“Fünf Stücke im Volkston” by Robert Schumann, Transcribed for Alto Flute

SOMERVILLE, Mass. - March 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Noteworthy Sheet Music, LLC (NSM) is an online sheet music publishing enterprise with a catalog of >130 editions, most of which are unavailable from other sources.  NSM specializes in, but is not limited to, sheet music for flute and alto flute.  They offer original contemporary works by distinguished American composers, facsimile editions of rare historical scores, and unique transcriptions of pieces from the classical repertoire.  Selected NSM publications are offered as professionally-printed hard copy versions, and most of NSM’s catalog listings are available as convenient pdf downloads from the NSM website.  Visit www.NoteworthySheetMusic.com for additional information about the new release mentioned below and other NSM editions.  New sheet music selections are uploaded often, along with preview pages, contributing composer biographies, useful links, reviews and articles.

Noteworthy Sheet Music recently released a new publication for alto flute—Schumann’s charming Fünf Stücke im Volkston transcribed for alto flute by John W. Pratt.  The following text is excerpted from Mr. Pratt’s foreword to the edition:

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) wrote Fünf Stücke im Volkston (Five Pieces in Folk Style), Opus 102, for violoncello and piano on April 13-15, 1849.  1848-1849 was a very prolific period in Schumann's periodically disturbed life.  Between large scale projects, he composed, often in a week or less, many works for smaller forces: piano music including Waldszenen, Opus 82; songs including Spanisches Liederspiel, Opus 74, and Lieder-Album für die Jugend, Opus 79; and four of his relatively few works for piano and one other instrument, Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Adagio and Allegro, Opus 70 (horn), Phantasiestücke, Opus 73 (clarinet), and Drei Romanzen, Opus 94 (oboe).  Alto flute transcriptions of the latter two pieces are already available at Noteworthy Sheet Music.

Fünf Stücke im Volkston was premiered on Schumann's 40th birthday, June 8, 1850 by his wife, Clara, and their friend Andreas Grabau, the dedicatee, a cellist in the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.  Clara thought the pieces beguiling, fresh, original, and under-appreciated.  Just as folk songs may appropriately be sung by a great variety of voices, it is perhaps appropriate that songs without words in folk style may be played by a great variety of solo instruments and piano.  In any event, Schumann's Fünf Stücke im Volkston have been arranged for oboe, viola, clarinet, alto saxophone, horn, bass clarinet, bassoon, trombone, and baritone saxophone, at least.  The pieces are this popular for good reason, being varied and appealing, and we are pleased to add alto flute to this list.  Though often programmed by professionals, they call for folk-like playing, not virtuosity, and are entirely suitable for ordinary folk.    Enjoy!  John W. Pratt, 2015 ©

Here is a link to the NSM website listing of Fünf Stücke im Volkston transcribed for alto flute: http://www.noteworthysheetmusic.com/nsm/products-a-services/alto-flute-transcriptions/174-schumann-five-pieces-in-folk-style-alto-flute