Repertoire List – Small Ensembles

Repertoire Recommendations for Small Ensembles

Music selection is a very personal thing. I have tried to give some information about the difficulty level of the music listed, but just because a piece is listed as “Easy”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not worthy of being played by a professional ensemble. Since I teach as well as perform, I have tried to put notes about many of these pieces’ suitability for students, as well as for gigs. For casual gigs, it’s important to have a lot of music that’s easy to put together, but sounds good. I’ve tried to list some of my favorites here. I’ve also listed some of my favorite concert pieces. This list is by no mean exhaustive, and I’ll try to keep adding to it from time to time.

FLEXIBLE CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY DUETS

TWO FLUTES & PIANO TRIOS

QUARTETS CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY QUARTETS

NAME	COMPOSER	ARRANGER	PARTS	GENRE	PUBLISHER	PLAYTIME	DIFFICULTY	COMMENTS
FLEXIBLE
American Patriotic Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	13 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Christmas and Hanukah Songs for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 1 Christmas and Hanukah Songs for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 2	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	12 pieces, 1:30 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Classical Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 1 Classical Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 2	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	12 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Favorite Movie Standards		Snell, Keith	solo, duet, trio	Pop	CPP/Belwin	15 pieces	INT	good gig music
Irish Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4, or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	14 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Jewish Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4, or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	15 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for secular occasions and synagogue services–Jewish folk songs, songs for holidays and festivals and liturgical music are included
Sacred Music–Hymns for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	17 pieces, 1:00-2:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY DUETS
Christmas and Hanukah Songs for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 1 Christmas and Hanukah Songs for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 2	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY		EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Christmas Music for Two Flutes		Smithson, Suzanne	duet	Xmas	Elliot Weisgarber	22 songs	EASY	includes background info on each song–easy… good for students
International Christmas Duets		Lombardo, Ricky	duet	Xmas	LMP	15 songs	EASY	good for students or gigs
More Christmas Music for Two Flutes		Smithson, Suzanne	duet	Xmas	Elliot Weisgarber	18 songs	EASY	includes background info on each song–easy… good for students
DUETS
Album of Flute Duets	various, incl. Beethoven, W.F. Bach, Naudot, Reicha	Moyse, Louis (ed.)	duet		G. Schirmer	12 duets	INT/ADV	One of my standbys for gigs and more advanced students.
American Patriotic Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	13 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Classical Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 1 Classical Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 2	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	12 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Disney Movie Favorites for Recorder		Let’s Play Recorder! Series	duet	arr.	Hal Leonard	9 songs	EASY	These arrangements for recorder are MUCH easier for students than the flute arrangements! Plus they’re in duet form and great for lessons.
Duet Adventures		Meredith, Jim	duet	orig. & arr.	Macie Publishing	11 songs	VERY EASY	very easy arrangements, including Chester & some orig. music, including Green Onion Rock
Extended Techniques–Double the Fun	Louke, Phyllis Avidan		duet	orig. & arr.	ALRY	12 songs	EASY to INT	great way to introduce extended techniques to students. Good for ensembles, too.
Halloween Duets		Potter, Chris	duet	arr.	Voice of the Rockies		EASY/INT	Fun!
Irish Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4, or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	14 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Jewish Liturgical Music for Two Flutes		Louke, Phyllis Avidan	duet	Arr.	ALRY	8 pieces	EASY	Great for secular occasions and synagogue services
Jewish Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4, or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	15 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for secular occasions and synagogue services–Jewish folk songs, songs for holidays and festivals and liturgical music are included
Favorite Movie Standards		Snell, Keith	solo, duet, trio	Pop	CPP/Belwin	15 pieces	INT	good gig music
Flute Magic (48 solos & duets)		Cappuccio, Gerry	duet	arr.	Warner Bros.	48 songs	INT	Lot’s of oldies–good for retirement home gigs
Anything in the “Let’s Play Recorder!” Series			duet	arr.	Hal Leonard	various pops arrangements	EASY	There are various books, including Beatles, Musicals, etc. that are very easy. The only caveat is since they’re written for recorder, they’re voiced pretty low, with frequent low C’s.
Modern Flutist 2		Zgraja, Krystof	duet	orig.	Schott	20 duets	INT	Great for students & gigs. These are really creative duets that aren’t too difficult in various pop styles. My favorites are “Loco-Motive” & “Funky Duo”
Sacred Music–Hymns for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	17 pieces, 1:00-2:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Selected Duets for Flute Vol. II (Advanced)–orange book	various	Voxman, H.	duet		Rubank		INT/ADV	One of my standbys for gigs and more advanced students.
