic Flute trios for three c-flutes. All of them come with separate flute parts and full score.

Flutzalad Suite No. 2 ($15)
Fantasia on 'She Moved Through the Fair'-Road to Listovarnia - Morris Dance
See sample page of score
Listen to a midi play whole score.

Flutzalad Suite No. 3 ($10)
Scarborough Fair - Mari's Wedding.
See sample page of score here.
Listen to midi of whole score.

Flutzalad Suite No. 1 ($12)
Gounod's Mireille - Dream of Arren - Jen's Drone
See sample page of score.
Listen to midi of whole score on mp3.

The individually printed flute parts are Flute 1, Flute 2, Flute 3. Click on the jpeg to enlarge to see the clarity of the parts (use back button to come back here.:>)


Cues, breath marks when needed, and all editing has been done in advance.
Plus, every player gets equal solo time and each part is an equal level of difficultly. The full score is a handy reference at rehearsals. The trios are suitable for high school aged players as well as particularly useful for gigs for professional flute trios.
They're also great for forming trio groups from students who are overlapping their lessons by ten minutes. The individual flute parts come together beautifully on the first read for teachers/pro-players, but there is endless possibility to play them with even greater musicianship.

Please enjoy these samples, and email me at jen@jennifercluff.com if you would like to purchase them. They are for sale (using Paypal) for $8-$15 each and you will receive them within the day to print out at home.
Each includes score, and three individual flute parts, in pdf.
For ensembles where some players have B-foot, and others C-foot, the parts are clearly marked.

You can hear the above midi samples (played by Sibelius midi--eeek! I hope to get mp3s of real flutists playing them soon) by clicking on the links to arrive at 4shared where you'll see a little mp3 player which will play them for you.
It looks like this:



Just click on the little PLAY button on the left side of the tiny player when you arrive.

Special offer: for a short time, if you buy all three in one order (Three Flutzalad Suites 1-3 for $37), I will add a fourth flute trio by Handel from the opera Julius Ceasar Act III "Piangero la sorte mia" for free (regularly $8). This is a stunning Aria followed by a challenging presto. Beautiful, lively and thrilling.

Hope to hear from you at jen@jennifercluff.com
Enjoy!

Best,
Jen

Psychology of an orchestral career

Dear Flutists,

I found a detailed article about the Psychology of Orchestral Musicians.
Most fascinating. Do read and comment.

Best, Jen

Flute for Smarties (Dummies) great!

Dear Flutists,

A tremendous bickering was had by all on one of the Flute discussion groups about the possible quality of the above book. Oh how funny.

Perhaps the argument was about the humour of the title (which is really: Flute for Dummies) Who knows? So I'm laughing away, because if only they'd called it "for smarties...." But until you've read it, you can't really tell what the quality is. So I'm here to tell you that it's indeed a marvellous new book! It's absolutely chock full of everything you ever wanted to know about the flute but were afraid to ask, and it's practice-specific!! Everything you want to practice but were afraid to try...and I totally agree with the author on every technique.
High school students just about to start private lessons, parents of pre-teen beginner flutists, and adult novice flutists who are between flute teachers will especially find this book an important resource, I imagine.

And it's totally new and up to date. It just came out in Dec. 2009 by Karen Moratz.
What a fabulous book all around! Huge kudos to Karen for writing it.
A principal flutist of a top orchestra, and teacher for two decades, Karen Moratz has hit the nail right on the head on every topic from tone to tonguing to tuning.

Everything the beginner-intermediate player wants to know. Finally, all in one place.
And it actually does fit on the music stand, and the CD is actually very useful, and the exercises are excellent (LOVE the William Bennett harmonics/octaves warmup) and the text is clear, concise, fun and very appropriate.

A great read.

Run don't walk; every flutist should own a copy.
See for yourself!!

You can get a good price ($15) here, and teachers can read a review copy at the link below.

Karen wrote to the flute groups:

I invite you all to read samples from the book at www.amazon.com, at www.wiley.com, or at www.dummies.com if you haven't done so already. If you're an instructor at a qualifying institution, you can also request a free evaluation copy from the publisher at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470484454.html

Personally, I'm going to cover the yellow-black cover with some gorgeous recycled wrapping paper, but that's just me; smartie not dummie. har har. :>D
See for yourself.

Enjoy!
Best,
Jen

Bach Chaconne with Bouriakov

Dear Flutists,

A very warm and cheery "Happy New Year" to you all.
If you want practicing inspiration for today, do check out Denis Bouriakov performing the Bach Chaconne on youtube.
Part 1
Part 2

This is sheerly terriff!



I love the transcription, which is the artist's own, and I just love this piece of music. It's one of the few times when a solo violin Bach work actually WORKS!!
What a player!!
Happy listening.
And happy practice year to us all!
Jen

21 year old Adam Walker wins LSO Principal

Dear Flutists,

I noticed this post on the London Symphony's Blog today:

News from The London Symphony Orchestra Blog:
The eagle eyed among you will have noticed another new addition to the flute section which at last makes us complete. Adam Walker (21) joined us this week and he is even younger than Phil Cobb who is now 22 I believe. We had a lot of great players auditioning for us, but when Adam came in and played with us it was quite obvious that although he was young he had something that others didn’t. Let’s call it the x factor ----

Jen: I say WOWZA! I'm sure that he'll have the education of a lifetime, training with the LSO. For young flutists who've played 7 to 10 years, though, here are some sound samples of young Adam Walker, to inspire you.
Adam Walker Sound samples:

Prokofiev & Schubert

Doppler Air Valaques (at age 16)

Bach G minor sonata with harp and
Piazzolla Histoire du Tango with harp

And here is a biography for those interested in reading about Adam Walker's studies and performances:

Adam Walker
Born in Retford, Nottinghamshire in 1987, Adam Walker taught himself to play the flute at the age of 9. A year later he entered Chetham's School of Music, where he studied with Gitte Sorensen. In September 2005 he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music where he is currently studying with Michael Cox and in 2007 he was selected for representation by Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT). In 2002, at the age of 14, Adam became the youngest ever winner of the British Flute Society Competition and in 2003 won the Royal Over-Seas League prize for the woodwind player with the most promise. The following year he was a Concerto Finalist in the 2004 BBC Young Musicians Competition performing Nielsen's Flute Concerto with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ilan Volkov at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. He went on to give debut recitals at Wigmore Hall, St. George’s Bristol and to tour the Middle East. He has given numerous radio broadcasts, including appearances on BBC Radio 3 and made his Proms debut in 2008.

Over the last year Adam has made his debut at the Proms with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields at the Barbican, performed Joe Duddell's Flute & Harp Concerto at Presteigne Festival and given recitals at Wigmore Hall, Mozart BathFest, Spitalfields and Isle of Man Festivals, the latter broadcast by BBC Radio 3.

In 2009, at the age of 21, Adam Walker was appointed principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra and received the ‘Outstanding Young Artist Award’ at the MIDEM Classique Awards in Cannes, in partnership with the International Artist Managers' Association. Engagements during the 2009/10 season include appearances as soloist with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra at the Konzerthaus, the Solistes Européens at the Philharmonie in Luxembourg and with Northern Sinfonia conducted by Janusz Piotrowicz at the Ripon International Festival.

On youtube, the middle portion ( approx. 2 minute mark) of this video shows him and harpist partner playing outdoors and laughing it up: GREAT spirit!



Congratulations young sir!

Best, all the flute news all the time, (ha ha)
Jen