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En esta grabacin presentamos una coleccin de piezas interpretadas con flauta y piano, ms dos
piezas con flauta sola. Todas ellas, adems de poseer un indudable valor esttico, son de inters
general para el mundo flautstico, ya que entre ellas se encuentran algunas piezas frecuentemente
interpretadas con la flauta. De hecho, todas ellas, tal vez con la excepcin del Capriccio n 2 de
Mercadante, se utilizan durante la primera mitad de los estudios profesionales de dicho instrumento.
Algunas de estas piezas, como las Cinco piezas Breves de Mouquet o la Fantasa n1 de Drouet, son
originales para flauta y piano; otras, como Meditacin de Masennet o El Cisne de Saint Saens, no son
originales para flauta, pero han sido transcritas para numerosos instrumentos, entre ellos la flauta. A
todas ellas les une su gran riqueza meldica. Las piezas aqu presentadas abarcan un amplio espectro
histrico, desde el clasicismo hasta casi las postrimeras del siglo XX, y han sido escritas por
compositores europeos de pases como Espaa, Francia, Suiza, Italia, Alemania, Blgica, Holanda,
Dinamarca y Hungra.
Jules mile Frdric Massenet naci en Montand, cerca de St. Etienne (Francia) en 1842 y muri en
Pars en 1912. Estudi en el Conservatorio de Pars, especializndose en piano y estudiando
composicin con Antoine Thomas. A los 21 aos gan el Prix de Rome, lo que le ayud a abrirse
camino gradualmente como compositor de pera. Desde 1878 hasta 1896 fue profesor de
composicin en el Conservatorio de Pars. Adems de numerosas peras, compuso algunas oberturas,
un concierto para piano, algunas cantatas y oratorios, una buena cantidad de msica de escena y unas
doscientas canciones. Massenet fue muy homenajeado durante toda su vida, llegando a ser, en 1879,
el miembro ms joven de la French Academie, de la que aos ms tarde fue presidente. La audiencia
operstica es a menudo acusada de prestar poca o ninguna atencin a las partes orquestales, aunque,
en ocasiones, los solos instrumentales y los preludios o interludios reciben un excepcional
reconocimiento. Uno de estos casos fue la Meditacin. En respuesta al tumultuoso aplauso que
obtuvo esta pieza por parte del pblico, Mr. Campanini tuvo que interpretarla de nuevo, no slo el da
del estreno sino en todas las posteriores representaciones. Es una de las pginas ms deliciosas de
Massenet, perteneciente a su pera Thas. Originalmente es un solo para violn acompaado de arpa y
cuerda, una meloda simple, sensual y reflexiva. Representa las palabras que Thas dirigi a Athanal:
"Tu palabra permanece en mi corazn como un blsamo divino -yo rezo, yo lloro-. All entra en mi
alma una gran luz. Habiendo visto la ausencia de toda pasin, acudo a ti como deseas".
Gabriel Faur naci en Pamiers (Arige, Francia) el 12 de mayo de 1845 y muri en Pars el 4 de
noviembre de 1924. Desarroll una larga carrera como organista de iglesa y director de coro. Ocup
la Ctedra de composicin y ms tarde la direccin del Conservatorio de Pars, siendo adems,
fundador de la "Socit Nationale de Musiqu" junto con su buen amigo y maestro Camile SaintSans. Entre sus numerosas composiciones se encuentran varios ciclos de canciones, obras para piano
solo, msica de cmara, trabajos corales religiosos, como el famoso Requiem, y msica incidental,
como Pellas et Mlisande para la obra de Maurice Maeterlink. Su msica es elegante, sublime, a la
vez que ntima. La Sicilienne fue inicialmente concebida para cello y piano y publicada como su Op.
78. Ms tarde la orquest y la incluyo como tercer movimiento en la Suite orquestal Peleas et
Melisande op. 80, en esta ocasin el instrumento solista ser la flauta. La Berceuse op. 16, escrita
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originalmente para violn y piano, es una delicada cancin de cuna que en esta grabacin se presenta
transportada a Fa Mayor y arreglada para flauta y piano.
