Flute Concertino (Chaminade)
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Cécile Chaminade's Flute Concertino in D major, Op. 107 was composed in 1902 for flute and orchestra and was later arranged for flute and piano. Scholarship indicates that the Concertino was commissioned by the Paris Conservatoire in 1902, presumably as an examination piece for flute students. Among flautists, legend has it that Chaminade wrote the Concertino to punish a flute-playing lover after he left her to marry someone else, wanting to make a piece so fiendishly difficult that he could not play it (though he supposedly did manage). However, Chaminade had married a music publisher the year before the piece was commissioned, which lessens the validity of the legend.
The piece remains a standard and popular part of the flute repertoire.[1] For example, it was voted #85 in the 2012 Classic 100 Music of France (ABC).
The work has been described as "melodic and attractive". It was dedicated to the celebrated French flautist and teacher Paul Taffanel.[2]
Composition
Chaminade's composition opens with a broad melody, has a highly decorative solo part and is regarded as quite demanding for the flautist. After a more active central section, marked Più animato agitato in the score, there is a short oboe phrase that leads into a cadenza for the soloist. The piece concludes with a reprise of the opening melody and a coda.[2]
Instrumentation
- Solo – flute
- Orchestra – flute/piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trombones, tuba, timpani, harp, strings
References
- ↑ Flaxman, Fred. "Chaminade, Part 2". Compact Discoveries. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Morrison, Chris. "Concertino for Flute & Piano (or orchestra), Op. 107". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2012.