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Flutist & Ensemble Profiles

Low to High Notes

Inside the Library Column (Reviews)

We Read (Book Reviews)

Archived Issues

Inspiring Flute Solos, Arr. by Karen North, for the Intermediate Flutist

Published in 2022 by Allegro Music Company and arranged by Karen North, this collection of thirty carefully curated and refreshingly original “inspiring solos” for the intermediate flutist are indeed inspiring to learn, teach and perform as well as perfectly suited to the early-intermediate to advanced-intermediate flutist.

All are for unaccompanied flute and are a well-balanced treasure chest of teachable moments in term of styles, technique, musicality, articulation, meters, and early effects like pitch bends, flutter tonguing, stamping, and clapping. They represent a range of styles - polka, tango, and other dance tunes as well as pieces with a jazzy feel, classical, folk, programmatic/character pieces, nocturne, arias, comical sketches

Link to Highlights & Review:

Music Review - Inspiring Flute Solos Arr by Karen North Spring 2024.pdf

From the Fall 2023 Piper - Liliflute Publishing Company – Latin American Flute Self-Publisher

Here is an unusual and wonderful publishing company focused on Latin American music that you might like to know about – Liliflute Music. They have a rich array of music for c-flute, alto and bass as well as beginner, intermediate and more advanced method books that utilize the Latin American style.

Link to Article: Teaching and Learning Liliflute Publishing Winter 2023.pdf

From the Fall 2023 Piper - Music Review: Beyond Bach, Insights on New Flute Repertoire by Female Baroque Composers

This is a video presentation to know about! It introduces us to new repertoire. This  was part of the National Flute Associations 2022 Online Event Series, presented by Dr. Nadine Luke who will be doing GPFS’s June First Tuesdays Online with GPFS on a similar topic.

Link to Article: Music Review Beyond Bach Female Composers NFA Resource Winter 2023.pdf

Composer Zachery Meier releases Bokeh for Alto Flute & Piano (2023)

Friend to GPFS, flutist Rose Bishop recommends this piece for alto flute.

Bokeh: [BOH-Kay] : The aesthetic quality of the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image, caused by the “Circles of Confusion.”

Composer Notes: "Bokeh is the warm, circular glow given off by out of focus lights, as seen in many beautiful rainy-day pictures of traffic, busy city streets, and park lanterns. The sentiment behind the piece is of sincere connection between the two performers, coming together to create music in conversation with each other. I wanted to evoke a sense of capriciousness in both parts to emulate a communal joy, while creating a warm sonic environment that both performers could find shelter within. Looking at images of “bokeh” brought sense of nostalgia for the cozy days that only stormy weather can bring; of gentle rain, a warm home, a cup of tea/coffee, and starring out the window without a sense of lost time or urgency."

​Performance by Rose Bishop and Abbi Brewer:

Bokeh for Alto Flute

Composer Website to Purchse Score: 

https://www.zacherymeiermusic.com/contact

The Western East for Bass Flute & Harp by Yossi Hamami

This is a fascinating listen for bass flute and such an interesting combination with the harp. Yossi is an Israeli composer and the influence of that part of the globe can be heard. All three "movements" are worth listening to, but the third is particularly enchanting.

If you play the bass and know a harpist this is a concert repertoire to consider!

Listen on YouTube:

The Western East Part 1

The Western East Part 2

The Western East Part 3

REMEMBER, Oregon's Own Native American Flute Music Festival - Flutestock

Festival scheduled for:

July 26-28, 2024

FREE, Island Park in Springfield, OR.

www.flutestock.org

GPFS is thrilled to learn about this rich Oregon-based resource and share it with our membership. This is a community of diversity, friendship, learning and fun!

If any of the following is true for you then Flutestock is an organization and event for you to know about. Are you interested in learning more about the Native American flute? Maybe you play one and want to improve or maybe you want to try starting up. Maybe you simply love the sound of the instrument and love listening to performances and learning about the Native American culture. You can learn more here!

Link to Article:  Flutestock Oregon's Native American Flute Festival Winter 2023.pdf

Musician/Ensemble Profiles

(GPFS needs volunteer writers for this and other columns. Contact newsletter@gpfs.org.)

Inspiring Flute Solos, Arr. by Karen North, for the Intermediate Flutist

Published in 2022 by Allegro Music Company and arranged by Karen North, this collection of thirty carefully curated and refreshingly original “inspiring solos” for the intermediate flutist are indeed inspiring to learn, teach and perform as well as perfectly suited to the early-intermediate to advanced-intermediate flutist.

All are for unaccompanied flute and are a well-balanced treasure chest of teachable moments in term of styles, technique, musicality, articulation, meters, and early effects like pitch bends, flutter tonguing, stamping, and clapping. They represent a range of styles - polka, tango, and other dance tunes as well as pieces with a jazzy feel, classical, folk, programmatic/character pieces, nocturne, arias, comical sketches

Link to Highlights & Review:

Music Review - Inspiring Flute Solos Arr by Karen North Spring 2024.pdf

From the Feb. 2023 Piper, 99 Irish Dance Tunes for Flute, by Anne McGinty(1980) 

It’s that time of year – St. Patrick’s Day is only a distant memory. Do you still have the desire to play Irish music and lots of it. Pick up this charming, thoughtfully organized book of Irish dance tunes arranged by Anne McGinty, an American flutist and composer.

