Flute Choir (T-Z)

Motet in 40 Parts

Tallis, T

This is an arrangement of the famous motet by Thomas Tallis: Spem in aliumnunqua, habui praeter in te Deus Israel (I have never put my hope in any other but in you, God of Israel).

Tallis spent part of his life as organist in Canterbury Cathedral. His music is thought to be on a par with the finest of European composers, but in the case of this astonishing work, he fat outstripped them', this being one of the great polyphonic masterpieces of the period.

The Motet is in eight choirs of five parts each, arranged that each choir has seven players: Parts One and Two in each choir have two players each, both doubled at the octave; parts three and four are two separate alto flute parts and the fifth line is a bass flute part. There are separate parts for the organ continuo and contrabass flute part, which may be doubled if an instrument is available.

It is not easy to get 16 alto flutes therefore the third part for Alto Flute in each choir has been transposed and printed as Flute 3. The choirs should be arranged either in separate galleries, or in a semicircle.

Simplified instrumentation: As few as 32 C flutes and 8 alto flutes; as many on individual lines as 8 piccolos, 32 flutes, 16 alto flutes, 8 bass flutes, and basso continuo.

Di Rayze Nokh Amerike (The Trip to America)

Tarras, D

This traditional klezmer tune for flute choir begs you to dance! Arranged by klezmer flutist Adrianne Greenbaum, Di Rayze Nokh Amerike (The Trip to America) can be performed in concert or as part of a dance program. This work can be repeated a few times, offering opportunities for different ornamentation and round-robin switching of parts. Perfect for community or school groups looking to add some fun alternative music to a program, this work includes traditional ornamentation and rich historical information.

Instrumentation: Piccolo, 3 Flutes, Alto Flute, Bass Flute.

Christmas Medley: Four Carols with Variations

Taubner, D

This Christmas Medley arrangement by Canadian composer David Taubner consists of four well-loved carols: Angels We Have Heard on High; Hark, the Herald Angels Sing; We Three Kings of Orient Are and Away in a Manger. After the presentation of each carol, a variation on that theme follows. This work was composed for the Sweet Silver Flute Choir of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Instrumentation: Piccolo, 3 Flutes, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, optional Contrabass Flute (or Contralto Flute)

Selections from Swan Lake

Editor: Ben-Meir, Shaul (arr)

Valse from 'Sleeping Beauty'

Tchaikovsky, P

Sleeping Beauty is one of the most famous ballets of all the classical repertoire, first performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1890. Consisting of a prologue and three acts, this Valse from Act I is one of the most recognizable melodies from the entire work.

Instrumentation: 6 C Flutes, 2 Alto Flutes, Bass Flute, Contrabass Flute

Capriccio Italien, Op. 45

Tchaikovsky, PI

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 'Capriccio Italien' arranged for flute choir by Shaul Ben-Meir.

Instrumentation: 6 flutes (2nd flute doubles on piccolo), 2 alto flutes, 2 bass flutes, contrabass flute.

This is a full arrangement of the Danses Characteristiques from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Full of well known tunes these character pieces give larger flute choirs a chance to show their range and flexibility, from the speed and excitement of the Trepak to the sinuous melodic lines of the Danse Arabe. The parts are graduated, with flute 1 being the hardest and flute four the easiest. Includes the famous flute feature, the Danses des Mirlitions.

Flute Choir/Ensemble - Piccolo, optional G treble, 4 flutes, alto flute, bass flute, optional contr'alto flute, contrabass flute.

Excerpts from The Nutcracker Suite

Tchaikovsky, PI

Selections from The Nutcracker Suite: March, Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, Dance of the Reed-Flutes. These three popular selections retain the full harmony of the original orchestration, utilizing C flutes, piccolo, alto flutes, bass flute and optional bassoon or cello.

Instrumentation: March - Piccolo, 4 C flutes, alto flute, bass flute. Dance of the Sugar-plum Fairy - 6 C flutes (one doubling piccolo), alto flute, bass flute. Dance of the Reed-Flutes - 3 C flutes, 2 alto flutes, bass flute, optional 4th C flute, optional bassoon or cello.

Marche Miniature op. 43

Tchaikovsky, PI

The fourth movement from this famous Orchestra Suite arranged with care. Part of the KBJ Collection Flute Troupe Series.