Camille Saint-Sans naci en Pars el 9 de octubre de 1835 y muri en Argel el 16 de diciembre de
1921. A los trece aos ingres en el Conservatorio de Pars, estudiando composicin con Halvy.
Ms tarde fue profesor de G. Faur en la escuela de Niedermayer. Fue un eminente pianista, organista
en Madeleine (1.857-75) y uno de los fundadores de la "Socit Nationale de Musiqu". Gran viajero,
interesado por la filosofa y la pintura, fue un artesano escrupuloso en su trabajo y un defensor a
ultranza de la forma - "Para m el arte es ante todo la forma"-. Compositor prolfico, escribi gran
nmero de obras para piano, msica de cmara, sinfonas y conciertos. Tambin compuso obras
exticas, descriptivas y dramticas, incluyendo cuatro poemas sinfnicos y 13 peras entre las que
destaca Samson et Dalila. Le cygne fue compuesto en 1886 como parte de Le carnaval des animaux.
La obra fue, originalmente, una especie de broma privada escrita para el deleite de sus amigos, que
nunca lleg a ser interpretada en vida del compositor. El ingenio y la irona encuentran su mayor
expresin en este trabajo, sin duda el ms popular del compositor, en el que da rienda suelta a su vena
ms humorstica.
Angel Oliver naci el 2 de enero de 1937 en Moyuela (Zaragoza, Espaa). Realiza sus estudios con
Francisco Cals, Cristobal Halffter y Jess Guridi, entre otros, en el Conservatorio Superior de
Madrid, donde aos ms tarde ingresar como profesor de Solfeo y Teora de la Msica. Ha ganado
numerosos concursos de composicin entre los que figura el Premio Reina Sofa, por su obra Nunc
para orquesta de cuerda. Adems de compositor, es organista y pedagogo. La Pequea Suite al estilo
antiguo, cuya primera grabacin comercial presentamos ahora, consta de cuatro movimientos escritos
en diferentes pocas y lugares. As la Trova fue compuesta en Roma en 1966, la Cantiga y Romance
en Madrid en 1971 y por ltimo la Danza en Cuelgamuros (Valle de los Cados) en 1974. En las tres
primeras piezas predomina fundamentalmente el aspecto modal. No as en la Danza, donde la flauta
es levemente apoyada por el piano que no sigue un proceso tonal. La Pequena Suite al estilo antiguo
fue estrenada el 6 de febrero de 1976 en Zaragoza durante el "VI Ciclo de Intrpretes Espaoles" en
versin de Pedro Gonzlez y Guillermo Gonzlez. Est dedicada a la Escuela Universitaria del
Profesorado de Guadalajara y a Julia M Daz que fue su directora durante esa poca. La obra fue
publicada por dicho centro universitario y ha tenido gran difusin ya que ha estado incluida en los
programas de la mayora de los conservatorios de msica espaoles.
Claude Debussy naci en St. Germain-en-Laye el 22 de mayo de 1862 y muri en Pars el 25 de
marzo de 1918. Estudi con Marmontel, Lavignac, Csar Frank, Massenet y Giraud. En su
produccin musical fueron cruciales las influencias de la msica de Wagner, la msica del Extremo
Oriente, la Exposicin Universal y la estrecha relacin que mantuvo con los pintores impresionistas.
Compuso abundante msica para piano, pera, cantatas, ballets, msica de cmara y orquestal. La
obra de Debussy abunda en denominaciones pictricas, y es que su manera de tratar los sonidos es
eminentemente visual. La sugestin plstica extra-musical es tanto o ms grande que la basada
puramente en los sonidos. Existe sin duda un paralelismo estrecho entre la obra de Debussy, el
impresionista musical, y la de sus coetneos, los impresionistas de la pintura francesa, de los que se
deriva en realidad el nombre de la correspondiente escuela musical. Le petit negre, publicada en 1909
en el Mtodo de piano de Thodore Lack, fue escrita originalmente para piano slo. Compuesta en la
misma poca que Childrens Corner, formada por 6 piezas para piano dedicadas a su hija Chouchou,
muestra gran similitud con la ltima de estas: Golliwogg's cake-walk. Debussy volvi a utilizar el
tema principal en 1913 en La Boite joujoux (La caja de juguetes). Su meloda secundaria recuerda
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curiosamente a Chabrier.
