Six Divertissements Op. 68 by Kuhlau

atoriphile · Post by **atoriphile** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:54 am

I have seen the Six Divertissements Op. 68 by Kuhlau listed on several websites as recommended literature for unaccompanied flute, however, the version I have (Kalmus Edition published by Alfred Publishing) comes with a piano accompaniment.

Does anyone know if this piece was originally written for unaccompanied flute, then the piano part was added later? Or did it originally have a piano accompaniment, but can be played without it?

I've been playing these pieces unaccompanied all along since I don't have an accompanist. They're really fun to play, and I would highly recommend them. BTW, did you know that Kuhlau has been nicknamed the "Beethoven of the flute"?

Thanks in advance!

<Added>

Also, does anyone know if and where I could get a recording of this?

atoriphile · Post by **atoriphile** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:57 pm

I just found an answer to my additional question:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/zucker24

Is anyone familiar with Laurel Zucker? I went to her website at http://www.laurelzucker.com but it didn't have any audio clips.

<Added>

Oops! I just saw that on the first link there are sound clips. Doh!

atoriphile · Post by **atoriphile** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:48 pm

Okay, since no one has replied, I'm assuming no one knows the answer to my first question.

Here's a new question:

Does anyone else have a copy of these Divertissements or have you played it before? If so, did it come with piano accompaniment or not?

Thanks!

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:08 pm

I am sorry, but I havent ever played them. It might be an issue regarding the Opus #. Having the number off by even 1 digit would give you completely different music. I would suggest calling fluteworld, and a few other sheet music distribution places. You could also try going to Yahoo! groups, and get on Galway-Flute-Chat, and ask around there. I am sure there will be a lot of people who can help.

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 3:51 pm

I've played all of these. The edition I own is published by International, edited by Taffanel, and came with accompaniment.

I've always been under the impression that these pieces were intended for flute and piano; I've never heard any of them performed without accompaniment. However, after looking over them again I can see how they may have been originally composed for unaccompanied flute with accompaniment added later on. They probably could be played beautifully just by themselves since the piano part is basically "boom-chuck" chords underneath the flute line, and (except for a couple of bars in No. IV) there are no rest spots for a potential piano interlude or introduction.

SK

atoriphile · Post by **atoriphile** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:09 am

sidekicker wrote:I've never heard any of them performed without accompaniment.

If you listen to the sound clips at http://cdbaby.com/cd/zucker24 they are played without accompaniment.

apicultrice · Post by **apicultrice** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:00 pm

Hi!

My edition of the Kuhlau Divertissements is unaccompanied, but I dug this up from Grove's listing of his works:

Unacc. fl(s) (for solo fl unless otherwise stated): [12] Variations and Solos, op.10b (Hamburg, 1807); 3 Duos e, D, G, 2 fl, op.10a (1814); 3 Trios, D, g, F, 3 fl, op.13 (1815); 3 Fantaisies, D, G, C, op.38 (1822); 3 Duos, e, B, D, 2 fl, op.39 (1822); 3 Solos, F, a, G, fl, pf ad lib, op.57 (1824); 6 Divertissements, G, D, B, E, G, c, fl, pf ad lib, op.68 (Copenhagen, 1825); 3 Duos, G, C, e, 2 fl, op.80 (Bonn, 1827); 3 Duos, D, F, g, 2 fl, op.81 (Bonn, 1827); 3 Trios, e, D, E, 3 fl, op.86 (Hamburg, 1827); 3 Duos, A, g, D, 2 fl, op.87 (Mainz, 1827); Trio, b, 3 fl, op.90 (Mainz, 1828); 3 Fantaisies, g, e, D, fl, pf ad lib, op.95 (Copenhagen, 1829); 3 Duos, D, e, A, 2 fl, op.102 (Copenhagen, 1830); Quartet, e, 4 fl, op.103 (1830)

apicultrice · Post by **apicultrice** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:09 pm

PS: CF Peters edition is unaccompanied. Billadout and International have listings for flute and piano editions, at least according to flute world.

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:33 am

atoriphile wrote:
sidekicker wrote:I've never heard any of them performed without accompaniment.
If you listen to the sound clips at http://cdbaby.com/cd/zucker24 they are played without accompaniment.

Good deal. Thanks for the info. I'm glad someone is performing them that way because I can really see how they work unaccompanied which, according to acupultrice's info, looks to be an option that Kuhlau himself gave us (along with a piano accompanied version). I've still never heard a performance of them sans piano, though. Hopefully, Ms. Zucker has inspired others to start doing that.

SK