Instrumentation: Piccolo, 6 C Flutes (Flutes 1 and 3 double on Piccolo), Celeste/Piano (optional), Triangle (optional)

This is a full and unabridged arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Overture to The Nutcracker Ballet Suite. Bubbling with attractive tunes which pass between all parts, flute 1 needs agile players who can cope with fast tonguing while the lower parts become simpler. The alto flute part is a particular challenge as it frequently echoes the semiquavers of the upper parts, whilst the bass flute part ventures into the third octave giving the whole score the lightness of the original. A great way to open a flute choir concert.

Flute Choir/Ensemble - Piccolo, optional G treble, 4 flutes, Alto Flute, Bass Flute.

This is a full, unabridged arrangement of one of the outstanding pieces of string repertoire. This makes it a challenge for the more advanced flute choir. In four movements: 1. Pezzo in forma di Sonatina, 2. Walzer, 3. Elegie, 4. Finale (Tema Russo). The first and last movements in particular are very long and require stamina to get through. The middle two movements, while shorter and slightly easier, need musical handling to bring out all the subtle nuances of the music.

Flute Choir/Ensemble: Piccolo, 3 Concert Flutes, 2 Alto Flute parts (Bass flute part doubling Alto flute 2 included), Bass or Contra-Alto Flute, Contrabass Flute.

Serenade, op. 48

Tchaikovsky, PI

This is the first movement of Tchaikovsky's Serenade, titled 'Pezzo in forma di Sonatina'. Winner 1998 NFA Newly Published Music Competition.

Instrumentation: 4 C Flutes, Alto Flute, Bass Flute

Tchaikovsky loved Italy, especially the city of Florence and the surrounding Tuscan countryside, and spent many winters there,escaping the frigid winds of St. Petersburg. The winter of 1890 found Tchaikovsky, as usual, in Florence in a particularly happy mood, having just finished his great opera The Queen of Spades. He began jotting down melodies for a piece he had promised to the Saint Petersburg Chamber Music Society and when he returned to Russia, he completed Souvenir de Florence. Written for string sextet, the work's first two movements are suffused with the warm, sensual atmosphere of Italy and the last two are more Russian in character. This brilliant, lushly sonorous arrangement for string orchestra accentuates all the charm and passion of the original work that prompted Tchaikovsky to happily exclaim 'What a Sextet! And what a fugue at the end! Quite terrible how pleased I am with myself I am increasingly captivated by it.'

Arranged here for flute ensemble: 4 flutes, alto flute, and bass flute.

The Nutcracker (in 5 Minutes)

Tchaikovsky, PI

Based on themes from Tchaikovsky's ballet, this original arrangement incorporates themes from the entire ballet.

Instrumentation: Piccolo, 4 C Flutes, Alto Flute (or C Flute), Bass Flute, Contrabass Flute (optional)

The Nutcracker Suite

Tchaikovsky, PI

Six pieces from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite (Miniature Overture, March, Danse of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Arab Danse, Danse of the Mirlitons, Chinese Danse) completely re-engraved and combined into one volume in 2012. Previously only available separately, this new combined edition is much easier to read and all of the errors of the previous editions have been corrected.

Instrumentation: 3 C Flutes, Alto Flute (or C Flute), Bass Flute.

Three Pieces from 'Sleeping Beauty' by Pyotr Il'yich Tchasikovsky, Op. 66, and arranged for flute choir by Richard McHenry.

Instrumentation: Piccolo doubling flute, 2 flutes, Alto Flute, Bass flute doubling flute. Includes an optional Bassoon/Cello part as a substitute for the bass flute part.

Valse des Fleurs (from the Nutcracker Suite)

Tchaikovsky, PI

The final section of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, in a full and unabridged arrangement for large flute choir. Full of beautiful melodies which pass through all the parts, the addition of the optional harp gives a whole new dimension to the flute choir. The upper parts need good players as the notes are not straightforward initially, while the lower parts are simpler. The alto and bass flutes get their own solo bringing them to the fore for a change.

Flute Choir/Ensemble with optional Harp - Piccolo, optional G treble, 4 flutes, alto flute, bass flute, optional contr'alto flute, contrabass flute, optional harp.

Valse from 'Swan Lake'

Tchaikovsky, PI

Swan Lake was composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875-76 and was not well-received at the Moscow premiere in 1877. In 1895, two years after the death of Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake was revived for a premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, and it has been a cornerstone of the ballet repertoire ever since. This Valse comes towards the very beginning of the ballet, following the opening scene in Act I.

Instrumentation: 6 C flutes (one doubling piccolo), 2 Alto flutes, Bass flute, and Contrabass flute.