FLUTE AND PIANO REPERTOIRE
Contemporary Music for Flute and Piano
The flute and piano duo is one of the most expressive and versatile pairings in contemporary chamber music. This page features Lior Navok’s Three Winged Movements for flute and piano, alongside a curated selection of modern repertoire written for this ensemble. The combination of flute and piano offers a wide palette of colors—from lyrical, floating lines to agile, rhythmic writing—making it ideal for recitals, competitions, and contemporary performance programs.
Program Notes
Three Winged Movements describes my impression of the characteristics of the Hawk, the Bat, and the Hummingbird. Unlike Messiaen, I had no intention to make a sonic portrait but rather to describe the environment around them and their visual image. In the first movement, I was looking for a floating, gliding character, while in the second, the darkness and echoes play the main role. In the last movement, I described a Hummingbird as it flies from one flower to the other.
Abstract
Three Winged Movements is a contemporary work for flute and piano inspired not by literal bird calls, but by the visual environments and gestures associated with three creatures: the Hawk, the Bat, and the Hummingbird. Each movement captures a distinct atmosphere—the floating, gliding motion of the hawk; the dark, echoing world of the bat; and the quick, darting energy of the hummingbird as it moves from flower to flower. The piece highlights the flute’s expressive range and agility, offering a vivid addition to the classical flute and piano repertoire and a compelling choice for modern chamber‑music programs.
Audio
Videos
Score Sample
Score of Three Winged Movements for flute and piano
About Flute and Piano Chamber Music
The flute and piano duo is central to the classical flute repertoire, offering composers a flexible and expressive medium.
Contemporary works often explore the flute’s agility, coloristic possibilities, and lyrical phrasing, making this ensemble ideal for modern recitals and chamber‑music programs.
Contemporary Repertoire for Flute and Piano
Francis Poulenc – Sonata for Flute and Piano (1957)
A cornerstone of the repertoire, commissioned in memory of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. It is celebrated for its mix of "cheeky" Parisian wit and deep melancholy.
Sergei Prokofiev – Sonata in D Major, Op. 94 (1943)
Originally for flute and later transcribed by the composer for violin, this is one of the most substantial and virtuosic sonatas in the literature.
Paul Hindemith – Sonata for Flute and Piano (1936)
Known for its architectural clarity and stark, neoclassical style, it is a frequent requirement for orchestral auditions.
Bohuslav Martinů – First Sonata for Flute and Piano (1945)
A rhythmic and lyrical staple that challenges the ensemble between both players.
Henri Dutilleux – Sonatine for Flute and Piano (1943)
A masterpiece of modern French writing, valued for its complex colors and technical demands.
André Jolivet – Chant de Linos (1944)
One of the most difficult works in the repertoire, requiring extreme dexterity and use of extended techniques like flutter-tonguing.
Olivier Messiaen – Le Merle Noir (1952)
A seminal work exploring birdsong transcription, demanding precision and control.
Frank Martin – Ballade for Flute and Piano (1939)
A powerful, moody work known for its dramatic intensity and technically demanding piano part.
Otar Taktakishvili – Sonata for Flute and Piano (1966)
Highly popular for its lush, folk-inspired melodies and romantic second movement.
Robert Muczynski – Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 14 (1961)
A rhythmic American "classic" featuring syncopated, jazz-influenced elements.