French Album II. Homage to Pedagogy (Richard Sherman & Ralph Votapek)

In this album one enters into a listening world that is both richly French and brilliantly flutistic. Thanks to Claude-Paul Taffanel (1844-1910) and his legacy, we have catalogues full of music and etudes or studies which showcase countless technical challenges for the instrument. Only a portion of the group of composers featured in this album were flutists, so the fact that they took time and energy to write flute studies speaks to the Paris Conservatoire’s early twentieth century tradition of elevating the flute to an instrument of solo status. The works represented in French Album II: Homage to Pedagogy, ensure that the flute’s distinctive voice transcends glib virtuosic execution. Technical requirement for each piece is to resonate with the full range of the composers’ myriad of emotions.

Richard Sherman, flute, Ralph Votapek, piano 

PROGRAM
01 Pierre Camus Chanson et Bandinerie......4:43
Pierre Max Dubois Sonate
02 I. Allegro..............................................................3:45
03 II. Recitativo........................................................3:33
04 III. Rondo................................................................3:54
Marcel Bitsch Trois Sonatines
05 I. Andante pastorale.......................................3:45
06 II. Sarabande.......................................................3:33
07 III. Vivo assai.........................................................3:54
08 Paul Taffanel Sicilienne-Etudé......................4:43
09 Philippe Gaubert Madrigal............................4:43
Jacques Castérède Sonate en Forme de Suite
10 I. Prélude.............................................................3:45
11 II. Menuet.............................................................3:33
12 III. Sarabande.......................................................3:54
13 IV. Rondo................................................................3:54
Jean-Michel Damase Sonate
14 I. Andante............................................................3:45
15 II. Moderato.........................................................3:33
16 III. Allegro vivo....................................................3:54