Selected Duets for Flute Vol. I (Easy-Medium)–yellow book	various	Voxman, H.	duet		Rubank		EASY/INT	This is a great book to get students started with duets in their 2nd year of playing. I have also used this for gigs.
TWO FLUTES & PIANO
Andante and Rondo	Doppler, Franz				various		INT/ADV
Sean’s Dance	Grady, Jennifer				ALRY		INT/ADV	Beautiful!
Soaring	Grady, Jennifer				ALRY		INT/ADV	Beautiful!
Three Dances for Two Flutes & Piano	Schocker, Gary				JP Publications		ADV
TRIOS
Adon Olam		Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1-3	Arr.	ALRY		EASY	arrangement of a beautiful Jewish song–easy
American Patriotic Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	13 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Carol of the Bells		Christensen, James	c1-3	Xmas	Almitra Music		INT
Christmas and Hanukah Songs for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Xmas	ALRY	12 pieces, 1:30 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Cimerosa Suite		George, Thom Ritter	c1-3	Arr.	Composer	approx. 5-7 min.	INT	Really nicely written. Our group loves to play this because all of the parts are fun.
Classical Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 1 Classical Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 2	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	12 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Drunken Sailor		Cowles, Colin	c1-3	Arr.		3-4 min.	INT
Favorite Movie Standards		Snell, Keith	solo, duet, trio	Pop	CPP/Belwin	15 pieces	INT	good gig music
Grand Trio	Beethoven		c1-3				INT	one of my favorite concert trios
Havah Nagilah		Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1-2,3/b	Arr.	ALRY		INT
Irish Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4, or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	14 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Jewish Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4, or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	15 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for secular occasions and synagogue services–Jewish folk songs, songs for holidays and festivals and liturgical music are included
Pop Trios for All		Story, Michael	c1-3	Pop	Warner Bros. Publications	15 pieces	EASY/INT	great for kid groups–Star Wars Theme & Pink Panther, etc.
Sacred Music–Hymns for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	17 pieces, 1:00-2:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Six Holiday Carols for Trio		Bowen, Steven	c1-3	Xmas			EASY
Six Trios for Three Flutes	Devienne	Wummer (ed)	c1-3		International		INT/ADV	really nice
Six Trios for Three Flutes, Op. 83	Hook, James	Voxman, H. (ed.)	c1-3		Rubank		INT	wonderful Classical style trios! A must have.
Sonatina IV	Mozart, W. A.	McLeod, James “Red”	c1-3		Kendor	EASY	EASY/INT	nicely arranged–good for student groups
Three Blind Mice Scherzo		Colby, Carleton	c1-3	folk		2 min	INT	cute! Might be out of print.
Trio for Flutes (Flotentrio)–3 mvmts.	Zempleni, Laszlo		c1-3	Orig.		2+3+2 min.	INT	One of our group’s favorites.
Trios for Fun (Sailor’s Hornpipe, American Patrol, Can Can)		Lombardo, Ricky	c1-3	Arr.	ALRY		INT	Good piece for variety or for less formal venues.
QUARTETS
Academie of Dance	McMichael, Catherine		c1-2,a,b & piano	Orig.	ALRY		INT/ADV	beautiful! 3 of 4 movements require piano.
Adagio and Scherzo, Op. 77	Wouters, Adolphe F.	Voxman, H. (ed.)		Orig.	Rubank (Hal Leonard)		INT/ADV	good concert music–fairly advanced (especially fast 2nd movement)
Alexander’s Ragtime Band	Berlin	Holcombe, Bill	c1-4,opt. a,b	Arr.	Musicians Publ.	3 min.	INT/ADV	Fun and jazzy! Great audience pleaser.
American Flute Salute		Holcombe, Bill	c1-4,opt. a,b	Arr.	Musicians Publ.		INT/ADV	Medley of American tunes with a jazzy twist.
American Patriotic Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	13 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Brother James Air		Kile, Nora	c1-4,opt. b	Arr.	ALRY		EASY
Camptown Races	Foster, Stephen	Holcombe, Bill	c1-4,opt. a,b	Arr.	Musicians Publ.		INT/ADV
Classical Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 1 Classical Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 2	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	12 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Comedians Gallop	Kabalevsky	Lombardo, Ricky	p, c1-2,a/c3,b	Arr.	LMP	2 min.	INT	Makes a good opener or closer to a program.
