Playing the Flute
by
Araby Greene

Introduction

This is a selected list of resources about playing the flute, which is something I like to do when I'm not being a librarian. The modern transverse flute has a fascinating history, enriched by composers who wrote wonderful music for the flute, flute makers who improved the design of the instrument, and flute players who experimented with breathing and articulation.

Selected Resources

Barcellona, John. "Flute Articulation and Dynamics." The Instrumentalist (July 1991): 20-27.
Describes the most difficult flute articulation as the fortissimo accent in the low register and prescribes exercises to develop tonguing technique.

Debost, Michel. "Hit It, Don't Attack It." Flute Talk 16:2 (October 1996): 3-7.
Discusses tonguing techniques on the flute, focusing on the vowels and tongue movement used to articulate different types of notes. Considers long notes, staccato runs, high and low register notes, forte and pianissimo attacks, and notes following a short rest. Also discusses breathing and finger articulation.

DeLorenzo, Leonardo. My Complete Story of the Flute: The Instrument, the Performer, the Music. Revised and expanded ed. Lubbock, Tex.: Texas Tech University Press, 1992.

Krantz, Larry W. "Larry Krantz Flute Pages." 19 Aug. 1998. http://users.uniserve.com/~lwk/welcome.htm (23 Aug. 1998).
Repertoire, practice hints, and some nice links to flute resources. Information about the new Flute discussion list and how to subscribe. This is a comprehensive site for flutists.

Oestreich, James R. "Flute in the Foreground, By Design and Virtuosity." New York Times, Aug 16, 1996, late ed.: C20.
Favorable review of Aug 14, 1996 performance by the Mostly Mozart Festival at
Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, featuring flutist James Galway.

Toff, Nancy. The Flute Book: A Complete Guide For Students and Performers.
2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.