Many people learn the flute. Most give it up as an adult because they cannot easily find anyone to play with, and a lack of practice makes it less enjoyable to play. This book is aimed at helping such people. The first chapter diagnoses why most amateur flautists give up playing, and sets out a number of remedies. The most important is finding other musicians with whom to play, whether in an orchestra, or more importantly, in chamber groups. The author explores how you might set about finding players for chamber music, and how you might set about finding the music itself. The second chapter gives guidance about the music for all the principal combinations of chamber groups which involve the flute. The most significant ones are flute and piano, two to four flutes, trio sonatas with another melody instrument and piano, and the wind quartet. The author describes the principal works for each of these groups, which are fun and manageable for amateurs, rather than listing everything that is available. Listed are the significant works that are available for free on the internet. The third chapter suggests a short practice regime to counteract the deficiencies in the playing of most amateur flautists, which are poor tone and tuning. Practicing half an hour a few times a week should do the trick.

The fascinating story of a hugely popular instrument, detailing its rich and varied history from the Middle Ages to the present The recorder is perhaps best known today for its educational role. Although it is frequently regarded as a stepping-stone on the path toward higher musical pursuits, this role is just one recent facet of the recorder's fascinating history--which spans professional and amateur music-making since the Middle Ages. In this new addition to the Yale Musical Instrument Series, David Lasocki and Robert Ehrlich trace the evolution of the recorder. Emerging from a variety of flutes played by fourteenth-century soldiers, shepherds, and watchmen, the recorder swiftly became an artistic instrument for courtly and city minstrels. Featured in music by the greatest Baroque composers, including Bach and Handel, in the twentieth century it played a vital role in the Early Music Revival and achieved international popularity and notoriety in mass education. Overall, Lasocki and Ehrlich make a case for the recorder being surprisingly present, and significant, throughout Western music history.

A well-planned, easy instruction book with graded lessons for C and F recorders separately or in duet form. Part 2 introduces dynamics, slurs, compound time and more in duet form.

Handel is recognised as one of the principal creative figures in Baroque music. In this Companion acknowledged experts on Handel make their expertise accessible to the interested general reader and music lover. All the genres in which Handel composed are considered including oratorio, chamber cantata, opera, and church music, as well as works for the keyboard and orchestra. The wide-ranging, specially-commissioned essays cover topics from Handel's composing methods to his treatment of the Italian language and matters of performance practice. The background to Handel's musical career is a major theme of the volume. The opening chapters deal with his musical education in Germany and the circumstances in Italy during his time there. Most of Handel's career was based in London and important topics here include contemporary concert life and theatre management, the British and Italian musicians among whom he worked, and the librettists for the English oratorios.

A Choice "Best Academic" book in its first edition, The Recorder remains an essential resource for anyone who wants to know about this instrument. This new edition is thoroughly redone, takes account of the publishing activity of the years since its first publication, and still follows the original organization.