My Flute Diary

2002-11-20 - 12:39 a.m.

Past midnight. Was talking with mom over the phone. She asked me about my conducting class and composing class. I said I wasn't doing any, but I didn't tell her about my flute lesson. I want to surprise them one day. That will be fun.

I downloaded a few "fingering charts" for flute, just to get an idea of where I am at. I like the illustration from "How to Love Your Flute" by Mark Shepard and Anne Subercaseaux. I have learned 12 notes.

Today I practiced half an hour, just lesson 7. Bb and D all come out very beautifully. I can play the lower notes (E1 to D2, I think) with nice tone. The higher notes after a while of practice don't come out, no matter what I do. Quite frustrating. The transition of C/D has been worked out, but of D/E needs work. Very confusing at times.

Rimsky-Korsakov

Read Rimsky-Korsakov's account of flute in his Principles of Orchestration. Very vivid and colorful. I will record a few lines below.

Wood-wind instruments are less flexible than strings; they lack the vitality and power, and are less capable of different shade of expression.

Flutes and clarinets are instruments of "chest-voice" quality and bright tone.

The characteristics of colour and resonance are specially noticeable in the middle and upper registers. The clear resonance of the flutes and clarinets acquires something nasal and dark in the lower compass; in the very high register it becomes somewhat piercing.

Flutes and clarinets are the most flexible wood-wind instruments (the flutes in particular).

Distinct and penetrating staccato passages are better suited to the oboes and bassoons, while the flutes and clarinets excell in well-sustained legato phrases.

Middle and upper registers:

Cold in quality, specially suitable, in the major key, to melodies of light and graceful character; in the minor key, to slight touches of transient sorrow.

So beautiful - transient sorrow - wow!

Low register: Dull, cold.

Very high register:Brilliant.

So for the 12 notes I have learned: E1-G1: low, dull, whistling; A1-G2: middle, sweet, transparnet; A2-: high, clear, bright.

More tomorrow.

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