I’d like to play some Baroque pieces on the flute. Until I can get a true Traverso, I’m limited to my keyless D flute. I know that a lot of Baroque stuff requires the Eb key and smaller holes for adequate cross-fingering. I’m looking for pieces (especially easier ones) that I can do w/o the Eb key and in the standard “Irish” flute keys…Thanks in advance.
the Bach B-minor flute suite? But with B-minor, you’ll have A#'s to contend with.
Aah, hadn’t thought of that. I was still thinking in the context of Irish tunes. A lot of Bm Irish tunes work, but the Bm of western art music probably wouldn’t.
Have you tried cross fingering and half holeing the flute you have . Even with a traverso the cross fingerings and half holing will take time to get solid on.Some notes are easier than others. An A# or F# works equally well on the Aulos as the M&E R&R. I find a G# possible on all my flutes but takes less effort for me on the Aulos traverso. I’ve noticed that half holing on a large holed flute like the Tipple PVC works very well for me and for some music I’d rather halfhole , on others I’d rather crossfinger. I love the feeling of “exactness” of the traverso but for some things a larger sound or "deeper " sound is a quality I prefer. " Dark Island " can be played on the Aulos, but a flute with a larger diameter and larger holes will give it a “deeper” furrier sound I prefer for some slow pieces in the lower octave.For “Skibbereen” or “Si Beag Si Mor”, played mostly in the second octave the traverso works well, and for my emboucher is just a little easier than the M&E R&R. I’m sure “your milage will vary”.
Bruce
Thanks, I will try it. it definitely is harder with a larger holed flute. F# is not too bad, especially in the second octave. A# not so well. Also, I’m not sure which pieces/keys the Eb key comes into play. Or, is it merely a vent key to bring certain cross fingerings more into tune? If it’s required to vent for intonation, I probably would be limited to mostly D and G major pieces, some Em ones would probably work fine. On keyed simple system flutes I’ve played the Eb key isn’t required for venting, but I know that the original 19th century simple system flutes were designed for venting with the keys as well as using them for notes. Of course they probably had key signatures in mind that Baroque stuff wasn’t using.
The fingering chart that comes with the Aulos shows extensive venting with the Eb key but because of inherent laziness I usually play with it closed . With my low-fi ears there is rarely a need for me to improve intonation by venting. Others may find it preferable.
The only song I regularly use the Eb key is “Greensleeves”. My limited repetoire of Baroque music does not have much need for an Eb key.My main enjoyment is the facilty with which a small holed, small emboucher can play.The small emboucher is unforgiving but muscle memory is a wonderful compensating factor.Traverso’s crossfinger well and large holed flutes half hole well. Life is good!
Bruce
‘Method for the one- keyed Flute’ by Janice Dockendorff Boland contains lots of exercises in the various keys and also tunes from the 18th and early 19th centuries.
There’s also a very useful appendix of suggested easy solos and Duets.
The book is very good value,and is obtainable from Amazon,amongst other sources.
I definately recommend that you obtain a copy,if you are looking to play Traverso.
Thanks Kevin! I was looking at getting the Quantz book. I shall probably pick them both up. At this point I’m just trying to start whatever I can until I can actually afford a traverso. I’ll probably start with the Aulos Stanesby model since it’s cheap.
The Quantz book is a great read-his advice is probably as good today as it was when it was written in the 1750’s.
Quantz comes across as quite a character- I have an image in my mind of the elderly Quantz and the equally elderly ‘Frederick the Great’ (his primary ‘pupil’) as really grumpy old men!
or should that be ‘Old Geezers’?
Another ‘Historical’ tutor that I have is ‘Principles of the Flute,Recorder and Oboe’ by Jacques Hotteterre(Amazon again).
But,I still recommend the Boland book as the first step/modern approach for the budding Traverso player -it really is a cracking book.
This may not be quite what you’re after, but “The Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes” has many tunes that, to my ear anyway, seem in the middle ground between folk and classical (the actual dates of composition run from the 1600’s-1900’s; there’s some Purcell in there too), many of them fairly easy and in keys friendly to the keyless flute. Usual disclaimers, of course, but your post sent me to the book shelf to check it out for possible flute tunes, and it looks promising.
JS
What a good idea – the CDSS (Counry Dance and Song Society) has a lot of good books on their webpage: www.cdss.org.