(*suitable for concerto competitions)
The National Flute Association’s Selected Flute Repertoire and Studies: A Graded Guide is an excellent resource for choosing solo repertoire and study material appropriate to a student’s ability. The Repertoire list has eleven levels from A (beginner) to K (advanced). In general, Level G is appropriate for a first-year music major, and Levels H, I, J, and K for second-, third-, fourth-year and graduate students respectively. If a piece is not on the NFA list, an estimated difficulty level is provided below in brackets.
Another excellent graded list is the Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Achievement Program Flute Syllabus, available on their website. The RCM column indicates their grade levels, which run 1-10 and ARCT (professional-level material).
Titles in red have been recorded by Leonard Garrison; click on links for audio samples of him performing these works. Certain titles include links to performances on Leonard’s YouTube Channel or performance guides on Leonard’s blog.
Pieces that use extended techniques are indicated ET.
Technical Studies (in order of study) | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Kujala, Walfrid, The Flutist’s Vade Mecum (Second Edition, Progress Press) | I,J,K | |
Gilbert, Geoffrey, Technical Flexibility for Flutists (Southern) | I,J,K |
Etudes (in order of study) | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Moyse, Marcel, 24 Little Melodic Studies with Variations (Leduc) | all | all |
Cavally, Robert, Melodious and Progressive Studies, Book I (Southern) | E,F,G | |
Berbiguier, Benoit Tranquille, 18 Exercises or Etudes (any edition) | G,H,I,J | 7-8 |
Andersen, Joachim, 24 Etudes, op. 33 (any edition) | E,F,G,H | 7-8 |
Cavally, Robert, Melodious and Progressive Studies, Book 2 (Southern) | E,F,G,H,I | |
Genzmer, Harald, Contemporary Etudes, Vol 1 (Schott) | F,G,H | 7-8 |
Boehm, Theobald, 24 Caprice-Etudes, op. 26 (any edition) | G,H,I,J | |
Karg-Elert, Sigfrid, 30 Caprices, op. 107 (in Andraud, The Modern Flutist, published by Southern) | G,H,I,J,K | 9-10 |
Altès, Henri, 26 Selected Studies (Schirmer) | H,I,J | |
Genzmer, Harald, Contemporary Etudes, Vol 2 (Schott) | G,H,I,J | |
Castérède, Jacques, 12 Etudes (Leduc) | F,G,H,I,J | |
Andersen, Joachim, 24 Etudes, op. 15 (any edition) | H,I,J,K | 10 |
Jeanjean, Paul, Études modernes (Leduc) | H,I,J,K | |
Paganini, Niccolò (ed. Herman), 24 Caprices (International) | H,I,J,K | 10 |
Recommended Collections for Flute and Piano | NFA Level |
---|---|
Cavally, Robert, ed., 24 Short Concert Pieces (Southern) | D,E,F,G,H,I |
Moyse, Louis, ed., Flute Music of the Baroque (Schirmer) | F,G, H |
Moyse, Louis, ed., Flute Music by French Composers (Schirmer) | I |
Marcel Moyse, The Golden Age of the Flutists, Vol. 2 (Zen-On) | J |
Baroque: Flute Solo | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Bach, C.P.E., Sonata in A Minor (Amadeus, Universal, or Ricordi) | I | 10 |
Bach, J.S., Partita in A Minor, BWV 1013 (Bärenreiter or Henle) | K | 10 |
Boismortier, Joseph Bodin de, Six Suites for Flute Solo (Schott) | [H] | 7-9 |
Marais, Marin, Les Folies d’Espagne (Bärenreiter) | I | 8 |
Telemann, G.P., 12 Fantasias (Garrison edition/Theodore Presser or Henle or Musica Rara) | H-I | 5-9 |
Classical | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Amalia, Anna (of Prussia), Sonata in F (in Flute Music by Female Composers, ed. Elisabeth Weinzierl-Wächter and Barbara Heller, published by Schott) | [I] | |
*Devienne, François, Concerto No. 2 in D (International) | I | 10 |
*Devienne, François,Concerto No. 7 in e (International) | J | ARCT |
*Devienne, François, Concerto No. 8 (International) | K | |
