An die Musik: a lieder album for flute and piano
An die Musik (arr. and ed. Elisabeth Parry and John Alley, pub. Aurea Capra) our new collection of lieder arranged for flute and piano is now published! The volume includes works by the masters of the genre, Schubert and Schumann, as well as gems by Richard Strauss, Hugo Wolf, Alban Berg, Clara Schumann, and Fanny Mendelssohn.
These emotionally-charged pieces give scope to players of all standards to explore depths of expression and interpretation and make ideal short concert pieces.
My personal favourites
It’s hard to choose a favourite, but for me, I think it’s probably Alban Berg’s Die nachtigall from his Seven Early Songs. We tend to think of Berg as a master of the tone row and serialism, which is maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, but Die nachtigall is a much more romantic piece. Its beautiful melody and lush harmonies are very moving, and a real surprise if you’re not familiar with his early work.
I also love Clara Schumann’s Ich stand in dunklen Träumen. It’s incredible, when you experience this beautiful piece, to realise how overshadowed she has been by her husband Robert and how ignored by both performers and musicologists until quite recently. It’s wonderful to bring the piece into the flute repertoire.
Here’s what one reviewer says:
“Transcribing wonderful songs for the flute is always a good idea, especially if the arrangements are as classy as these. The choice of songs is very appealing too. Schubert and Schumann are perennial favourites, and the addition of songs by Fanny Mendelsshon and Clara Schumann to fly the flag for the women, and Richard Strauss and Alban Berg which are more challenging to interpret, give this volume an extra depth. They are all lovely—sing your way round the flute!”
- Fanny Mendlessohn Bergeslust
- Schubert Ständchen
- Clara Schumann Ich stand in dunklen Träumen
- Schubert An die Musik
- Schumann Er, der Herrlichste von allen
- Wolf Verborgenheit
- Berg Die Nachtigall
- Richard Strauss Morgen!
- Schubert Auf dem Wasser zu singen
- Richard Strauss Zueignung
John and I will be recording pieces from this album soon so I’ll be sharing some excerpts in future posts. An die Musik is available to purchase as a download here or from your favourite music retailer worldwide. Here’s a couple of quick buy links to the print edition in the US and in the UK.
Update: Now also available in alto flute edition here.
