The Romantic Flute and Piano Music

The flute was not an instrument that was particularly beloved by composers at the end of the 19th century. One of the exceptions to this rule was undoubtedly Carl Reinecke, who composed the Undine sonata opus 167, the Concerto in D opus 283 for flute and orchestra and the Ballade opus 288, his final composition. His two great mentors and teachers were Mendelssohn and Schumann. Reinecke inherited Mendelssohn’s sparkling virtuosity and also remained under Schumann’s influence for the whole of his life. Von der Wiege bis zum Grabe (a cycle of sixteen fantasy pieces for 2 and 4 hands at one piano) was immediately extremely popular. Reinecke here relates the events of a life in a manner that is typical of his composing style and of his engaging personality. Ernesto Köhler made an arrangement for flute and piano of eight of the sixteen fantasy pieces. This CD is a recording of the complete cycle in its original sequence, although in an interesting compilation of the version for piano 2 hands and Köhler’s version. Undine is the piece in which Reinecke employs the flute most felicitously; it is also possibly his most performed work. The narrative character and the diversity of passionate emotions inherent in this fairytale are both clearly portrayed in Reinecke’s sonata. Could Carl Reinecke perhaps have seen in some enchanted dream that he would make history with his composition of ‘the’ Romantic flute sonata?