Devienne, François, Sonata in D Major (International) | I | |
Devienne, François, Sonata in E Minor (International) | H | |
Gluck, C.W., Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits (in Cavally, 24 Short Concert Pieces) | G | 7 |
Grétry, A.E.M., Concerto in C Major (first movement in L. Moyse baroque collection) | [I] | 8 |
*Haydn, Joseph (attrib. L. Hofmann), Concerto in D (Leuckart or International) | H | 8 |
*Mozart, W.A., Concerto in G, K. 313 (Bärenreiter) | J | 8 |
*Mozart, W.A., Concerto in D, K. 314 (Bärenreiter) | J | ARCT |
Mozart, W.A., Andante and Rondo (International) | H | |
Mozart, W.A. (arr. L. Moyse), Three Sonatas, K. 285, 285b, 298 (adapted from the Flute Quartets, Schirmer) | I | |
*Stamitz, Anton, Concerto in D Major (Breitkopf & Härtel) | [H] | |
*Stamitz, Carl, Concerto in G Major, op. 29 (Schott) | H | 8 |
French Intermediate Repertoire | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Arrieu, Claude, Sonatine for Flute and Piano (Amphion) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | [G-I] | |
Aubert, Louis, Lied (in Contemporary Flute Recital Pieces, Vol. 1, International) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | D | |
Bournonville, Armand, Danse pour Katia (Billaudot) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | F | |
Bozza, Eugène, Aria (Leduc) | G | 6 |
Brun, Georges, Romance, op. 41 (Rubank) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | G | 7 |
Büsser, Henri, Les Cygnes et Les Écureuils (The Swans and the Squirrels) (Leduc) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | G | 8 |
Büsser, Henri, Petite Suite, Op. 12 (Durand or Masters) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | G | 8 |
Donjon, Johannès, Offertoire, Op. 12 (in Cavally, 24 Short Concert Pieces) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | G | |
Donjon, Johannès, Pan, Pastorale No. 1 (in Cavally, 24 Short Concert Pieces) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | F | |
Duvernoy, Victor Alphonse, Deux morceaux (in Rearick, Flute Solos from the Paris Conservatory, Falls House Press) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | [G] | 7 |
Fauré, Gabriel, Morceau de concours (Bourne) | G | 5 |
Gagnebin, Henri, March of the Jolly Fellows (in Contemporary Flute Recital Pieces, Vol. 1, International) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | F | |
Gaubert, Philippe, Madrigal (International) | G | 6 |
Godard, Benjamin, “Allegretto” and “Idyl” from Suite, op. 116 (in Cavally, 24 Short Concert Pieces) | G | 8 |
Honegger, Arthur, Romance (in Contemporary Flute Recital Pieces, Vol. 1, International) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | D | |
Lefevbre, Charles-Édouard, Deux pièces, Op. 72 (Zimmermann) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | [G] | 6 |
Mouquet, Jules, La Flûte de Pan (International) | G | |
Meunier, Gérard, La Crépuscule (Lemoine) (on Parisian Impressions CD) | G |
French Conservatory Contest Pieces (and those in a similar style) | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Bozza, Eugène, Agrestide (Leduc) | K | ARCT |
Büsser, Henri, Prélude and Scherzo (in L. Moyse French collection) | I | |
Caplet, André, Rêverie et Petite Valse (Southern) | H | 8 |
Casella, Alfredo, Sicilienne et Burlesque (Leduc) | J | ARCT |
Camus, Pierre, Chanson and Badinerie (Leduc) | H | 10 |
Chaminade, Cécile, Concertino (in L. Moyse French collection) | I | 9 |
Dutilleux, Henri, Sonatine (Leduc) | J | ARCT |
Enesco, Georges, Cantabile et Presto (in L. Moyse French collection) | I | 10 |
Fauré, Gabriel, Fantasie (in Moyse coll.) | I | 9 |
Gallois-Montbrun, Raymond, Divertissement (Leduc) | J | |