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik–4 mvmts. (Serenade, Romanze, Menuetto, & Rondo)	Mozart	McWayne, Dorli	c1-2,c/a,b (w/div. parts)	Arr.	ALRY	5+4-8+1-2+4	INT	Well done arrangement.
Epigrams	McGinty, Anne		c1-4	Orig.	ALRY		INT
Flute Symphony		Holmes, G.E.	c1-4	Arr.	Rubank?		INT	a nice variety of tunes in this collection. Suitable for student groups or adult groups.
Four Renaissance Motets (O Magnum Mysterium, O Quam Gloriosum, O Vos Omnes, Ave Maria)	Victoria, Tomas Luis de	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1-3,a, opt. picc & bass	Arr.	avail. from arranger	10-12 min.	EASY/INT	This works well for flute choir and sounds gorgeous.
Gaelic Offering, A	McMichael, Catherine		c1-4	Arr.	ALRY		INT	Arrangement of four Irish songs in separate movements (two fast & two slow and gorgeous). Well scored with all parts of equal difficulty.
Gay Nineties Medley		Holcombe/Parente	c1-4,opt. a,b	Arr.	Musicians Publ.	6-7 min.	INT/ADV	Medley with jazzy rhythms and fun to play and listen to.
George M. Cohan Medley	Cohan, George M.	Nagle, Paul	c1-4,opt. a,b	Arr.	Musicians Publ.		INT/ADV	Medley with jazzy rhythms and fun to play and listen to.
Holberg Suite (Gavotte & Sarabande)	Grieg	Jicha, Victoria	c1-4	Arr.	ALRY		EASY/INT	simplified, but very effective
Irish Aire and Jig		Kibbe, Michael	c1-4	Arr.	Shawnee Press		INT	Londonderry Air & Irish Washerwoman–great arrangement!
Irish Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4, or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	14 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Jewish Music for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4, or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	15 pieces, 1:30-3:00 min. each	EASY	Great for secular occasions and synagogue services–Jewish folk songs, songs for holidays and festivals and liturgical music are included
Jamaican Rhapsody	Traditional	Nowak	c1-4,opt. a,b	Folk	Musicians Publications	3-4 min.	INT/ADV	Medley with jazzy rhythms and fun to play and listen to.
Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair	Foster, Stephen	Holcombe, Bill	c1-4,opt. a,b	Folk	Musicians Publications	4-5 min.	INT/ADV	This is great coupled with arrangements of two other Stephen Foster tunes by Bill Holcombe (Camptown Races and Oh Susanna)
Jazz Divertimento	Guiot, Raymond		c1-3,a	Orig.	Lemoine	7:30 min.	INT/ADV	Jazzy & fun in three movements–really well written.
Jour D’Ete a la Montagne	Bozza, Eugene		c1-4	Orig.			ADV	wonderful concert music
La Caccia (Quartet)–2 mvmt.	Telemann	Gatti	c1-4	Arr.		2+2.5 min	INT	We usually use the 2nd movement. It makes a great opener–it’s like a fanfare.
La Lune et Les Etoiles	McMichael, Catherine		p/1,2,a,b	Orig.	ALRY		INT/ADV	Beautiful! (Advanced)
Lovely Fields So Gentle	Gluck, C. W.		c1-4	Arr.	Southern		INT	Beautiful! Good for weddings.
Madama Butterfly Suite (4 arias from Madama Butterfly)	Puccini	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1-3,4/b	Arr.	avail. from arranger		INT
Mississippi Rag	Krell, W. H.	Frackenpohl, Arthur	c1-4	Arr.	Kendor	3 min.	INT
Oh Susanna	Foster, Stephen	Holcombe, Bill	c1-4,opt. a,b	Arr.	Musicians Publications		INT/ADV
Pastorale	Scarlatti, Domenico	Grady, Jennifer	c1-4	Arr.	ALRY		INT
Planets, The	Holst, Gustav	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1-4,opt. a,b	Arr.	Falls House	21 min.	INT	All 7 movement of The Planets in an abbreviated form. All the themes are there, but it is a true arrangement, rather than a transcription. Can be performed with as few as 4 flutes, but the addition of alto and bass gives it more depth.
Pop Quartets for All		Story, Michael	c1-4	Popular	Warner Bros. Publications	12 pieces	EASY/INT	includes Peter Gunn, Louie Louie, Summertime, JamesBond Theme–great for kids!
