Top 5 Flute Players

Thank you for visiting my Flute Blog and welcome!!

Today I want to briefly talk a about the top 5 Flute Players *(in classical music).

There are many gifted players in many genres but today we will visit a few of the "Heavy Weight" Classical Players.

Sir James Galway probably the most widely known name in the Flute world. Sir James Galway,OBE(born 8 December 1939) is an Irish virtuoso flute player from Belfast, nicknamed "The Man with the Golden Flute". He established an international career as a solo flute player. Please visit his website here :

http://www.jamesgalway.com/

Claude-Paul Taffanel(16 September 1844 – 22 November 1908) was a French flautist, conductor and instructor, regarded as the founder of the French Flute School that dominated much of flute composition and performance during the mid-20th century.

Marcel Moyse May 17, 1889 in St. Amour, France – November 1, 1984 in Brattleboro, Bermont, United States) was a French Flautist. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and was a student of Philippe Gaubert, Adolphe Hennebains and Paul Taffanel ; all of whom were flute virtuosos in their time. Moyse played principal flute in various Paris orchestras and appeared widely as a soloist and made many recordings. Among his students were James Galway, Paula Robison, Trevor Wye, Robert Aitken. Moyse authored many flute studies, including De la Sonorite and Tone Development Through Interpretation, published by McGinnis & Marx

Robert Morris Aitken CM(born August 28, 1939) "One of our own". Robert Morris Aitken is a Canadian Composer and Flautist who began playing as a teenager in a number of orchestras. Robert Aitken notably become the youngest principal flautist in the history of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra !! *(1958 age 19!) In 1971, he devoted his career to pursue a highly successful solo career.

My personal favorite:

Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal(7 January 1922 – 20 May 2000) probably my favorite out of all of the "modern Flute Players" I was fortunate enough to see him play live in the 90's on one of his world tours. A concert I will NEVER forget. Jean-Pierre Rampal was a French flautist. He has been personally "credited with returning to the flute the popularity as a solo classical instrument it had not held since the 18th century."

Here is a short recording of his expertise :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9Az8K6Tuw

Michel Blavet (March 13, 1700 – October 28, 1768) was a French composer and flute virtuoso. Although Blavet taught himself to play almost every instrument, he specialized in the bassoon and the flute which he held to the left, opposite of how flutists hold theirs today.

Quantz (a well beautiful french composer of the time) wrote of Blavet:

"His amiable disposition and engaging manner gives rise to a lasting friendship between us and I am much indebted to him for his numerous acts of kindness." ........ Nice.

There you have it the top 5 / "Must Knows" of Flute Players. Enjoy and see you soon !!