Kuhlau, F :: Six Divertissements op. 68

Six Divertissements op. 68

Kuhlau, F

International Music Company presents Freidrich Kuhlau's 'Six Divertissements' op. 68, for flute and piano edited by Paul Taffanel; version for flute alone also available.

'Friedrich Kuhlau is generally remembered for his piano music, particularly because of its pedagogical value. His sonatas and sonatinas are not difficult and offer musical an excellent training ground for the more challenging works of Beethoven. Yet his music can also stand on its own, as his Piano Concerto in C, from 1810, and many other solo keyboard works amply demonstrate. His flute works are also of generally high quality, featuring fine writing that demonstrates a grasp of the instrument's expressive range. Friedrich Kuhlau was born in the North German town of Uelzen, near Hannover. His father was a musician in a military band, and of necessity often had to relocate his family. After moving to Luneburg when he was seven, Friedrich slipped on ice in the street and sustained an injury to his right eye, causing blindness in that eye for life. At 14, he finished his schooling in Brunswick at the Katharineum-gymnasium, and having shown unusual musical talent throughout his childhood, he began composition studies in Hamburg with Schwenke. Over the next several years, Kuhlau composed some songs and chamber music, and in 1804 began regularly appearing as a concert pianist. Many of his works at this time and throughout his whole career were written for flute, and for years it was believed that Kuhlau was himself a fine flutist. He could not play the instrument, however, but wrote works for it to earn money.'

- ArkivMusic, 2018