Ganne, Louis, Andante and Scherzo (in L. Moyse French collection) | I | |
Gaubert, Philippe, Fantaisie (in L. Moyse French collection) | I | |
Gaubert, Philippe, Nocturne and Allegro Scherzando (in L. Moyse French collection) | I | 10 |
Godard, Benjamin, “Valse” from Suite, op. 116 | [I] | 8 |
Grovlez, Gabriel, Romance et Scherzo (Southern) | J | |
Hüe, Georges, Fantaisie (Billaudot) | J | 10 |
Jolas, Betsy, Episode Second: Ohne Worte (Heugel) -ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | K | |
Jolivet, André, Chant de Linos (Leduc) | K | ARCT |
Keller, Ginette, Chant de Parthénope (Max Eschig) | J | |
Messiaen, Olivier, Le merle noir (Leduc) | J | ARCT |
Périlhou, Albert, Ballade (in L. Moyse French collection) | [I] | 9 |
Saint-Saëns, Camille, Airs de Ballet d’Ascanio (Southern) | H | 9 |
Saint-Saéns, Camille, Odelette, op. 162 (Durand) | I | 10 |
Sancan, Pierre, Sonatine (Durand) | J | ARCT |
Taffanel, Paul, Andante Pastorale and Scherzettino (in L. Moyse French collection) | I | 9 |
Modern: Flute Solo | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Aitken, Robert, Icicle (Universal) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | I | 8 |
Aitken, Robert, Plainsong (Universal) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | [K] | ARCT |
Arnold, Malcom, Fantasy for Flute, Op. 89 (Faber) | K | |
Berio, Luciano, Sequenza (orig. edn.: Zerboni, rev. edn.: Universal) – ET | K | ARCT |
Bhatia, Vanraj, Night Music (International Opus) | I | |
Bozza, Eugène, Image (Leduc) | J | 10 |
Brant, Henry, Mobiles (Carl Fischer) | [J] | |
Brown, Elizabeth, Trillium (Quetzal) – ET | I | 10 |
Carter, Elliott, Scrivo in vento (Hendon Music–Boosey & Hawkes) – ET (on Looking Back CD) | K | ARCT |
Clarke, Ian, The Great Train Race (Just Flutes Edition) – ET | I | ARCT |
Clarke, Ian, Zoom Tube (Just Flutes Edition) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | J | ARCT |
Coleman Valerie, Danza de la Mariposa (Theodore Presser) – ET | J | |
Colquhoun, Michael, Charanga (Colquhoun) – ET (on Superflute CD) | J | |
Dahl, Ingolf, Variations on a Swedish Folktune (Theodore Presser) (on American Reflections CD) | K | |
Davidovsky, Mario, Synchronisms No. 1 for flute and tape (McGinnis & Marx) – ET | [J] | |
Debussy, Claude, Syrinx (various) | H | 9 |
Dick, Robert, Afterlight (MMB) – ET | K | |
Dick, Robert, Fish Are Jumping (MMB) – ET (on Looking Back CD) | K | |
Dick, Robert, Lookout (MMB) -ET | I | 10 |
Erb, Donald, Music for Mother Bear for (alto) flute solo (Theodore Presser) – ET | H | |
Feld, Jindrich, Contrasts for solo flute (G. Schirmer) | [I] | |
Ferroud, Pierre-Octave, Three Pieces for Flute (Salabert) (on East Meets West CD) | J | 10 |
Françaix, Jean, Suite for Solo Flute (Schott) | K | ARCT |
Fukushima, Kazuo, Mei (Zerboni) – ET | J | 9 |
Fukushima, Kazuo, Shun-San (Muramatsu) – ET | K | |
Guarnieri, M. Camargo, Three Improvisations (Rongwen Music) | J | |
Hailstork, Adolphus, Flute Set (Theodore Presser) | I | |
Heiss, John, Four Lyric Pieces (Southern) | [I] | |
Heiss, John, Etudes for Solo Flute, Op. 20 (J.B. Elkus) – ET | [J] | |
Higdon, Jennifer, Song (Higdon) | H | |
Hindemith, Paul, Eight Pieces (Schott) | I | 9 |
Honegger, Arthur, Danse de la chèvre (Salabert) | I | 9 |
Hoover, Katherine, Kokopeli (Papagena Press) | H | 9 |
Ibert, Jacques, Pièce (Leduc) | J | |
Ichiyanagi, Toshi, In a Living Memory (Schott) – ET | K | ARCT |
Ittzés, Gergely, Totem (Falls House Press) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | K | |
Jacob, Gordon, The Pied Piper (2nd mvmt for picc; Oxford) on Superflute CD) | F | |
Jolivet, André, Cinq Incantations (Boosey & Hawkes) | K | ARCT |
Karg-Elert, Sigfrid, Sonata Appassionata in F# Minor, op. 140 for flute alone (Southern) | K | 10 |