Arthur Honneger naci en Le Havre el 10 de marzo de 1892 y muri en Pars el 27 de noviembre de
1955. Ha sido uno de los ms importantes compositores suizos aunque estuvo muy ligado a la escuela
francesa. Inici sus estudios en el Conservatorio de Zurich, pero ms tarde se traslada a Pars,
ingresando en el Conservatorio de dicha ciudad. La primera guerra mundial le devolvi a Suiza, pero
al finalizar esta prosigui sus estudios en Pars, teniendo como maestros a Capet en el violn, a
Gedalge para el contrapunto y la fuga, a Widor para la composicin, y a d'Indy para la direccin de
orquesta. Fue all, en el Conservatorio de Pars, donde hizo amistad con Darius Milhaud, quien le
introdujo en los medios artsticos de la capital. Poco tiempo despus, Honneger se adhiri al famoso
"Grupo de los Seis", pero sin adoptar verdaderamente sus principios estticos. A pesar de la
importancia de sus obras dramticas (Le Roi David, Jeanne d'Arc au Bcher) y sinfnicas (Pacific
231, 5 sinfonas), escribi tambin algunos ballets y msica de cine, adems de diferentes obras de
cmara. Dentro del repertorio flautstico, Honneger es autor de importantes obras como "La danza de
la cabra" para flauta sola; tambin compuso pequeas miniaturas como este Romance, escrito
originalmente para flauta y piano.
Paul Hindemith naci en Hanau (Hesse, Alemania) el 16 de septiembre de 1895 y muri en Francfort
del Maine el 28 de diciembre de 1963. Estudi en el Conservatorio de Francfort. A los 20 aos fue
nombrado director musical de la pera de esta ciudad. Fue un virtuoso de la viola, instrumento que
tocaba en el cuarteto Amar del que fue fundador. Fue un compositor prendado de la tcnica
contrapuntstica cuyos modelos fueron Bach y Haendel. En 1927 ingreso como profesor de
composicin en la Hochschulke fr Musik de Berln. Con la aparicin del nazismo se expatri,
primero a Suiza y ms tarde a Estados Unidos, donde se instala y donde dirigi el departamento
musical de la Universidad de Yale hasta 1953. Aos despus ocup el mismo cargo en Zurich.
Escribi un tratado de composicin y de sintaxis musical. Aunque el grueso de su produccin est
dedicado a la msica de cmara, tambin compuso para orquesta de cuerda, obras para piano como su
famoso Ludus Tonalis, canciones, msica para teatro, varias peras como Matas el pintor, ballets,
msica orquestal como las Metamorfosis Sinfnicas sobre un tema de Weber, un oratorio y el
Requiem para aquellos que amamos. Echo fue compuesta originalmente para flauta y piano. En esta
obra, Hindemith imita el efecto del eco, de ah su nombre, haciendo que la flauta repita en segundo
plano los motivos que el piano va exponiendo y viceversa.
Jules Mouquet compositor frances nacido en 1867 y muerto en 1946. Estudi composicin con
Dubois en el Conservatorio de Pars, donde aos ms tarde, en 1.913, lleg a ser profesor de armona.
Al igual que otros compositores franceses de la poca se interes por los temas relacionados con la
mitologa griega, siendo este un motivo evocador en muchas de sus composiciones. Su obra ms
conocida y por la que fundamentalmente ha pasado a ocupar un puesto en la historia de la msica es
La flte de Pan para flauta y orquesta. Las Cinco piezas breves para flauta y piano op. 39 son unas
evocadoras piezas en el ms puro estilo francs. Mientras que la primera y segunda son lricas y
sencillas, la tercera est basada en la escala cromtica y tiene un delicado fraseo, la cuarta en su
aparente sencillez est escrita en 4/4 para el piano y 12/8 para la flauta, y la quinta, est compuesta a
partir de la escala pentatnica con ciertos patrones repetitivos.
Philippe Gaubert naci en Cahors en 1879 y muri en Pars en 1941. Flautista, compositor y director
de orquesta, fue alumno de Paul Taffanel en el Conservatorio de Pars, donde posteriormente, ocup
una plaza de profesor. Sola decirse de Gaubert que haca cantar a la flauta y fue, sin lugar a duda,
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uno de los mejores flautistas de su poca. Ocup la plaza de flauta en las orquestas de la Sociedad de
Conciertos del Conservatorio y posteriormente de la pera de Pars, orquestas de las que
posteriormente fue director. Escribi numerosas obras para flauta, incluyendo importantes trabajos
pedaggicos, adems de msica sinfnica, operas, ballets, msica de cmara y vocal. La "Sicilienne"
que aqu presentamos es una transcripcin para flauta y piano de una pieza orquestal dedicada a
Gaston Blanquart; el "Madrigal" es una breve pieza escrita originalmente para "flauta con
acompaamiento de piano" y dedicada al "Doctor Bucqoy de'l Acadmie de Mdecine". Estas dos
expresivas piezas pueden ser una buena introduccin al conocimiento y disfrute de la literatura
musical francesa de este periodo.
Francois-Joseph Gossec naci en Vergnies (Belgica) en 1734 y muri en Passy (Francia) en 1829.