Quartett (In the Church, Parents Hope for Children, In the Kitchen)	Alexander Tcherepnin, op. 60		c1-4	Orig.			INT	Concert music
Sacred Music–Hymns for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more)	Various	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY	17 pieces, 1:00-2:00 min. each	EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Simple Gifts	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1/p,c2/p,c3-4, opt. a,b	Arr.	ALRY	3-5 min.	INT
Sinfonica pour Quatuor de Flutes, Op. 12	Reicha, A.		c1-4	orig.			INT/ADV	1st part is advanced
Sonata in F	Sheidler	Lisa Ochoco	c1-3,a	Classical	Falls House		INT
Sound of Music, Selections from	Hammerstein	Holcombe & Dorsey	c1-4,opt. a,b	Popular	Musicians Publications	12 min.	INT/ADV	I love this arrangement!
Suite Butterfly–3 mvmts. (Caterpillar, Chrysalis, Butterfly)	Louke, Phyllis Avidan		p/c1,c2-3,c4/a/b	Orig.	ALRY	3+3+2 min.	INT	Programmatic work in 3 movements describing the life cycle of the butterfly.
Three Preludes	Gershwin, George	Bacchus, Peter	c1-2,a,b	arr.		approx. 6	INT/ADV
Tico Tico No Fuba	See: Flauta Vol. 1	Woltzenlogel, Celso	c1-3,a,string bass	Arr.	ALRY		INT/ADV
Turkey in the Straw (Quartet)	Traditional	Leeuwen, Ary van	c1-3,a	Trad.		5-7 min.	INT/ADV
CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY QUARTETS
Alleluia	Manuel, Ralph	Jicha, Victoria		Arr.	ALRY		INT
Angels We Have Heard		Sobaje, Martha	C1-4	Arr.		4 min.	INT
Christmas and Hanukah Songs for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 1 Christmas and Hanukah Songs for Flexible Flute Ensemble (2,3,4 or more), Volume 2	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	2-5 flutes, opt. a/b	Arr.	ALRY		EASY	Great for student groups or easy to put together gig music. Can be played with 2 parts, up to 5 parts plus alto & bass.
Christmas Carols for Flute Choir		Christensen, James	c1-4	Arr.	Kendor		INT	book of basic Christmas carols–a standard
Christmas Jazz Suite		Holcombe, Bill	c1-4, a,b	Arr.	Musicians Publ.		INT/ADV	Christmas medley with a jazzy twist. Fun!
Dance of the Reed Pipes		Christiansen, James	c1-4	Arr.	Kendor	2 min/	INT
Four Renaissance Motets (O Magnum Mysterium, O Quam Gloriosum, O Vos Omnes, Ave Maria)	Victoria, Tomas Luis de	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1-3,a, opt. picc & bass	Arr.	Available from arranger		EASY/INT	This works well for flute choir and sounds gorgeous.
Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah)	Handel	Maddox, Robert	c1-6,a,b	Arr.	ALRY		INT
Hanukah Suite (Maoz Tsur, Mi Y’Malel, Hanukah, On Hanukah)		Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1-4, opt. alto, bass	Arr.	ALRY	12 min.	INT	4 Hanukah Songs
Let it Snow		Christianson, James	c1-4	Arr.	Kendor		INT
Lyric Noel, A (Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella, Still Still Still, Angels We Have Heard on High, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)		McMichael, Catherine	c1-4	Original	ALRY		INT/ADV	Catherine McMichael does a beautiful job with this arrangement.
Parade of the Tin Soldiers	Jessel	Cavally, Robert	c1-3,a	Arr.		5 min. approx.	INT/ADV
Renaissance Noel, A (Good King Wenceslas, Lo How a Rose, Pat a Pan, What Child is This?)		McMichael, Catherine	c1-3,4/a/b	Arr.	ALRY		INT	Beautiful arrangements.
Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer		Christiansen, James	c1-4	Arr.		2.64	INT
Simple Gifts	Traditional	Louke, Phyllis Avidan	c1/p,c2/p,c3-4, opt. a,b	Arr.	ALRY	3-5 min.	INT
Sugarplums & Mistletoe	Isaacson, Michael		p/c1,c2-3,a/b	Orig.	ALRY	approx 3	INT	Original piece for the holidays… cute.
Three by Tschaikovsky (from Nutcracker Suite)	Tschaikovsky	Morland	c1-4	Arr.			INT/ADV	Nicely done arrangement with only 4 parts.
Two Paraphrases on Walloon Christmas Carols	Jongen		c1-3,a	Classical/Xmas		5-7 min. approx.	INT/ADV