Personally I like neither the flute (too shrill, not warm-sounding) nor the trumpet (quite banal) as a solo instrument in concertos. In fact, I don't like the flute or trumpet as single instruments in chamber music either.
However, I wonder how other members think of these two particular instruments? I suppose many of you think differently and know some beautiful (unsung) concertos.
I agree - with the exception of Reinecke's Flute Concerto!! Try tracks 4-6 from the excellent (and cheap) Naxos CD...
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Carl-Heinrich-Reinecke-Harfenkonzert-op-182/hnum/3885191 (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Carl-Heinrich-Reinecke-Harfenkonzert-op-182/hnum/3885191)
I think I read somewhere (long ago) that Sir George Macfarren had written a flute concerto. Does anyone know if the score has survived?
David
I'll stick my hands up for the flute concertos of Vagn Holmboe, and one of the two by M. Weinberg (I've only heard one so far...) (and their respective trumpet concertos, of course! And the trombone and tuba concertos of the former, and Hindemith's trumpet and bassoon concerto too- maybe my ears are more forgiving, or something. Even those though are for example).
As to the MacFarren, don't know- Worldcat lists only a piano reduction by Natalia MacFarren, and that only at one library. The work has unfortunately not gotten around much.
Eric
Hello edurban,
George Macfarren wrote 3 concertos, and the Flute Concerto you mention dates from 1863.
He wrote a Piano Concerto 1835, and a Violin concerto 1872-4. The Flute concerto was performed in London on 24/2/1864, together with works by Alice Mary Smith, so I suggest that the parts or manuscript would be in a library somewhere.
Marcus.
Hands up for the Reinecke Flute Concerto, which is a really lovely piece.
My hand's already up...
How about the Flute concertos of Savario Marcadante. There are some lovely unknown flute concertos ... the ones that come to mind - Rutland Boughton's concerto.
Gounod's flute concerto.
Avshalomov's rather chinese concerto.
Peter Benoit - flute concerto!!
Quote from: FBerwald on Saturday 06 March 2010, 20:02
How about the Flute concertos of Savario Marcadante. There are some lovely unknown flute concertos ...
I'd say the E minor one is pretty known. I love all three though (assuming there is only three).
There's also Devienne, if you like 2nd tier high classical concerti, who wrote quite a number of them (I'm currently playing a wonderful clarinet sonata by him, unfortunately unrecorded).
There's of course more modern stuff -- Corigliano's Pied Piper Fantasy is an interesting piece, and Lowell Liebermann wrote a pretty popular concerto (as well as the piccolo concerto which has an almost Schickele-ian final movement).
As for trumpet concerti, there's so very very little as far as the tastes of most people here (i.e. tonal and romantic)...
Quote from: FBerwald on Saturday 06 March 2010, 20:02
How about the Flute concertos of Savario Marcadante. There are some lovely unknown flute concertos ... the ones that come to mind - Rutland Boughton's concerto.
Gounod's flute concerto.
Avshalomov's rather chinese concerto.
Peter Benoit - flute concerto!!
Quote from: TerraEpon on Saturday 06 March 2010, 21:04
I'd say the E minor one is pretty known. I love all three though (assuming there is only three).
I believe that Mercadante composed seven flute concertos in all. The E Minor concerto is undoubtedly his most popular, and that is his 3rd, IIRC. Although it is scored for flute and strings, I believe that among the others are works that are scored for full orchestra, although I have only heard the E Minor. I was completely unaware that Gounod composed a flute concerto and I'm wondering if it is lost. Surely, if this is Charles Gounod we're talking about someone would have taken an interest in it by now.
Gounod composed a Flute Concertino...
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/w/15444/Charles-Fran%C3%A7ois-Gounod-Concertino-for-Flute-and-Small-Orchestra (http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/w/15444/Charles-Fran%C3%A7ois-Gounod-Concertino-for-Flute-and-Small-Orchestra)
Franz Danzi wrote 4 concerti for the flute and orchestra. Quite charming pieces.