Fue un nio especialmente dotado, recibi una completa educacin musical en Walcourt, y ms tarde
en Maubeuge y Amberes, donde hasta los 15 aos fue corista. En 1751, con 17 aos, se traslad a
Pars donde gracias a su talento y con la ayuda de su profesor Rameau, fue nombrado director de la
orquesta del mecenas Le Riche de la Pouplinire. Estuvo al servicio del Prncipe de Conti y despus
del Prncipe de Cond. Fue subdirector de la pera de Pars e inspector y profesor de composicin
del Conservatorio de esta ciudad. Gossec puede ser considerado uno de los ms tpicos compositores
de la Francia del siglo XVIII. Compuso obras en la mayora de las formas y estilos. Su larga carrera
muestra la evolucin de la msica hacia el siglo XIX. Escribi cantos revolucionarios y patrioticos y
fue unos de los grandes representantes de la gran pera en el estilo de Gluck y de la pera cmica
francesa. Se le considera el creador del sinfonismo en Francia con decenas de sinfonas escritas,
gnero que abandon para dedicarse a la pera. Tambin escribi abundante msica de cmara. La
Gavotte y el Tambourin son dos populares melodas que han sido transcritas para flauta y piano,
flauta y guitarra e incluso orquesta de flautas numerosas veces y en diferentes tonalidades.
Bla Bartk naci en Nagyszentmiklos (Hungra, hoy territorio rumano) el 25 de marzo de 1881 y
muri
en Nueva York el 26 de septiembre de 1945. Tras una completa formacin como pianista y
compositor, Bartok, en un principio se dedic a la interpretacin, convirtindose en un notable
pianista, pero impresionado por una interpretacin de "Also Sprach Zarathustra", de Richard Strauss,
dirigi su trabajo al mbito compositivo. En su msica se percibe la influencia de Strauss, pero
tambin la de Liszt, Wagner y Debussy. Junto a Zoltn Kdaly investig y recopil cerca de 7.000
melodas populares hngaras, lo que dio como fruto la publicacin de un verdadero trabajo de
etnomusicologa. El descubrimiento del canto popular hngaro, rumano y eslovaco le introdujeron en
la corriente nacionalista hngara, utilizando en su msica los modos y escalas que conoci en su
labor de investigacin, por lo que su msica tiene un sonido caracterstico y popular. La invasin de
Hungra por los nazis le oblig a exiliarse a los Estados Unidos, donde vivi sus ltimos aos. Entre
su numerosa produccin encontramos obras para la escena, suites y otras composiciones para
orquesta, msica coral (Cantata Profana), seis cuartetos para cuerda, sonatas para violn y un gran
nmero de obras para piano (entre ellas cuatro conciertos y el famoso Mikrokosmos). "Este a
szkelyeknl" es una transcripcin para flauta y piano de una de sus melodas basadas en el folklore
popular.
Louis Drouet naci en Amsterdam en 1792 y muri en Berna en 1873. Flautista y compositor de
origen francs, estudi en el Conservatorio de Pars con Mhul y Reicha. Pronto fue conocido como
uno de los ms importantes flautistas de su poca, siendo a los 15 aos contratado como solista de
flauta por Luis Bonaparte, y luego por Napolen I en Pars. Luis XVIII le nombr primer flautista de
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la Capilla Real, pero la rivalidad de Tulou le oblig a trasladarse a Inglaterra donde abri una fbrica
de flautas que tuvo poco xito. Despus comenz a realizar una serie de viajes por toda Europa hasta
que el Duque de Sajonia le nombr maestro de capilla, cargo que ocupara durante catorce aos.
Autor de numerosas obras para flauta, sus composiciones demuestran su virtuosismo con dicho
instrumento. Escribi conciertos, una sonata, fantasas, muchos estudios y tambin un mtodo de
flauta, "Method of Flute Playing by Louis Drouet", originalmente publicado en ingls y diseado para
aprender a tocar la flauta de ocho llaves. La pieza que aqu presentamos, 1re fantaisie, forma parte
de un grupo de tres, que lleva por ttulo "Trois Fantaisies trs faciles".
Saverio Mercadante naci en Altamura (provincia de Bari, Italia) en 1795 y muri en Npoles en
1870. Estudi en el Conservatorio San Sebastiano de Npoles. Sus aptitudes llamaron la atencin de
Rossini, que le invit a Pars donde fue representada su obra I Briganti; tambin viaj a Lisboa,
Madrid y Viena. A su vuelta a Italia, en 1840, fue nombrado director del Conservatorio de Npoles.
