Bass flute repertoire is any piece of music that prominently features the bass flute. This can either be a solo, duet, trio, or ensemble. In this article, we will explore the world of bass flute music, including its history, notable composers, and popular pieces. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know about playing the bass flute.
Bass flute repertoire list
Below is a list of bass flute repertoires, their composers, their era of composition, and their instrumentation.
| Title | Composer | Era of composition | Instrumentation |
| 3 Fugues for Flutes and Percussion, Op.189 | Peters Rob | Modern | 2 flutes, alto flute, bass flute, timpani, bells |
| 3 Little Pieces, Op.3b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | alto flute, bass flute, guitar |
| 3 Moments, Op.12 | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | Flute, bass flute |
| 66*4, Op.8b | Aramaki Michio | Modern | flute, alto flute, bass flute, guitar |
| 9 Miniatures for Various Instruments | Torre Salvador | Contemporary | bass flute, clarinet |
| A Fantastic Concert, Op.31 | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | bass flute, English horn, strings |
| A Taiwanese Impression, Op.35 | Aramaki Michio | Modern | 2 flutes, alto flute, 2 bass flutes |
| Along with the Book of the Dead, Op.43 | Michio Aramaki | Contemporary | bass flute, percussion |
| Articulations for Bass Flute, Op.169 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Baroque Fantasy, Op.49 | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, alto flute, 3 bass flutes, piano |
| Baroque Fantasy, Op.9b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, alto flute, 3 bass flutes |
| Bass Flute Concerto in A minor, Op.2650 | Beatty Stephen W. | Modern | bass flute, strings |
| Bass Flute Concerto, Op.889 | Stephen W. Beatty | Contemporary | bass flute, orchestra |
| Bass Flute Sonata | Jeff Manookian | Contemporary | bass flute, piano |
| Bass Flute Sonata, Op.1612 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Bass Flute Sonata, Op.1626 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Bass Flute Sonata, Op.1649 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Bass Flute Sonata, Op.1655 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Bass Flute Sonata, Op.1697 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Blue Waking, Op.22b | Aramaki Michio | Modern | flute, alto flute, 2 bass flutes |
| Cinq verres a vin, Op.34 | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Coexistence, Op.51 | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | Flute, bass flute |
| Comfort and Solace | Schoonenbeek Kees | Contemporary | bass flute, guitar |
| Contrabass Flute Fingering | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Crossing No.1, Op.37 | Aramaki Michio | Modern | 2 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Crossing No.2, Op.46 | Aramaki Michio | Modern | 2 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Crossing No.2, Op.46b | Aramaki Michio | Modern | 2 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Duet for 2 Bass Flutes in C major, Op.2648 | Beatty Stephen W. | Modern | 2 bass flutes |
| Duet for 2 Bass Flutes, Op.308 | Beatty Stephen W. | Modern | 2 bass flutes |
| Duet for Alto Flute and Bass Flute in A major, Op.2653 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | alto flute, bass flute |
| Duet for Alto Flute and Bass Flute, Op.1185 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | alto flute, bass flute |
| Duet for Alto Flute and Bass Flute, Op.1308 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | alto flute, bass flute |
| Duet for Bass Flute and Cello, Op.1510 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute, cello |
| Duet for Bass Flute and Clarinet, Op.307 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute, double bass |
| Duet for Bass Flute and Double Bass, Op.1666 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute, electronic sounds, tape |
| Duet for Bass Flute and Harp, Op.304 | Stephen W. Beatty | Contemporary | bass flute, harp |
| Duet for Bass Flute and Triple Horn, Op.1204 | Stephen W. Beatty | Contemporary | bass flute, horn |
| Duet for Flute and Bass Flute, Op.1970 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | Flute, bass flute |
| Duet for Flute and Bass Flute, Op.871 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | Flute, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.1, Op.25b | Aramaki Michio | 20th century | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.1, Op.25b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.1, Op.25c | Aramaki Michio | 20th century | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.1, Op.25c | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.1, Op.9 | Balparda de Carvalho Daniel | Romantic | 2 flutes, bass flute, cello |
| Flute Quartet No.2, Op.10 | Balparda de Carvalho Daniel | Modern | 2 flutes, bass flute, bassoon |
| Flute Quartet No.2, Op.10 | Balparda de Carvalho Daniel | Romantic | 2 flutes, bass flute, cello |
| Flute Quartet No.2, Op.27b | Aramaki Michio | 20th century | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.2, Op.27b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.2, Op.27c | Aramaki Michio | 20th century | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.2, Op.27c | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.3, Op.28b | Aramaki Michio | 20th century | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Flute Quartet No.3, Op.28b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Follow Me Up to Carlow | Rice Al | 20th century | 3 flutes, bass flute |
| Follow Me Up to Carlow | Rice Al | Contemporary | 12 piccolos, 2 bass flutes |
| Hexofonia II | Karolic Dragan | Contemporary | 2 piccolos, 2 flutes, 2 alto flutes, 2 bass flutes |
| Hoquetus | Schein Didier | Baroque | bass flute, 5 percussion, marimba, piano |
| Irish Variations for Flute Orchestra | Déjardin Renaud | Contemporary | 2 piccolos, 12 flutes, 2 alto flutes, bass flute |
| Lament for Antoniou | Sauter Louis | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Londonderry Air | Kamioka Hideo | Contemporary | 3 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Lux et tenebrae, MVWV 812 | Verheul Maurice | Modern | bass flute |
| Midnight Fantasy, Op.7b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Music for Flute Choir | Bakalian Craig | Contemporary | 2 piccolos, 6 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Never Cross No.3, Op.82b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | bass flute, harp |