I wonder whether the Flute Concerto was more popular in the Baroque and Classical era than in the Romantic era (another example is François Devienne, 1759-1803, who composed some 13 Flute Concertos).
Yes, the Reinecke is a beautifully crafted concerto, although it is a pity that the solo instrument isn't an oboe, clarinet or bassoon...
And then there is Carl Nielsen. I have the Naxos CD coupling the Violin Concerto (I quite like it), the Clarinet Concerto (...) and the Flute Concerto, which is in my perception an experiment of scrambled notes.
Hello all
I know he is not "unsung" but as Alan mentioned Gounod, I felt it was ok to say that one of my all time favourite flute concertos is Khachaturian's flute concerto, an absolute stunner (a reworking of his vc in fact)!
cheers
Dennis
Of the 20thc Flute concertos, I have grown to like that by Carl Neilsen, also the Fugal concerto (flute & oboe) by Gustav Holst.
Of the romantics, I particularly like the Reinecke & Chaminade.
But my favourites are those of J.Haydn & W.Mozart, who, for me at least, capture the beauty of the flute better than anyone else. Bellini & Donizetti also wrote flute concertos, as far as I know.
A recently released disc , and a work, which I haven't yet heard, is a Symphony Concerto for Flute & orchestra by Hendrik Waelput (1845-85), completely unknown to me. Also on the disc are the Concerto symphonique for Flute & orchestra by Benoit & the Fetis concerto. Has anyone heard the Waelput work ?
I am not a great fan of Trumpet(or Trombone) concertos. I find the blaring sounds, particularly in the hands of some players, an assault on the ear. But having said that, I love the E flat concerto of Haydn, & those by Mozart, Telemann & Hummel are good to listen to occasionaly.
Also the Bach Brandenburg concertos (no2), are above criticism, & although the instrument (trumpet) was different from the modern instrument, the timbre is the same, but I am in the wrong century !
Two virtuoso Flute concertos have been written by New Zealand composers Alan Ritchie (b1960), and Chloe Moon (b1952). Both are entertaining neo classical works. Ritchie has also recently written a Double Concerto for Bass Clarinet, Cello & orchestra.
Marcus.
By Mozart, I assume you mean the trumpet concerto of Leopold. His son never composed a trumpet concerto. Since some double concertos involving the flute have been mentioned, perhaps I should throw out a reminder about the concerto for flute and oboe by Moscheles. It really should have been called a concertino or konzertstuck, since it consists of a single movement with a slow introduction, but concerto is what he called it. I think that the Italian works by Donizetti and Bellini were called concertinos, as is the Chaminade. BTW I toss in my vote for the Reinecke as well. One of the best works he ever composed.
Quote from: JimL on Sunday 07 March 2010, 15:40
By Mozart, I assume you mean the trumpet concerto of Leopold. His son never composed a trumpet concerto.
(edited quote above)
To be picky, Wolfgang Mozart
did.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumpet_Concerto_(Mozart) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumpet_Concerto_(Mozart))
Well, you live and you learn. However, a destroyed work that no one living has ever heard is as good as never composed at all.
Quote from: Peter1953 on Sunday 07 March 2010, 10:56
I wonder whether the Flute Concerto was more popular in the Baroque and Classical era than in the Romantic era (another example is François Devienne, 1759-1803, who composed some 13 Flute Concertos).
The golden age of the flute concerto was the reign of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. He is reputed to have written four and commissioned many more. Quantz produced about 292 for him.
Likewise, trumpet concertos tend to be baroque or classical. Besides the two Haydn concertos, there is also one by John Humphries (1701-1730), an otherwise unknown English composer.
Quote from: DennisS on Sunday 07 March 2010, 11:18
But my favourites are those of J.Haydn & W.Mozart, who, for me at least, capture the beauty of the flute better than anyone else. Bellini & Donizetti also wrote flute concertos, as far as I know.