Como compositor en un principio se dedic a escribir obras instrumentales; sin embargo a partir de
1820 escribi sobre todo peras, misas, canciones y fantasas orquestales entre otras obras. Su msica
fue siempre muy bien aceptada gozando de un gran reconocimiento. Mercadante tom parte activa en
la lucha contra la decadencia de la pera italiana, abandonando todo virtuosismo intil y cuidando
particularmente la escritura orquestal. Esta reforma prepar el camino a Verdi. El Capriccio n 2 est
tomado de una coleccin de 17 piezas para flauta encontrada en un manuscrito del siglo XIX
conservado en Palermo y cuyo ttulo dice "Capricci per flauto solo composti dal Sig. Mercadante
Saverio".
Carl Nielsen naci en Norre-Lyndelse, cerca de Odensa (en el archipilago dans) el 9 de junio de
1865 y muri en Copenhague el 2 de octubre de 1931. Estudi en el Conservatorio de Copenhague y
aos despus, gracias a una beca, pudo realizar varios viajes para continuar sus estudios en diferentes
pases europeos como Alemania, Francia, Austria e Italia. Fue violinista en la orquesta del Teatro
Real y en la orquesta de la pera Real de Copenhague. En 1908 comenz su carrera de director de
orquesta y aos ms tarde fue profesor del Conservatorio, donde llegara a ser director honorario en
1930. Su evolucin como compositor se puede apreciar en sus seis sinfonas, en las que resaltan los
principios de composicin "orgnica" y de "tonalidad evolutiva". Escribi entre otras obras una
clebre pera cmica llamada Maskarade, 12 cantatas, piezas para piano, canciones y un concierto
para flauta que ha pasado a ser uno de los ms importantes del repertorio flautstico del siglo XX. Su
msica fue bien conocida en su pas pero hasta finalizada la segunda guerra mundial no se dio a
conocer fuera de Dinamarca. "The children are playing" es una pequea pieza para flauta sola que
Nielsen escribi como parte de la msica incidental para la obra teatral "The Mother" de Helge Rode.
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In this recording we have pleasure in presenting a collection of pieces performed by flute and piano
and two for solo flute. In addition to the pieces' unquestionable aesthetic value, they are of particular
interest in the flautist's world, because they include some frequently performed flute pieces. In fact,
with the exception perhaps of Capriccio no. 2 by Mercadante, they are all used in the beginner and
intermediate years of flute studies. Some of the pieces, such as the Five Short Pieces by Mouquet and
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Fantasy no.1 by Drouet, are written for flute and piano; others, such as Meditation by Masennet and
The Swan by Saint-Saens, are not originally for the flute, but have been transcribed for many
instruments including the flute. However, what they all have in common is their great melodic
richness. The pieces in this collection cover a wide range in history, from the classical period to the
closing stages of the 20th century, and they have been written by European composers from Spain,
France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Hungary.
Jules mile Frdric Massenet was born in Montand, near St. Etienne (France) in 1842 and died in
Paris in 1912. He studied piano as first instrument at the Paris Conservatoire and composition with
Antoine Thomas. At the age of 21 he won the Prix de Rome, which helped him start out on the long
path towards becoming a composer of opera. From 1878 to 1896 he worked as professor of
composition at the Paris Conservatoire. In addition to many operas, he also composed some
overtures, a piano concerto, some cantatas and oratorios, a significant amount of stage music and
about two hundred songs. Massenet received considerable recognition during his lifetime and in 1879
he was invested as the youngest member of the Academie des Beaux-Arts, to become its president a
few years later. Opera audiences are often accused of paying little or no attention to orchestral parts;
however, on occasions, instrument solos, preludes or interludes are received with overwhelming
enthusiasm. Massenet's Meditation was one such case. To acknowledge the audience's tumultuous
applause for the Meditation at the premiere performance of Thas, Campanini had to repeat the
movement not only that night, but at all subsequent performances. It is one of Massenet's most
delightful pieces. Originally it is a simple, sensual and reflexive solo melody for violin accompanied
by harp and strings. It reflects Thas' words to Athanal, "Your words remain in my heart like a
divine fragrance - I pray, I cry - . There enters a great light in my soul. Having seen the absence of all
passion, I come to you as you so desire".