Kupferman, Meyer, Superflute for flute with pre-recorded piccolo and alto flute (Soundspell) (on Superflute CD) | [J] | |
Lam, Bun-Ching, Bittersweet Music III for solo bass flute | ||
La Montaine, John, Sonata, Op. 24 (Broude Brothers) | I | |
Liebermann, Lowell, Soliloquy | K | |
Martino, Donald, Quodlibets (Dantalian) (on Looking Back CD) | [J] | |
Misurell-Mitchell, Janice, Sometimes the City is Silent (Misurell-Mitchell) – ET | J | |
Muczynski, Robert, 3 Preludes (Schirmer) | H | 9 |
Offermans, Wil, Honami (Zimmermann) – ET (on East Meets West CD) | H | 10 |
Persichetti, Vincent, Parable for solo (alto) flute (Elkan-Vogel) (on Looking Back CD) | I | |
Piazzolla, Astor, 6 Tango Etudes (Lemoine) | I | 8 |
Ran, Shulamit, East Wind (Theodore Presser) – ET | K | ARCT |
Saariaho, Kaija, Couleurs du vent for solo alto flute (Chester) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | K | |
Sciarrino, Salvatore, Addio case del vento (Ricordi) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | [J] | |
Sollberger, Harvey, Hara for solo alto flute (American Composers Alliance) – ET (on White Labyrinth CD) | [K] | |
Sollberger, Harvey, New Millennium Memo (American Composers Alliance) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | [J] | |
Takemitsu, Toru, Air (Schott) – ET (on East Meets West CD) | I | 10 |
Takemitsu, Toru, Itinerant (Schott) – ET | J | 10 |
Takemitsu, Toru, Voice (Salabert) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | K | ARCT |
Varèse, Edgard, Density 21.5 (Colfranc) – ET | I | 10 |
Vasks, Peteris, Landscapes With Birds (in Lozben, Irina, ed., Flute Works by Soviet Composers, G. Schirmer) – ET | J | 10 |
Modern: Flute and Piano | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Arnold, Malcolm, Concerto, Op. 45 | K | |
Arnold, Malcolm, Sonatina for Flute and Piano (Lengnick) | G | |
Barber, Samuel, Canzone (Schirmer) (on Looking Back CD) | G | 7 |
Bartok, Béla, Suite Paysanne Hongroise (Boosey & Hawkes) | [J] | ARCT |
Beaser, Robert, The Old Men Admiring Themselves in the Water (Helicon) (on Looking Back CD) | [G] | |
Beaser, Robert, Variations for Flute and Piano (Helicon) (on American Reflections CD | [K] | |
Bennett, Richard Rodney, Summer Music (Novello) | G | 5 |
Bloch, Ernst, Suite Modale (Broude) | G | 7 |
Bolling, Claude, Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano (Silhouette) | H | |
Boulanger, Lili, D’un matin de printemps (Durand) | H | |
Brouwer, Leo, La region mas transparente (Editions musicales transatlantiques) | J | |
Burton, Eldin, Sonatina (Carl Fischer) | J | 10 |
Clarke, Ian, Sprial Lament (Just Flutes Edition) – ET | [I] | |
Copland, Aaron, Duo (Boosey & Hawkes) | K | |
Corigliano, John, Voyage (Schirmer) | G | 7 |
Del Tredici, David, “Acrostic Song” from Final Alice (Boosey & Hawkes) | G | |
Denisov, Edison, Sonata for Flute and Piano (Peters) | [I] | ARCT |
Dohnanyi, Aria (in Great Encores for the Flute, Schirmer) | I | |
Feld, Jindrich, Sonata (Leduc) | J | ARCT |
Foote, Arthur, A Night Piece (Southern) | I | |
Foss, Lukas, Three American Pieces (Carl Fischer) (on American Reflections CD) | J | |
Françaix, Jean, Divertimento (Schott) | K | |
Gaubert, Philippe, Romance (Little Piper or Leduc) | H | 8 |
Gaubert, Philippe, 3 Sonatas (no. 1, Durand, nos. 2 & 3, Heugel) | J | |
Genzmer, Harald, Second Sonata in e (Schott) | J | |
Gieseking, Walter, Sonatina (Medigo) | J | |
Gordeli, Otar, Concerto (Progress Press) | J | ARCT |
*Griffes, Charles, Poem (Schirmer) | J | 10 |
Guarnieri, Camargo, Sonatina (Irmaos Vitale) | I | |
*Hanson, Howard, Serenade (Carl Fischer) | J | |
Harmon, John, Vision Quest (ms. available from composer) | [I] | |