Haydn didn't write any flute concerti specifically (outside of a lost one). The concerto that used to be attributed to him is by Hoffmeister (and IMO is /really/ boring). The Lire Organizzare concerti are sometimes played on two flutes (or flute and oboe), yes, but they aren't particularly idomatic to the instrument (though they are nice pieces).
You have reminded me though of the flute concerto and concertino of Wilms. Any opinions? Underrated Dutch composer who I don't see mentioned much even here; Concertzender Hilversum did do a series of his music that's still audible online or I'd have heard a lot less of his music than I have.
Eric
Thanks JimL & eschiss,
Of course I meant Leopold. I probably haven't played it for 20 years, and the only Mozart I play these days are the late symphonies & piano works. I have some of Michael Haydn's works also. The Brandenburg & J. Haydn's E flat are the only ones I bother to play occasionally, and although I often listen to modern trumpet & flute works, & have many coupled with other works on CD , it is usually the other work which I wanted, so I rarely buy the concerto. (the two NZ works mentioned excepted)
Too much music - too much to remember ! That's my excuse anyway !
Marcus.
Am I wrong that no one mentioned Hummel's trumpet concerto?
Hello TerrApon,
I have finally found the Cd which I was referring to, and one which I used to play fairly frequently.. It is an EMI which has Flute concertos by M.Haydn & one by L.Hoffman, which was attributed to J.Haydn. I knew I should have stayed in bed ! But thanks for waking me up. Ever have one of those days ?
Marcus.
Quote from: Hofrat on Monday 08 March 2010, 11:25
Am I wrong that no one mentioned Hummel's trumpet concerto?
That's about as 'sung' as it gets, after Haydn.
A few other flute and trumpet concertos from eras classical or Romantic, by the way-
works by Christoph Graupner (two for trumpet, three for flute ?)
Vanhal - 7 concertos for flute (5 published, 2 in manuscript)
Molique- one for flute
Kramar- two for flute
Boccherini - one for flute (another actually by Pokorny? not sure)
Riotte - one for flute
(J Neruda may be wrong era, though?)
for starters, of course, or not quite starters, but not nearly ending either.
Eric
Two attractive American works from the 19-teens are still played occasionally: Arthur Foote's "A Night Piece for Flute and Strings" and Charles Griffes's "Poem for Flute and Orchestra." Neither is a full-fledged concerto, of course.
I have not heard Chaminade's Flute Concertino, opus 107, performed, but I'd sure like to if it's anything like the scintillating two-piano works so stunningly played by Bengt Forsberg and Peter Jablonski on DG. Those have the fun, charm, and craft of Charbrier. Anybody know the Concertino?
Chaminade's Concertino is one of my favorite pieces, but it's almost pure sugar. It pretty much epitomizes "this was written by a French woman".
Magali Mosnier's 2006 Sony recording of the Chaminade concerto (so described on the recording??) will be broadcast on Radio Swiss Classic (www.radioswissclassic.ch/en - has multiple web streams) early (7:21 CET) the 13th of March, also on the 18th and 24th. If you can catch that, that may be the easiest way to become acquainted with the work (I haven't yet myself.)
Eric
Speaking of M. Weinberg's Mendelssohn-and-others-quoting :) trumpet concerto, it will be on next Thursday on BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rd8lj (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rd8lj)
Quote from: Marcus on Sunday 07 March 2010, 12:03
Two virtuoso Flute concertos have been written by New Zealand composers Alan Ritchie (b1960)..... Ritchie has also recently written a Double Concerto for Bass Clarinet, Cello & orchestra.
Marcus.
I just signed on to this forum and out of curiosity thought I'd do a search on "New Zealand" as that's my country of origin. The post I've quoted is in fact talking about
Anthony Ritchie (b1960), so just thought I'd mention that having noticed the error.
As a coincidence, the date that post was made (7th March 2010) I'd organized a performance of Anthony Ritchie's Oboe Sonata here in Paris; we then went on to make a CD of that particular program.
