Guide to Flute

Here you will find an overview of the flute resources at the State Library with search tips.

See also

• Flute interest groups and internet resources
• AMEB Flute Syllabus 
• Music Education
• Competitions, awards and scholarships 
• Borrowing

Scores for Loan

The State Library has a comprehensive collection of music for flute, solo and accompanied. The standard classical repertoire is well-covered and supplemented by tutors, methods, studies and exercises, as well as arrangements of popular music from Broadway to jazz, from Motown to rock. 

A strength of the collection is the varied editions collected of standard works such as sonatas and concerto reductions. Urtext, European, English, American and Australian editions give students choice in interpretation, fingering and other editorial influences. We collect most works listed from Grade 4 and above in the Australian Music Examinations Board syllabus. There is also music for ensembles that include flute, from duets to orchestral works.

Reference Material

The reference collection of books, journals and electronic resources includes material on history of the flute, flute technique, composers of flute music, famous performers, flute repertoire and bibliographies.

Recordings

We hold a collection of CDs and LPs that can be listened to on-site. You can also listen to tracks using the on-line database Naxos Music Library. Recordings of different performances of standard works are collected to enhance the listening experience. There is a small classical and jazz loan collection of audio cassettes available. 

Searching

All material can be found by using the catalogue. You may search by title, but you may not find all copies of the work if you only use one translation of the title, such as Studies instead of Etudes. Please use our Guide to Searching for Classical Music scores as a starting point. All flute music can be found on the shelves at the classification VR.

You may also search by subject. For arrangements, add the term Arranged at the end of the subject. Useful subject searches are:

• Flute music
• Flute - Methods
• Flute - Studies and exercises
• Flute and....  (another instrument eg. piano)
• Flute Music (Jazz)
• Concertos (Flute) -- Solo with piano
• Sonatas (Flute)
• Sonatas (Flute and ... ) (another instrument eg. piano)

Find information by using the keyword or subject option in the catalogue. Useful subject and keyword searches are:

• Flute
• Flute music
• History and Criticism
• Construction
• Performance
• Flute players
• Flute makers