Joachim Andersen

Five Easy Pieces op. 56

Flutists know Joachim Andersen (1847-1909) as the composer of 188 masterful etudes that have challenged and inspired musicians for over a century. These etudes are his legacy, but they should not completely overshadow his 54 works for flute and piano which include both brilliant showpieces and charming miniatures for the salon. Born in Copenhagen, Andersen learned to play the flute under his father's guidance. He became one of the finest flutists of his day and, as a young man, enjoyed prestigious positions in Danish and Russian orchestras. In 1881, he moved to Berlin, becoming a founding member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra the following year. Andersen wrote most of his flute compositions during this enormously productive and successful period in Berlin. Though his career as a flutist ended in the early 1890s because of a debilitating tongue disease, he continued to compose lovely pieces for his instrument. Because the location of Andersen's manuscript of Opus 56 is not known, the first edition of the pieces, published by Zimmermann in 1894, has been used as the primary source for this publication. The pieces are not difficult as already indicated in the name, but not too easy because a beautiful lyrical tone is needed, you could even call them lyrical pieces as the titles (In Autumn; The Flowers; Under the Balcony; Serenade; From former Times) are not programmatic but rather the expression of feelings.