Harty, Hamilton, In Ireland (Masters) | H | |
Heiden, Bernard, Sonatine (Associated) | H | 8 |
Hindemith, Paul, Sonate (Schott) | I | 10 |
Hoover, Katherine, Medieval Suite (Papagena Press) | K | |
Hosokawa, Toshio, Lied (Schott) (on East Meets West CD) | J | ARCT |
*Ibert, Jacques, Concerto (Leduc) | K | ARCT |
Ibert, Jacques, Jeux (Leduc) | [J] | 9 |
*Jolivet, André, Concerto (Heugel) | [K] | ARCT |
*Kennan, Kent, Night Soliloquy (Carl Fischer) | I | 9 |
LaMontaine, John, Come Into My Garden | G | |
Liebermann, Lowell, Sonata (Theodore Presser) | K | ARCT |
*Martin, Frank, Ballade (Universal) | J | ARCT |
Martinu, Bohuslav, Sonata (Associated) | J | 10 |
Mower, Mike, Sonata Latino (Itchy Fingers) | J | |
Muczynski, Robert, Sonata (Schirmer) | J | ARCT |
*Nielsen, Carl, Concerto (Chester) | K | ARCT |
Piston, Walter, Sonata (Associated) | J | ARCT |
Poulenc, Francis, Sonata (Chester) | J | 10 |
Price, Roger, Credo (ms. available from the composer) (on Superflute CD) | [I] | |
Prokofiev, Sergei, Sonata (Leeds) | K | ARCT |
Reynolds, Verne, Sonata (Fischer) | J | |
*Rivier, Jean, Concerto (Billaudot) | K | ARCT |
Rogers, Bernard, Soliloquy (Carl Fischer) | F | |
Roussel, Albert, Joueurs de Flûte (Durand) | I | 9 |
Rutter, John, Suite Antique (Oxford) | H | |
Schulhoff, Erwin, Sonata (Chester) | J | ARCT |
Schwantner, Joseph, Black Anemones (European American) (on Looking Back CD) | J | |
Schwantner, Joseph, Looking Back (European American) (on Looking Back CD) | [K] | |
Sollberger, Harvey, Sonate Charlie Hebdo (American Composers Alliance) (on White Labyrinth CD) | [J] | |
Still, William Grant, Summerland (William Grant Still Music) | G | |
Taktakishvili, Otar, Sonata for Flute and Piano (Associated Music Pub.) | J | 10 |
Vaughan Williams, Ralph, Suite de Ballet (Oxford) | G | |
Yun, Isang, Garak (Bote & Bock) (on East Meets West CD) | K |
For a more comprehensive list of music for alto and bass flutes, see http://www.chrispotterflute.com and NFA Low Flutes Committee
Piccolo | NFA Level | RCM |
---|---|---|
Beaser, Robert, Souvenirs for piccolo and piano (Helicon) (on American Reflections CD) | [J] | |
Benshoof, Ken, Spindrift (Meridian) | [J] | |
Jacob, Gordon, The Pied Piper (2nd mvmt for picc; Oxford) (on Superflute CD) | F | |
Dick, Robert, Gravity’s Ghost for solo piccolo (Multiple Breath Music Company) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | [K] | |
Donatoni, Franco, Nidi for solo piccolo (Ricordi) – ET | [K] | ARCT |
Lam, Bun-Ching, Bittersweet Music I for solo piccolo (Notevole) – ET | [J] | |
*Liebermann, Lowell, Concerto for Piccolo, op. 50 (Theodore Presser) | [K] | |
Loeb, David, Preludes for solo piccolo (several volumes, ALRY) | [H-I] | |
Loeb, David, Scenes from the Japanese Countryside for solo piccolo (ALRY) (on East Meets West CD) | [H] | |
Musgrave, Thea, Piccolo Play (Novello) | [J] | |
Persichetti, Vincent, Parable for Solo Piccolo (Elkan-Vogel) | [H] | |
Sandroff, Howard, Chant de femmes for piccolo/flute/alto flute (one player) and electronic sounds (Garlic Press) (on Superflute CD) | [K] | |
Stockhausen, Karlheinz, FLAUTINA for piccolo/flute/alto flute (one player) (Stockhausen Stiftung) – ET (on Voices in the Wind CD) | ||
*Vivaldi, Antonio, Concerto in C for piccolo, F.VI/4, RV.443, Op. 44/11 (Theodore Presser) | [I] | |
*Vivaldi, Antonio, Concerto in C for piccolo, RV.444, F.VI/5, P. 78, M. 110 (Theodore Presser) | [I] | |
*Vivaldi, Antonio, Concerto in a for piccolo, RV 445, P. 83, M. 152 (Theodore Presser) | [I] | |
Wilder, Alec, Sonata No. 1 for piccolo/flute/alto flute and piano (Margun) (on Superflute CD) | [I] | |
Wüsthoff, Klaus, Drei Mobiles for piccolo/flute/alto flute and piano (Zimmermann) (on Superflute CD) | [I] |