Page43 #1, Selected from Op.59

Selected Duets for Flute, Page 43 Number 1, Andante grazioso, performed by David Summer. The tempo marking "Andante grazioso" translates to "at a walking pace but gracefully". I interpret this to mean, "with a flowing style. Smooth, but keep it moving". Also, notice the "dolce" expression marking, again meaning "sweetly". This duet begins in the key of a minor, then goes to A major and back to a minor on the Da Capo. We've seen this parallel minor key relationship in previous duets, and it's used quite often in baroque, classical and romantic music. The same key relationship is also used in some popular music. It's used in popular show tunes such as "I Love Paris" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy". The composer of this duet, Benoit Tranquil Berbiguier, studied at the Paris conservatory in the early 1800s. He's probably best known now to flutists for his "Eighteen Exercises or Etudes". The complete version of the duets excerpted here are available in Berbiguier's "Six Duets, Op. 59". The metronome setting for this performance is dotted quarter note = 56.