C.P.E. and the Transverse Flute

Last updated on: March 17, 2017 at 3:05 pm by Joseph Susanka

C.P.E. and the Transverse Flute 2017-03-17T15:05:40-06:00 Joseph Susanka

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today’s shaping up to be a data-mining/data-compiling/mail-merging kind’o’day. In other words, an “I Must Listen To Music Or I Shall Run Mad” sort of day. Luckily, there’s an Internet for that.

Here. This should get your toes a-tappin’:

http://youtu.be/FbJCDnvrPAc

That, as you doubtless instantly recognized, is the great-(if overshadowed just a touch by his dad)-C.P.E. Bach’s G Major Concerto “a flauto traverso obligato…” Or, in English, his Concerto for Transverse Flute. In G Major. And it’s great stuff. I should be able to plow through a veritable torrent of data with this baby in my earbuds. (Especially the finale. I love a good Allegro Assai as much as the next guy. And this is definitely a good one; great, even.)

What’s that, you say? You NEVER listen to just one transverse flute concerto at a time? Only flauto traverso obligato concerti?

Perfectly understandable. I’m the same way, myself. And no worries:

http://youtu.be/t2gD5ZS5XOc

I’m not entirely clear on the distinction between a “regular” flute and the “Transverse” myself, especially since it seems to mostly mean “Not a Recorder.” Oh, and “Not One of These, Either.” In some places, it’s called a “Cross Flute,” which indicates its most distinctive feature: It’s played sideways …Or should I say”cross-wise?” In other words, a regular flute. (Don’t even get me started on The Boehm System Flute. We’ll be here all day.)

Also, just for the heck of it, here’s a sorta-portrait of C.P.E. Bach, painted by Adolph Menzel. In it, CPE is seen at the keyboard, accompanying Frederick the Great during a performance of a concerto for…wait for it…transverse flute.

Music

Previous Post

May 28, 2014

Frane Selak: The Luckiest of Unlucky Men

Next Post

May 30, 2014 SVS: "Sense and Sensibility"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Baseball Faith Family Lenten Music Movies Music No Commentary Necessary Parked By the Jukebox Photography Politics Quodlibets Streaming Video Suggestions Summa Short Films Television The Man Behind the Booth Through a Lens, Darkly

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz