Notation
Harmonics are notated with two notes written over each other. On the high note you’ll find a little open round.
The diamond shaped notes indicate the fingering you should use.
The regular shaped notes indicate which note should sound.
Practise
Studying harmonics on the flute is useful for:
– Embouchure control
– Air control and support
– Aural skills
Picc/alto/bass
This technique can be used on all flutes.
Composers
Level:
| General: | Becomes a bit more difficult: | |
| It is easy to realize the first and second harmonic. | Higher harmonics |
Notes:
- Intonation of most harmonics is flatter than the regular fingerings.
- Harmonic range:
The last two notes are very difficult for most flutists. You can transpose this range. Not on every note the whole range can be produced.
Repertoire
| Composer: | Title: | Album: | Publisher: | Other techniques: | |||
| Berio, Luciano | 1925- 2003 | Sequenza I | 3 | Flute solo | Universal Edition (UE 19957) | Whistletones, Multiphonics, Keyclicks, Flatterzunge | |
| Boulez, Pierre | *1925 | eux extraits du “Marteau sans Maitre” | 3 | Altoflute solo | Universal Edition (UE 33 404) | Flatterzunge | |
| Boulez, Pierre | *1925 | Sonatine | 1 | Flute, piano | Amphion Editions Musicales | Flatterzunge | |
| Brown, Elisabeth | *1953 | Augury | 2 | Flute, guitar | Available from composer www.elisabethbrowncomposer.com | Microtones | |
| Cutler, Davis | *1971 | First snow | Postcards | 1 | Flute solo | Universal Edition (UE 33661) | |
| Cutler, Davis | *1971 | Leipzigian nights | Postcards | 3 | Flute solo | Universal Editions (UE 33661) | Sing & play, Keyclicks, Flatterzunge, Gissando/tonebending |
| Cutler, Davis | *1971 | Pinstriped Tomatoes | Postcards | 3 | Flute solo | Universal Editions (UE 22661) | Windtones, Sing & play, Flatterzunge, Glissando/tonebending |
| Denissow, Edison | 1929- 1996 | Solo für Flöte (1972) | 3 | Flute solo | Deutscher Verlag für Musik (DvfM 8044) | Multiphonics, Keyclicks, Flatterzunge, Glissando/tonebending, Quartertones | |
| Dick, Robert | *1950 | Flying lessons I | 3 | Flute solo | Multiple Breath Music Company | Multiphonics, Sing & play, Keyclicks, Glissando/tonebending, Quartertones, Residutones | |
| Dick, Robert | *1950 | Lookout | 3 | Flute solo | Multiple Breath Music Company | Multiphonics, Sing & play, Keyclick, Quartertones | |
| Doppler, Albert-Franz | 1821- 1883 | Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise | 1 | Flute, piano | Schott (FTR 91) | ||
| Fukushima, Kazuo | *1930 | Mei (1962) | 3 | Flute solo | Edizioni Suvini Zerboni – Milano | Keyclicks, Glissando/tonebending | |
| Fukushima, Kazuo | *1930 | Requiem (1957) | 3 | Flute solo | Edizioni Suvini Zerboni – Milano | Flatterzunge | |
| Genzmer, Harald | 1909- 2007 | Konzert | 1 | Flute, piano (red.) | Schott (FTR 115) | ||
| Gergely, Ittzés | *1969 | ‘Mr. Dick is thinking in terms of a blues-pattern’ | 3 | Flute solo | www.ittzesgergely.hu | Multiphonics, Sing & play, Slap tongue, Trumpet embouchure | |
| Gottsche-Niessner, Friedgund | *1954 | Der Traum von Eiskunstlaufen | Eine kleine Tiersuite | 3 | 3 Flutes | Zimmermann (ZM 32370) | |
| Gottsche-Niessner, Friedgund | *1954 | Die Schmetterlinge | Eine kleine Tiersuite | 3 | 3 Flutes | Zimmermann (ZM 32360) | |
| Gottsche-Niessner, Friedgund | *1954 | Nachtfaltergedanken | 3 | Flute solo | Zimmermann (ZM 34960) | Bamboetones, Windtones, Slap tongue | |
| Heider, Werner | *1930 | 70 Tonen zum Millenium | Bei Gelegheid | 3 | Flute solo | Heinrichshofen (2589) | Flatterzunge |
| Heider, Werner | *1930 | Auf-Trumpf | Bei Gelegheid | 3 | Flute solo | Heinrichshofen (2589) | Flatterzunge |
| Holliger, Heinz | *1939 | (é)cri(t) | 3 | Flute solo | Schott (FTR 197) | Whispertones, Flatterzunge | |
| Holliger, Heinz | *1939 | Sonate (in)solit(air)e | 3 | Flute solo | Schott (FTR 175) | Whispertones, Multiphonics, Sing & play, Glissando/tonebending, Slap tongue, Quartertones, Trumpetembouchure | |
| Honegger, Arthur | 1892- 1955 | Danse de la chèvre | 1 | Flute solo | Salabert Editions | ||
| Ibert, Jacques | 1890- 1962 | Concerto | 1 | Flute, piano (red.) | Alphonso Leduc (A.L. 18761) | ||
| Jolivet, André | 1890- 1962 | Cinq Incantations | 3 | Flute solo | Boosey & Hawkes (B. & H. 19381) | Flatterzunge | |
| Jolivet, André | 1905- 1974 | Sonata | 1 | Flute, piano | Heugel et Cie (H.E. 31713) | Flatterzunge | |
| Keulen, Geert van | *1943 | Twelve studies for flute solo | 2 | Flute solo | Broekmans & Van Poppel (1606) | Flatterzunge | |
| Keuris, Tristan | 1946- 1996 | Fantasia | 3 | Flute solo | Donemus (DON 0022) | Flatterzunge | |
| Mower, Mike | *1958 | Triligence | 2 | Flute, piano | Mike Mowers Itchy fingers publications (IFP02) | ||
| Moyse, Louis | 1912- 2007 | Variations on three Japanese songs | 1 | Flute, piano | Zen-on music | ||
| Najfar, Reza | *1960 | From the other stars | Flute update | 3 | Flute solo | Walter Wretschitsch & Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien | Windtones, Keyclick, Faltterzunge |
| Najfar, Reza | *1960 | The fire of Mars | Flute update | 3 | Flute solo | Walter Wretschitsch & Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien | Keyclicks, Flatterzunge |
| Najfar, Reza | *1960 | Valse Harmonique | Flute update | 3 | Flute solo | Walter Wretschitsch & Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien | |
| Offermans, Wil | *1957 | Drigo’s dream | 3 | Flute, piano | Zimmermann (ZM 34510) | Multiphonics, Bamboetones, Windtones, Sing & play, Keyclicks, Glissando/tonebending | |
| Offermans, Wil | *1957 | Just a short version | 3 | 2 flutes, piccolo, altoflute | Zimmermann (ZM 2988) | Multiphonics, Bamboetones, Windtones, Flatterzunge, Glissando/tonebending | |
| Offermans, Wil | *1957 | Kagome Kagome | Made in Japan | 3 | Flute, CD | Zimmermann (ZM 34950) | Sing & play |
| Offermans, Wil | *1957 | Studie no. 2: Harmonics | For the contemporary flutist | 3 | Flute solo | Zimmermann (ZM 27900) | |
| Offermans, Wil | *1957 | Studie no. 5: Multiphonics | For the contemporary flutist | 3 | Flute solo | Zimmermann (ZM 27900) | Multiphonics, Windtones, Flatterzunge |
| Offermans, Wil | *1957 | Tsuru-no-Sugomori | 3 | Flute solo | Zimmermann (ZM 33720) | Multiphonics, Flatterzunge, Glissando/tonebending | |
| Offermans, Wil | *1957 | Workingsong 2 | Flute update | 3 | Flute, woodsaw | Walter Wretschitsch & Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien | Bamboetones, Sing & play |
| Pijper, Willem | 1894- 1947 | Sonata | 1 | Flute, piano | Donemus (Don100) | Flatterzunge | |
| Roussel, Albert | 1869- 1937 | Joueurs de flûte | 1 | Flute, piano | Broekmans & Van Poppel (1573) | ||
| Steen, Pip van Derks, Wil | *1955 * | Euro suite | 2 | Flute, guitar | Broekmans & Van Poppel (1716) | ||
| Takemitsu, Toru | *1930 | Air | 3 | Flute solo | Schott (SJ 1096) | Flatterzunge | |
| Wagendristel, Alexander | *1965 | Three dances | Flute update | 3 | Flute solo | Walter Wretschitsch & Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien | Multiphonics, Windtones, Jetwhistle, Keyclicks, Flatterzunge, Slap tongue |
| Wullur, Sinta | *1958 | Promenade | Images | 3 | Flute solo | Donemus (DON 320) | Glissando/tonebending |
Books
| Author: | Title: | Publisher: | Oter techniques: |
| Dick, Robert | Tone Development Through Extended Techniques | Multiple Breath Music Company | Whistletones, Multiphincs, Bamboetones, Sing & play |
| Levine, Carin & Mitropoulos-Bott, Christina | The techniques of flute playing | Bärenreiter | Whistletones, Multiphinics, Windtones, Sing & play, Jetwhistle, Keyclicks, Flatterzunge, Glissando/tonebending, Slap tongue, Quartertones, Trumpet embouchure |
| Pellerite, James J. | A modern guide to fingerings for the flute | Zalo Publications | Multiphonics, Quatertones |