I wil upload nice Flute cto by the Polish Felisk Rybicki
Trumpet:
my favourite unsung (even if I heard it once in an actual concert) is the Henry Tomasi concerto . There is more than one recording (one with W.Marsalis and Salonen, coupled to two Jolivet Concertos). The central movement sounds fine fake-Ravel.
Entertaining the folkish Arutunian concerto (is it really unsung? I heard it twice in actual concerts). I have it in a Lp coupled with the already named Weinberg (who cleverly borrows famous themes or solos for trumpet) and with the more commonplace Kryukov Concerto-poem for trumpet and orchestra.
Another Soviet is Alexandra Pakhmutova concerto for Trumpet (heard on record).
I appreciate also (much more"modern" but still entertaining) "Aerial", concerto for trumpet by the maverick H.K. Gruber (heard once in concert, owned on Cd coupled to Turnage (likeable) and Eotvos (more forbidding).
Flute.
I appreciate the Rautavaara Concerto ("Dances with winds", Bis) and the Sallinen Concerto ("Harlekini", Naxos).
Fine also the Jolivet for Flute and Strings (on Chandos or Erato).
Very fine the Ibert (but is it unsung?).
For me is unsung and good the short M.Arnold Concerto for flute and strings (Conifer).
There is a plethora of XVIII concertos (often for flute or violin or transcribed from violin).
Less commponplace appears to me the "Concerto Lugubre" by one Luigi Gianella (recordings by -as often- Galway and Rampal).
Vassil Kazandjiev - Concerto for Trumpet (1955)
This unknown trumpet concerto is stunning..the 2nd movement (of 3) left me breathless the first time I heard it. It may just be personal preference, but IMHO a masterpiece.
It can be heard in its entirety here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwHClNMVtr8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfOnKb31wbU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mRkNeEt0C8&feature=related
In the Downloads/Polish Music you can find
b]FELIKS RYBICKI [/b] (1899-1978)
Concerto (Concertino) for Flute and Orchestra in F Major op. 51 (1951)
1. Allegro moderato 7:46 2. Andante tranquillo 5:47 3. Presto 5:46
Grzegorz Olkiewicz, flute
Polish Radio Orchestra of Warsaw / cond. Ryszard Dudek
On 12 February just after 11:00 local time the German NDR Kultur will broadcast the Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra No. 1 "Bridge", op. 47, by the contemporary Swedish composer Rolf Martinsson (b. 1956).
Anybody ever heard of him and/or his music? His website is http://www.rolfmartinsson.com/ (http://www.rolfmartinsson.com/)
Leonid Bashmakov's Flute Concerto Impressioni Marine is an attractive piece, on the same BIS cd as the Rautavaara Alberto mentions. Little else of Bashmakov's music seems to be recorded
A favourite Trumpet Concerto is Marcel Landowski's with orchestra and tape as recorded by Maurice Andre on Erato. This is a lyrical and atmospheric piece, with the electronic elements deployed subtly.
Tangentially (sorry) re Bashmakov, Worldcat mentions a Finlandia CD with his 2nd violin concerto (1990), another with an accordion work (1991), four BIS CDs (from 1996 - the flute concerto - also one from 1995 - which has his Quattro bagatelle per flauto e percussione and Concerto da camera per flauto e quartetto d'archi - and one with just the Bagatelle and works by other composers in a percussion CD from 1993; also a BIS CD from 1994 with a solo flute work of his on it.) Nothing more recently, I think, but his works have enjoyed some CD representation- "little else" might be available, I suppose.
Have seen Martinsson mentioned a few times, I think, in recent Swedish orchestra programs (I occasionally look through such things in different countries when readily available on websites, to see what's being performed, etc.)
I think Mozart's Flute and Harp concerto is one of the most beautiful concertos ever written.
Eschiss1, you're right about Bashmakov, I also have the BIS cd featuring the flute works. However his output is relatively large, for example none of the 7 symphonies have been recorded.
Il Piffero della notte - Fantasy for Flute and Orchestra (2007) by Stanisław Skrowaczewski available in the Downloads/Polish Music