Johann Sebastian BACH
Concerto in G Major "nach italienschem Gusto",
for flute and strings with harpsichord continuo (transcription for string
orchestra by Mark Starr from the original for harpsichord, 2 hands).
This orchestral version of Bach's Italian Concerto has been recorded
by the London Bach Orchestra with
Irish flutist James Dower as soloist, as
part of his traversal of all of Bach's flute concerti. It is available
on Masters CDs, a subsidiary of the British company The Pickwick Group, as MCD 28.
The orchestration of the Italian Concerto received a great review in
the British CD magazine The Gramophone. The reviewer asked:
"Does it work? Yes."
Richard WAGNER
Ride of the Valkyries,
transcribed by Mark Starr for two flutes and piano, with optional
brief vocal part for a Valkyrie (dramatic soprano). A stupendous
new transcription that makes transcendent demands of virtuosity on all the
performers -- for 2 & 1/2 minutes of delirium. The ad libitum
vocal part is only a dozen bars long -- but these dozen bars are among the
most challenging vocal lines ever composed in all of opera: the Valkyries
war cry, Ho-jo-to-ha! As in Wagner's famous orchestral work,
performance of the vocal part is optional. In a recent performance of
this outrageous transcription, the vocal part was performed by the pianist's
page-turner. Great fun!
NEW: Now you can listen to the first part of
this utterly wacky transcription for two flutes and piano.
Here is an MP3 file
for the first half of the transcription. Since the MP3 file is 2
megs, it may take a minute before you hear the music.
Jules DEMERSSEMAN (born
Jan. 9, 1833 in Hondschoote, Netherlands - died Dec. 1, 1866 in Paris)
Concerto italien, for flute and
symphony orchestra (2-2-2-2; 4-2-3-0; T3; Strings -- 14 minutes)
This work is known to most flutists as the
Sixième Grand Solo de Concert en FA for flute and piano. This
orchestral version was brilliantly realized by Mark Starr for the type of
orchestra typically used in French operas and ballets in the 19th Century. In the past, Isabelle has performed
many times it
with several orchestras. The availability of an orchestral version of
this sensational concerto fills an important void in the repertoire for
flute and symphony orchestra. At last, flutists have a virtuoso Romantic
concerto with symphony orchestra on a par with the Paganini concerti
for the violin. Short but sweet.
Charles Valentin ALKAN (born
1813 Paris; died 1888 Paris)
Comme le vent (Like the Wind); for
four flutes and piano; transcribed by Mark Starr
The original of this virtuoso work is for piano solo.
Isabelle presented a performance of the transcription for four flutes and
piano by the Monokrome Flute Quartet
at the TUTTIFLUTTI! Festival Concert in San Jose in 2002. Flutist
Robert Stallman directed a performance of this work at the AmerEuropa Music
Festival in Prague in 2005. Others flute quartets have followed. In every performance, this work has
brought audiences to their feet cheering. This transcription for flute quartet and
piano is the ultimate test of sustained velocity for flutists. It is also hair-raising music.
Mark Starr has included indications on how this work can be performed as a
theater piece -- with the four flutists dressed in costumes as The Four
Winds -- arranged on platforms at the north, south, east and west ends
of the stage. At one performance, electric fans were placed on the
floor directed at each flutist to make their robes and long hair blow in the
wind!
Gabriel FAURÉ
Andante, for flute and string
orchestra (8 minutes)
(This original of this moving work is for
violin and piano)
Bela BARTOK
Elegy (1904), for flute and chamber
orchestra (materials in preparation.)
(The original of this profound Romantic work
is for piano solo. USA only.)
Charles M. WIDOR
Serenade, for flute and bassoon, and string
orchestra (materials in preparation)
(The original of this delightful work is for violin, cello
and piano.)
Alexandre ALABIEFF -- Henri
VIEUXTEMPS
Le Rossignol (The Nightingale), for
flute and string orchestra.
(The original of this famous virtuoso
showpiece is for violin and piano.)
Amilcare PONCHIELLI
Gran Quartetto, for woodwind
quartet (flute, oboe, clarinet in E-flat, clarinet in B-flat) and symphony
orchestra (23 minutes.)
(The original of this virtuoso work is for a
quartet of woodwinds and piano. Ponchielli was a famous composer of operas and
ballets. This Gran Quartetto -- which is virtually unknown today -- is
a jewel as music. This new version with symphony orchestra
accompaniment was orchestrated by Mark Starr. It is a unique piece in
the orchestral repertoire. It affords four woodwind players an
opportunity to appear as soloists with symphony orchestra.
(An alternate version of the solo quartet is available for 3 flutes in C and
alto flute.) It is also great fun! -- a veritable mini-opera
for 4 woodwinds and orchestra. It even has a storm scene with
lightning and thunder! In recent performances, the woodwind soloists have
dressed in operatic costumes from famous operas. Audiences have loved
it -- especially kids at childrens' concerts. [There is an abridged, simplified version of this
piece available elsewhere. Noteworthy's version is complete and far
superior musically.]
Flutists and/or conductors who might be
interested in performing in concert or recording any of these works should contact
directly:
Noteworthy Music
http://noteworthymusic.zasu.us/
650 948-2060
mark~starr@sbcglobal,net
[with the ~ (tilde) removed to defeat the spammers!]