Gabriel Faur was born in Pamiers (Arige, France) on 12 May 1845 and died in Paris on 4
November 1924. He worked as church organist and choir conductor for many years and was
appointed senior professor of composition and subsequently rector of the Paris Conservatoire. He
also founded the "Societ Nationale de Musique" together with his close friend and maestro Camile
Saint-Sans. Amongst his numerous compositions are several song cycles, solo piano works, chamber
music, religious choral music including his famous Requiem and incidental music such as Pellas et
Mlisande for Maurice Maeterlink's play. His music is elegant, exalting and yet intimate. Sicilienne
was initially written for cello and piano, and published as op. 78. Faur orchestrated it later and
included it as the third movement in the Orchestral Suite Peleas et Melisande op. 80. In this version
the flute is the soloist. Berceuse op. 16, a delicate lullaby, was originally written for violin and piano.
In this recording the arrangement for flute and piano has been used, transposed into F major.
Camille Saint-Sans was born in Paris on 9 October 1835 and died in Algeria on 16 December 1921.
At the age of thirteen he entered the Paris Conservatoire, studying composition with Halvy. Later he
gave lessons to Faur at the Niedermayer School of Religious Music. He was a distinguished pianist,
organist at Madeleine (1857-75) and one of the founders of the "Societ Nationale de Musique". He
was a great traveller, held a keen interest in philosophy and art, was a scrupulous craftsman of his
music and would fight to death to defend the concept of form: "Art, to me, is about form above all".
He was a prolific composer and wrote a great number of piano works, chamber music, symphonies
and concertos. He also composed exotic, descriptive and dramatic works, including four symphonic
poems and 13 operas, including Samson and Delilah. Le Cygne was composed in 1886 as part of Le
carnaval des animaux. Originally the work was a kind of private joke written for his friends'
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amusement and it was never actually performed in the composer's lifetime. Wit and irony are
represented to perfection in this work, doubtlessly Saint-Sans' most popular composition, in which
he lets loose his humorist talent.
Angel Oliver was born on 2 January 1937 in Moyuela (Zaragoza, Spain). He studied with Francisco
Cals, Cristobal Halffter and Jess Guridi, amongst others, at the Higher Conservatory of Madrid,
where he was to become professor of music notation and theory in later years. He has won many
composing competitions, including the Reina Sofa prize for his work "Nunc" for string orchestra. He
is an organist and teacher, as well as composer. Pequea Suite al estilo antiguo receives its premiere
commercial recording here within. It consists of four movements written at different times and
places. Trova was composed in Rome in 1966, Cantiga and Romance in Madrid in 1971 and, finally,
Danza in Cuelgamuros (Valle de los Cados) in 1974. A modal style predominates in the first three
pieces. In Danza, however, the flute is accompanied in part by the piano with no tonal pattern.
Pequea Suite al estilo antiguo was premiered on 6 February 1976 in Zaragoza during the "VI Cycle
of Spanish Performers" by Pedro Gonzlez and Guillermo Gonzlez. It is dedicated to the University
Teaching College of Guadalajara and to Julia M Daz who was director at that time. The work was
published by the University and has had an enthusiastic reception as it has been included in the study
programmes of the majority of music conservatories in Spain.
Claude Debussy was born in St. Germain-en-Laye on 22 May 1862 and died in Paris on 25 March
1918. He studied with Marmontel, Lavignac, Csar Frank, Massenet and Giraud. His compositions
were greatly influenced by Wagner, music from the Far East, the Universal Exhibition and the close
relations that he held with the impressionist artists. He composed a wealth of music for piano, opera,
cantatas, ballets, chamber and orchestral music. Debussy's works abound with pictorial forms, since
he used a predominantly visual form of processing sound. The suggested art form which surrounds
the music is as significant or more so than the form based purely on sounds. There is clear and close
parallelism between the works of Debussy, a musical impressionist, and that of his contemporaries,
the French impressionist painters, to whom the musical school of impressionism really owes its
name. Le petit negre, published in 1909 in Thodore Lack's piano method, was originally written for
solo piano. It was composed in the same period as Children's Corner, consisting of 6 pieces for piano
written for Debussy's daughter Chouchou. Le petit negre is very similar to the last piece in this
collection, the Golliwog's cake-walk. Debussy used the main theme again in 1913 in La Boite
joujoux (The toy box). Its second theme surprisingly evokes Chabrier.
Arthur Honneger was born in the Hague on 10 March 1892 and died in Paris on 27 November 1955.
