Chamber Music Flute(s)
SKU: CF.WF230
The Art of Staying in
Shape. Composed by
Robert Stallman. With
Standard notation. 144
pages. Carl Fischer Music
#WF230. Published by Carl
Fischer Music (CF.WF230).
ISBN 9781491153741.
UPC:
680160911240.
Ever
since he was honored 50
years ago as a top
prize-winning graduate of
New England Conservatory
and a Fulbright scholar
at the Paris
Conservatoire, flutist
Robert Stallman has drawn
accolades around the
world as a performer and
recording artist who
“dazzles because of
his penetrating
artistry†(Sunday
Times/London). Also known
internationally for
superior flute editions,
including numerous
transcriptions that have
greatly expanded the
repertoire, Stallman now
offers flutists an
appealing collection of
original melodic
warm-ups. With The
Flutist’s
Handbook, he shares his
fresh approach to staying
in shape and maintaining
his reputation for
“consummate
virtuosityâ€
(Repertoire/France).
P
refaceOne morning many
years ago I opened my
flute case and suddenly
found myself questioning
the wisdom of having
scales and long tones
come first in my practice
session. Of course, these
are essential to daily
practice, but I wondered
if there might be a
better way to begin the
day—with something
more melodic and
engaging, something to
really inspire me.The
Flutist’s Handbook
emerged from a stream of
musical ideas I began to
jot down during practice
sessions after that
“aha†moment.
As I worked with them, I
noticed a more
spontaneous interest in
practicing. In fact I
even looked forward to
starting my day this way.
As a result, my work on
scales, arpeggios and
long tones followed with
more enjoyment and
focused attention.In
creating many of the
détaché warm-ups
found in Part I, I was
drawn to the musical
sequences of J. S. Bach,
particularly those
developed in his keyboard
works. Bach had
discovered the most
satisfying musical
patterns on which to
build his music, so here
was a treasure trove of
invigorating melodic
material. I also borrowed
apt détaché
passages from C.P.E.
Bach, Schubert,
Dvořák and
others.Part II includes
more musical quodlibets
and echos in a collection
of fifteen short melodies
designed to open and
center the tone, while
encouraging full breath
support. These melodies
also concentrate on
developing our sostenuto,
or true legato
playing—the
foundation of a beautiful
sonority and natural
vocal expression. Except
for final cadence notes,
these warm-ups should be
practiced without
vibrato, to create an
even and seamless
instrument, bottom to
top.All of these warm-ups
are to be played forte
and piano in every major
key, proceeding
chromatically by rising
half-steps. Tempo
indications are given in
the headings, as are
optional rhythmic and
articulation variants.
Suggested breath marks
are in parentheses.The
Handbook opens with
détaché warm-ups
for a good reason. It is
vital to begin our
practice with tonguing,
as a clean attack is
essential to producing a
beautiful tone. Also, in
working on tonguing
(single, double, triple
and tremolando) we
stimulate and strengthen
the jaw muscles that
support the embouchure
(which must remain supple
and flexible). As we
fine-tune these muscles,
we gain tonal center and
clarity, qualities that
may elude us at the
beginning of our
practice. Of course, we
also need to wake up the
air stream and deepen our
breath support. Once the
tongue is alive and the
tone is centered, we are
ready to work further on
our sonority with the
melodic warm-ups in Part
II.This book is meant for
professionals, students
and amateur flutists
alike. I offer it to all
as a companion that
invites more pleasure and
vitality into our daily
practice. It is my firm
belief that by aligning
ourselves with our love
of music and its
energizing patterns each
day—from the very
first moment we pick up
the instrument—we
will bring more ease and
focus into our lifelong
task of staying in shape.
This in turn will support
the heightened
inspiration we want to
take into rehearsals and
performances.
Enjoy!—Robert
StallmanMarblehead,
MassachusettsApril 20,
2018.
Joy to the world. Flute and piano