Overall, this collection arranged specifically for flute is simply a fun St. Patrick’s day treat for the intermediate to advanced the flutist - especially for flutists with Celtic heritage in their blood! It also has fun and pedagogical value for the flute student/teacher.

Read Full Review: Music Review 99 Irish Dance Tunes Anne McGinty Feburary 2023.pdf

From August, 2022 Piper, Noogleshifty, The All Knowing Salmon for flute and piano - 

Reviewed by Cheryl Thompson. This piece is available from our GPFS Lending Library.

Huge fun to play. This playful Irish and jazz-influenced piece was transcribed from a recording of Barnes’ and Phelan’s studio session in Madrid, where they recorded original and re-imagined traditional melodies for a promo CD. Its enigmatic title was inspired by a T-shirt seen in a monastery gift shop referring to the Irish Myth of the “All-Knowing Salmon,” as well as a nod to the Scottish band “Shooglenifty.”

Read Full Review: Music Review Noogleshifty August 2022.pdf

Oasis Ensemble House Concert!

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 – 7 PM at 795 Silver Lane, Eugene, OR. 97404. *RSVP Required: (503) 939-5068 or luckydawn@msn.com

Tickets

$20-15 sliding scale, Students $5

Artists

• Dawn Weiss, Flutist
• Louis Lowenstein, Cellist
• Andrew Cannestra, Pianist

Program

The concert includes two Trios for Flute, Cello and Piano by French composers, Gabriel Pierné (1920-21) and Louise Farrenc (1857) and two charming new Duos for Flute and Cello, never heard before! (meet one of the composers!!!) The concert time ~ 75 minutes. Reception following.

 www.oasisensemble.com

• Dawn Weiss: Principal Flutist of the Oregon Symphony (1980-2005), Soloist, Chamber Musician and Flute Teacher: dawnweiss.com
• Louis Lowenstein: protégé of Gregor Piatigorsky and former member of the Chicago Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras: llcello.org/experience
• Andrew Cannestra: Award-winning pianist and Naxos Label Recording Artist and Doctoral Candidate at the University of Oregon: soundcloud.com/cannestra

 Noteworthy - This column for The Portland Piper that was conceived and developed by GPFS member Sue Bonfeld. It is a short list of curated videos, interviews, podcasts and performances of interest to musicians of all levels, but outside the scope of GPFS’s curated Flute Resources webpage.

Note, this robust webpage is updated regularly and all suggestions are welcome – please just email us at newsletter@gpfs.org.  

These two selections were shared with us by youth member Greer and her mom Eden!

Playground for Music Education & Theory

A free site that teaches a range of music theory from beginner to advanced for people of all ages. It can serve as a ready, introductory overview and a good “stepping off point” to learn more. 

Link to Site: Playground for Music Theory

The Wide World of Music: A Guide to 100 Musical Instruments - Interactive

An unusual website for GPFS, but a fun webpage from the host’s “guides” section. Geared toward youth, the webpage gives the opportunity to click on any instrument to hear what it sounds like! Greer and Eden were surprised by how many new instruments they learned about from all around the world. While geared toward a youth audience, adults can enjoy it too.

Link to Site:

100 Musical Instruments

The Last Repair Shop

This music-themed documentary is winner of the Documentary Short Category at the 2024 Academy Awards.!

Watch it! Inspiring! A testimony to the power of music and being an advocate for music education.

 "In a nondescript warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles, a dwindling handful of devoted craftspeople maintain over 80,000 student musical instruments, the largest remaining workshop in America of its kind. Meet four unforgettable characters whose broken-and-repaired lives have been dedicated to bringing so much more than music to the schoolchildren of the recording capital of the world. Watch "The Last Repair Shop," directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers.”

When accepting the Oscar award, Bowers said, “Music education isn’t just about creating incredible musicians — it’s about creating incredible human beings.”

Watch the whole 40 minute documentary on this YouTube Channel:

The Last Repair Shop

Suggested Music Reads from Tania Leon

Highly regarded composer, conductor, educator and advisor to the arts, Tania Leon shares a list of her suggested music themed reads. The literature featured on this page: is global in nature; a range of biographies of composers, musicians and cultural influencers; reference books ranging from the topics of music appreciation to Black and Latina music history and culture; and, inclusive of books for adults and children.

Be sure to scroll all the way through. Link to Website:

Tania's Suggested Reading

On my reading list from this page is Tania León's Stride: A Polyrhythmic Life (2022) by Alejandro Madrid - "Nuanced and multifaceted, Tania León's Stride looks at the life, legacy, and milieu that created and sustained one of the most important figures in American classical music. Alejandro L. Madrid draws on oral history, archival work, and ethnography to offer the first in-depth biography of the artist."

Reminder - From the 40th GPFS Flute Fair Guest Artist Marianne Gedigian

"Written by flutist and teacher Marianne Gedigian, Survival of the Flutist details the journey of a flutist on their path to professional and personal fulfillment. This stunning 80+ page hard cover picture book was masterfully hand lettered and illustrated by artist, flutist and teacher Patti Adams. Produced by Adam Workman, founder and president of Flutistry Boston."

Flutist is exclusively available at:

 www.flutistry.com