He is one of the most important Swiss composers although he worked very closely with the French
school. He started studying at the Zurich Conservatory but later moved to France and was enrolled at
the Paris Conservatoire. He returned to Switzerland at the outbreak of the First World War, but at the
end of the war he went back to continue his studies in Paris, where he was taught the violin by Capet,
counterpoint and fugue by Gedalge, composition by Widor and conducting by d'Indy. It was there, at
the Paris Conservatoire, where he made friends with Darius Milhaud, who introduced him to the
artistic circles of the city. Shortly afterwards, Honneger became a member of the famous "Group of
Six", but never truly adopted their aesthetic principles. Despite the importance of his dramatic works
(Le Roi David, Jeanne d'Arc au Bcher) and symphonic works (Pacific 231, 5 symphonies), he also
wrote ballets, film music and various chamber works. In the flute repertoire, Honneger wrote
important works, such as The Goat's Dance for solo flute, and also wrote small miniature works, such
as this Romance, originally written for flute and piano.
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Paul Hindemith was born in Hanau (Hesse, Germany) on 16 September 1895 and died in Frankfurt
am Main on 28 December 1963. He studied at Frankfurt Conservatory. At the age of 20 he was
appointed Musical Director of the Opera of the same city. He was a virtuoso of the viola, forming
part of the Amar Quartet which he founded. Hindemith was captivated by the technique of
counterpoint as modelled by Bach and Haendel. In 1927 he became professor of composition at the
Hochschulke fr Musik in Berlin. With the advent of Nazism he went into exile to Switzerland and
then to America, where he settled and became head of the music department of Yale University until
1953. Years later he took the same job in Zurich. He wrote a treatise on composition and musical
syntax. Although most of his work is dedicated to chamber music, he also composed for chamber
orchestra, piano works such as his famous Ludus Tonalis, songs, music for theatre, several operas
such as Matthew the painter, ballets, orchestral music such as the Symphonic Metamorphoses on a
theme by Weber, one oratorio and the Requiem for those who love. Echo was originally composed
for flute and piano. In this work, Hindemith imitates the effect of an echo, from which it gets its
name; the flute repeats in the background the motifs introduced by the piano and vice versa.
Jules Mouquet, a French composer, was born in 1867 and died in 1946. He studied composition with
Dubois at the Paris Conservatoire, where later, in 1913, he was to become professor of harmony. Like
other French composers of the period, he was interested in matters related to Greek mythology, and
this was the evocative motif behind many of his compositions. His most famous work, which was
fundamentally responsible for giving him a place in music history, is La flte de Pan for flute and
orchestra. The Five short pieces for flute and piano op. 39 are evocative pieces, of the purest French
style. The first two are lyrical and simple, the third is based on the chromatic scale and has delicate
phrasing, the fourth, apparently simple, is written in 4/4 for the piano and 12/8 for the flute, and the
fifth is based on the pentatonic scale and employs repetitive patterns.
Philippe Gaubert was born in Cahors in 1879 and died in Paris in 1941. He was a flautist, composer
and conductor. He was a pupil of Paul Taffanel at the Paris Conservatoire, where later he was to be
appointed professor. It used to be said of Gaubert that he made his flute sing, and without doubt he
was one of the best flautists of his period. He played in the Conservatory Concerto Society orchestra,
then in the Paris Opera orchestra and was later to become conductor of both orchestras. He wrote
many flute works, including important flute studies, in addition to symphonic music, operas, ballets,
chamber and vocal music. Sicilienne recorded here within is a transcription for flute and piano of an
orchestral piece composed for Gaston Blanquart; the Madrigal is a short piece originally written for
"flute with piano accompaniment" and dedicated to "Doctor Bucqoy de'l Acadmie de Mdecine".
These two expressive pieces could serve as a good introduction to the knowledge and enjoyment of
French music of this period.
Francois-Joseph Gossec was born in Vergnies (Belgium) in 1734 and died in Passy (France) in 1829.
He was an exceptionally talented child, received a full musical education in Walcourt, and later in
Maubeuge and Amberes, where he was a choirboy until the age of 15. In 1751, at the age of 17, he
moved to Paris, where, with his talent and the help of his teacher Rameau, he was appointed
conductor of the orchestra of the patron Le Riche de la Pouplinire. He worked in the court of the
Prince of Conti and later for the Prince of Cond. He was assistant conductor of the Paris Opera and
examiner and professor of composition for the Paris Conservatoire. Gossec can be considered as one
of the most typical French composers of the 18th Century. He composed works in the majority of
forms and styles. His long career illustrates the evolution of music into the 19th Century. He wrote
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revolutionary and patriotic songs and was one of the main representatives of Gluck-style large scale
opera and French comic opera. He is considered to be the creator of symphonism in France. He wrote
a great number of symphonies and then stopped composing this form to concentrate on opera. He also
wrote much chamber music. The Gavotte and the Tambourin are two popular melodies which have
been transcribed many times and in many tones for flute and piano, flute and guitar and even flute
orchestras.
