Two Sketches No. 1 Night on the Plain – for Flute and Piano

Philippe Gaubert (1879-1941) was a distinguished performer on the Flute. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that his compositions for the instrument are at the forefront of the Flute’s repertoire, his Two Sketches being no exception. After a prominent career as a flautist with the Paris Opéra, Gaubert was appointed as professor of Flute at the Paris Conservatoire as well as principal conductor of leading orchestras. It was during this time that Gaubert composed, including his Two Sketches for Flute and Piano, which is made up of two movements. The first of these, Night on the Plain, conveys many technical features, including flourishing semiquaver passages, a wide range, lyricism, intervals, chromaticism and complex rhythms. Night on the Plain from Two Sketches is a challenging yet exciting piece for aspiring flautists.