| Not only the birds herald the new dawn | Clay James M. | Contemporary | bass flute, English horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon |
| Quartett I | Hoffmann Norbert Rudolf | Modern | bass flute, saxophone, percussion, viola |
| Seaside Cafe, Op.40 | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | bass flute, harp |
| Solo for Bass Flute in A major, Op.2651 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Solo for Bass Flute in D major, Op.2649 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Solo for Bass Flute in D minor, Op.2647 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Solo for Bass Flute, Op.1186 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Solo for Bass Flute, Op.1522 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Solo for Bass Flute, Op.1967 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Solo for Bass Flute, Op.1969 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Somnium | Manookian Jeff | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Spade 2, Op.5b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | bass flute, harp |
| Stained Glass, Op.39b | Aramaki Michio | Modern | 2 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Suite for Woodwinds and Percussion, Op.1035 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | 2 piccolos, bass flute, bassoon, timpani, marimba |
| ‘Sunrise’ Interlude, V.40 | Vaitzman Or | Unknown | flute, alto flute, bass flute, glass harmonica, 4 violins, cello, double bass, viol, organ |
| The Sound of Life | Roberts Hayden | Contemporary | 12 piccolos, 2 bass flutes |
| The Surface of the Sea, Op.19b | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | 3 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Titres imaginaires | Marcoux Jean-François | Modern | bass flute, violin, viola, cello |
| Transition, Op.45 | Aramaki Michio | Contemporary | bass flute |
| Trio for Flute, Alto Flute and Bass Flute, Op.1187 | Beatty Stephen W. | Modern | flute, alto flute, bass flute |
| Trio for Flute, Alto Flute and Bass Flute, Op.316 | Beatty Stephen W. | Modern | flute, alto flute, bass flute |
| Trio for Flute, Bass Flute and Cello, Op.305 | Beatty Stephen W. | Contemporary | Flute, bass flute, cello |
| Trio for Oboe, Bass Flute and Cello, Op.306 | Stephen W. Beatty | Contemporary | bass flute, oboe, cello |
| Vom himmel hoch da komm ich her | Kamioka Hideo | Contemporary | 3 flutes, alto flute, bass flute |
| Woodwind Trio, Op.1b | Aramaki Michio | Modern | flute, alto flute, bass flute |
| Xayāl | Alex Ness | Contemporary | bass flute, piano |
See also: Advanced Flute Repertoire List
What is the Bass Flute?
The bass flute is a member of the flute family that is pitched one octave below the standard C flute. This means that the lowest note on a bass flute is a C4. The bass flute is typically made of metal, like most other flutes, but it is longer and wider than the C flute to accommodate its lower pitch.
History of Bass Flute Repertoire
The bass flute is a relatively new addition to the flute family, with its origins dating back to the early 20th century. The first bass flutes were created in response to the need for a lower-pitched flute that could better blend with other low-pitched instruments in orchestral settings. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the bass flute began to gain popularity as a solo instrument, and as a result, the repertoire for the instrument began to grow.
Notable Bass Flute Composers
- Beatty Stephen W.
- Aramaki Michio
- Balparda de Carvalho Daniel
- Vaitzman Or
Resources for Finding Sheet Music for Bass Flute
Finding sheet music for the bass flute can be a challenge, as it is not as widely played as other instruments. However, with the growing interest in the bass flute, there are now more resources available for finding sheet music for the instrument than ever before. Here are some of the best resources for finding sheet music for the bass flute:
Online Music Stores
There are many online music stores that offer sheet music for the bass flute. Some of the most popular ones include Flute World, J.W. Pepper, and Sheet Music Plus. These online stores offer a wide selection of sheet music for the bass flute, including pieces by notable composers.
Flute Associations and Organizations
Many flute associations and organizations, such as the National Flute Association (NFA) and the British Flute Society (BFS), have resources available for finding sheet music for the bass flute. These organizations often have libraries or online databases of sheet music that members can access.
Online Sheet Music Libraries
There are also several online sheet music libraries that offer sheet music for the bass flute. Some of the most popular ones include IMSLP (International Music Score Library Project) and Musopen. These libraries offer free and public domain sheet music for the bass flute, as well as other instruments.
Physical Sheet Music Stores
Physical sheet music stores can also be a great resource for finding sheet music for the bass flute. Some of these stores may have a limited selection of bass flute sheet music, but they can often order pieces for you if they don’t have them in stock. It’s worth checking with your local sheet music store to see what they have available.
In addition to these resources, it can also be helpful to connect with other bass flute players and teachers to get recommendations for sheet music. Social media groups and online forums can be a great way to connect with other musicians and get recommendations for pieces to add to your repertoire. By utilizing these resources, you can expand your collection of bass flute sheet music and discover new and exciting pieces to play.
FAQs
- Is the bass flute difficult to play? Like any instrument, the bass flute takes practice to master, but with dedication and hard work, anyone can learn to play it.
- What’s the difference between a bass flute and a regular flute? The bass flute is larger than a regular flute and produces a lower, richer sound. It’s also pitched one octave lower than a regular flute.
- Can I play classical music on the bass flute? Absolutely! The bass flute has a rich history in classical music, and there are many beautiful pieces written specifically for the instrument.
- Is the bass flute used in jazz music? Yes, the bass flute is used in jazz and world music, where its warm, mellow tone adds a unique flavor to the music.
- Where can I find bass flute sheet music? There are many websites and music stores that sell bass flute sheet music, and many pieces can also be found for free online.