Bla Bartk was born in Nagyszentmiklos (Hungary, now Rumanian territory) on 25 March 1881 and
died in New York on 26 September 1945. After finishing his studies as a pianist and composer,
Bartok intially concentrated on performing and became a pianist of note. However, impressed by a
performance of "Also Sprach Zarathustra", by Richard Struass, he re-focused his work on
composition. The influence of Strauss can be sensed in Bartok's music, as can be the influence of
Liszt, Wagner and Debussy. Bartok, together with Zoltn Kdaly, researched and collected about
7,000 popular Hungarian melodies, which resulted in the publication of a true ethno-musicological
paper. The discovery of Hungarian, Rumanian and Slovakian folksongs led him into the Hungarian
nationalist tendency; in his music he used the modes and scales which he had discovered from his
research, thus giving it such a characteristic and popular sound. When Hungary was invaded by the
Nazis, Bartok went into exile in America, where he lived the latter part of his life. He wrote abundant
works, including stage music, suites and other compositions for orchestra, choral music (Cantata
Profana), six string quartets, violin sonatas and a great number of piano works (including four
concertos and his famous Mikrokosmos). Este a szkelyeknl is a transcription for flute and piano of
one of his melodies based on popular folklore.
Louis Drouet was born in Amsterdam in 1792 and died in Bern in 1873. He was a flautist and
composer of French origin, and studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Mhul and Reicha. He was
soon known as one of the best flautist of his period and at the age of 15 he was appointed as flute
soloist for Luis Bonaparte and then for Napoleon I in Paris. Luis XVIII appointed him first flute of
the Royal Chapel, but Tulou's rivalry made Drouet move to England where he founded a flute factory
with little success. He then commenced a series of trips around Europe until the Duke of Saxony
appointed him chapel master, and he held this position for fourteen years. Drouet wrote many works
for flute and his compositions show his virtuosity on the instrument. His flute works include
concertos, one sonata, fantasies, many studies and a flute method, "Method of Flute Playing by Louis
Drouet", which was originally published in English and was designed for learning to play the eightkey flute. 1ere fantaisie, presented on this recording, forms part of a group of three pieces called,
"Trois Fantaisies trs faciles".
Saverio Mercadante was born in Altamura (province of Bari, Italy) in 1795 and died in Napoles in
1870. He studied at the San Sabastiano Conservatory of Napoles. His talents were noted by Rossini,
who invited him to Paris where his work I Briganti was performed. He also travelled to Lisbon,
Madrid and Vienna. On his return to Italy in 1840, he was appointed director of Napoles
Conservatory. With regard to composition, he initially concentrated on instrumental works. From
1820 onwards, however, his inclinations changed towards operas, masses, songs and orchestral
fantasies, amongst other works. His music was always well received and highly appreciated.
Mercadante took an active part in the struggle against the decadence of Italian opera, leaving aside all
superfluous virtuosity and taking particular care with the orchestral parts. This reformation started
him off on the path to Verdi. Capriccio no. 2 is taken from a collection of 17 pieces for flute found in
a 19th Century manuscript conserved in Palermo with the following title, "Capricci per flauto solo
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composti dal Sig. Mercadante Saverio".

Carl Nielsen was born in Norre-Lyndelse, near Odensa (on the Danish islands) on 9 June 1865 and he
died in Copenhagen on 2 October 1931. He studied at Copenhagen Conservatory and later, with a
grant, he made several trips, continuing his studies in different european countries such as Germany,
France, Austria and Italy. He played the violin in the Royal Theatre Orchestra and in the Royal Opera
of Copenhagen. In 1908 he began his conducting career and later he became professor at Copenhagen
Conservatory, where he was to be appointed honorary director in 1930. His evolution as a composer
can be seen in his six symphonies, which are noted for the "organic" composition and evolutive
tonality principles employed. Amongst other works, Nielsen wrote a famous comic opera called
Maskarade, 12 cantatas, piano pieces, songs and a flute concerto which has become one of the most
important 20th Century concertos in the flute repertoire. His music became well known in Denmark
but did not cross the border until after the end of the second world war. The children are playing is a
short piece for solo flute which Nielsen wrote as part of the incidental music for the play, "The
Mother" by Helge Rode.
Translation: Emma Goldsmith
Spanish

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