Franz Schubert’s only significant work for flute is an offshoot of his famous song-cycle Die schöne Müllerin, completed in November 1823. In January 1824 he...

Franz Schubert’s only significant work for flute is an offshoot of his famous song-cycle Die schöne Müllerin, completed in November 1823. In January 1824 he took the melody of the eighteenth song, “Trockne Blumen,” and made it the basis of his Introduction and Variations in E minor on “Trockne Blumen” for flute and piano. Beethoven’s only mature and substantial contribution to the instrument’s repertoire is the Serenade, Op. 25 for flute, violin, and viola, written in 1801. In 1803, the Bohemian composer Franz X. Kleinheinz (1772–1832) arranged this work for flute (or violin) and piano. The arrangement was obviously carried out with Beethoven’s full approval, as he is known to have checked it over and sanctioned it before it was printed in December, 1803. Robert Schumann wrote no original pieces for flute. However, it is but a small leap for flautists to include the 3 Romances, Op. 94 in their repertoire. They were written in 1849, for oboe, but with the composer’s indication that they were suitable for either clarinet or violin.