Concerto for Two Flutes
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Subtitle: In C Major, RV 533
General Info
Year: c. 1730 /
Duration: c. 3:10
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Unpublished
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet I-II
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Of the nearly 50 concertos that Vivaldi wrote for two soloists, strings, and continuo, the Concerto for Two Flutes in C Major, RV 533, is the only one for two flutes—specifically transverse flutes—not recorders, which are more frequently found in Baroque music. There is the belief that the transverse flute was a more acceptable instrument for use in a religious institution, such as the orphanage where Vivaldi taught, because in the eyes of the church, the recorder was associated with lasciviousness in ancient writings. It was most likely that Vivaldi began writing for the flute in the late 1720s, after the talented flutist Johann Joachim Quantz had toured in 1726 and Ignazio Sieber was reappointed as flute master at the orphanage in 1728.
In most aspects, this concerto is typical of Vivaldi’s non-descriptive concerto style. It makes use of the ritornello form, and has a generally lighthearted temperament. The opening Allegro molto begins with an extended exposition of the main figures, and as the concerto progresses, each ritornello statement of those figures is briefer than the last. The four episodes between the ritornellos make extensive use of echoing and parallel movement between the two flutes, even at one point using the two flutes together to echo themselves.
- Program Note from Austin Symphonic Band concert program, 2 April 2018
We knew that Clint Foreman (Boston Symphony) was going to solo with us and we thought it would be fun to do a “mother and son” encore since his mom is a long time member of ASB [Austin Symphonic Band].
I started looking for something that might work and I searched everywhere. I found a school band performance of this that someone had posted on YouTube with no credits or indication of who and where it was done. One of my ASB members who is a computer genius finally tracked it down and connected it to a school band in Utah and we were able to find a band director name. With that information I contacted a good friend in Salt Lake City who is a mover and shaker in Utahn music education. I contacted him and asked him if he knew this director. He resented, “Yes I do and he is sitting in my living room right now.” We connected and it turned out the director had done this little arrangement to feature two of his wonderful flute players on a concert. He shared the manuscript with us and it was the perfect encore.
There you have it. A social media story with a happy ending!
- Program Note by Richard Floyd
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Austin (Texas) Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor; Clint Foreman and Beverly Lowak, flute) - 2 April 2018
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Concerto for Two Flutes
- Concerto for Two Trumpets and Symphonic Band (arr. Lang) (1920?/1964)
- Concerto in B-flat (tr. Yeago) (<1742/2005)
- Concerto in C Major for Two Trumpets (arr. Rumbelow) (1996?)
- Concerto from "L'Estero armonico" (arr. Marlatt) (1711/2016)
- Concerto Grosso in D minor (arr. Cacavas)
- Concerto in C
- Four Seasons, The (1725)
- Gloria
- Italian Masters Suite (arr. Gordon) (1963)
- Largo (arr. Hautvast)
- Piccolo Concerto in C major (arr. Bělohoubek) (1728-29/)
- Piccolo Concerto in C major (arr. Reed) (1728-29/1962/1969)
- Viva Vivaldi (arr. Jenkins) (1963)
- Winter from "The Four Seasons" (arr. Giroux) (1725/)
- Winter from "The Four Seasons" (arr. Slawson) (1725/2009)
Resources
- Richard Floyd, personal correspondence, August 2018