March – A Flutist's Book of Days

March 8 – Flute Sonata in A Minor: III. Allegro by CPE Bach

Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach was born on this day in 1714. Like his father, J.S. Bach, he was successful as a composer and keyboard player, holding posts as a court musician for Frederick the Great of Prussia and as Kapellmeister for the city of Hamburg. His music serves as a bridge between the Baroque and Classical periods, and is an example of the German empfindsamer stil, which was characterized by chromaticism, an improvisatory style, and sudden changes in character. Bach wrote his Sonata in A Minor for flute solo in 1747. It is one of few existing works for unaccompanied flute from this period. Performed by Jenny Davis who is a current DMA student at USC.

March 17 – Sonata, III. Introspective by John LaMontaine

Performed by Jennifer Parker-Harley
Recorded by Jeff Francis

Born in Chicago on this day in 1920, John LaMontaine won both the Pulitzer Prize and the Guggenheim Fellowship during his long career. Varied influences can be heard in his works, from sounds of nature to jazz to medieval music and folk song. He said, “Part of my creed is that you should be interested in everything.” His most popular work for flute, the Sonata, shows his characteristic rhythmic vitality and jazz influence.

Flute Alone, March

March 19 – Three Preludes by Robert Muczynski

Performed by Jennifer Parker-Harley
Recorded by Jeff Francis

Born on this day in 1929, Robert Muczynski was an American composer and pianist. His relatively small compositional outlook consists primarily of chamber works and piano pieces, although his compositions for flute are numerous and have become part of the standard repertoire for the instrument. The Preludes exhibit his sense of rhythmic vitality and the influence of jazz on his style.

Flute Alone, March

March 21 – J.S. Bach Partita in A Minor, I. Allemande

Performed by Emily Stumpf

Born on this day in 1685, J.S. Bach wrote his Partita while he was music director at the Calvinist court of Cöthen. Bach adopted the form of this four-movement work from the French baroque instrumental dance suites. The “Allemande,” no longer danced by the 17th century, is a highly-ornamented introductory movement in a German style.

Flute and Piano, March

March 22 – Black Anemones By Joseph Schwantner

Performed by Jennie Oh Brown, flute (http://jenniebrownflute.com/)
Cindy Trowbridge, piano

Born on this day in 1943, Joseph Schwantner is known for his dramatic and unique style and as a gifted orchestral colorist. Black Anemones – a transcription for flute and piano of a song originally published in 1980 – explores the lyrical side of the flute. Jennie Oh Brown is a great friend of the USC Flute Studio and her recording of Schwantner’s flute works, Looking Back, is available from Innova Records (https://www.innova.mu/albums/jennie-oh-brown/looking-back)

Originally posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnnuKcqsX4U

Flute and Piano, March

March 31

Jake Heggie, born on March 31, is an American composers most known for his contemporary operas which earned him a Guggenheim Fellowship. Fury of Light was written flutist Carol Wincenc to celebrate her Ruby Anniversary and is inspired by Mary Oliver’s poem, “Sunrise.” The last line of the poem informs the piece, saying “whatever you want, it is/happiness, it is another one/of the ways to enter/fire.”