Author Archives: Chris Hankin

About Chris Hankin

Christine Hankin studied the flute with Jonathan Snowden and she now has a very varied and successful freelance career. She made her Purcell Room debut to much critical acclaim and gives recitals both as a soloist and as a member of the chamber group Equinox. She plays regularly with the highly acclaimed London Chamber Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra as well as with the National Orchestra of Wales. She also appears as guest principal flute with the London Concert Orchestra. She has a wide range of experience of opera and ballet working mainly with the smaller companies touring extensively across the UK. As a teacher Christine is also much in demand. She is Professor of Flute at both the London College of Music and Media and Brunel University, and is Director of the Jonathan Snowden International Flute School, which brings together advanced players from all over the world. She also has her own private teaching practice where students of all ages come to advance their skills. Her work as a Diploma examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music is highly respected and has taken her all over the country and abroad. Her CD ‘The Feminine Flute’ featuring music by female composers has recently been released and is now available.

Building a Flute Library: Unusual Flute Music for Three Advanced Flutes

Right now there is great deal of exciting music available for three flutes, so if you are lucky enough to belong to a good trio there is plenty to keep you interested. Continue reading

Posted in Building A Flute Library, Music Recommendations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Building A Flute Library: Music for Weddings

Spring has sprung and the temperature is rising, so it won’t be long before someone asks you to play at their wedding. There is an astonishing amount of repertoire suitable for both the church and the reception, so depending on your forces the choice is yours. Books of arrangements are really handy in this situation – you never know what might happen on The Big Day! Continue reading

Posted in Building A Flute Library, Flute Music, Music Recommendations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Hidden Gems: Christmas Music for Flute Choir

There is now so much choice of Christmas music available for flute choirs that it’s difficult to know where to start. In this post I’ve selected some of my favourites which I can really recommend. Continue reading

Posted in Flute Music, Hidden Gems, Music Recommendations | Leave a comment

Composer Profile: Cecilia McDowall

It is very unlikely that you will not know at least one piece by Cecilia McDowall – even if it is the very popular Comic Song from the ABRSM grade 4 book! She isn’t a flute player, but her father, Harold Clarke, was. He was principal flute at the Royal Opera House, and professor of flute at Trinity College of Music. So it is inevitable that Cecilia would write music for us, and write it well. She is completely woven into the flute fabric in the UK, with works on exam lists and commissions ranging from contemporary solo pieces to music for large flute ensembles. Continue reading

Posted in Composer Profiles, Flute Music, Music Recommendations | Leave a comment

Building A Flute Library: Baroque Sonatas

One of the most bewildering parts of the Just Flutes catalogue is the Baroque section. All the titles seem to be the same, there are a great many composers who wrote a great many sonatas, and there are just so many editions to choose from! No wonder it’s confusing! This is a golden age of flute writing though and some of our most wonderful music comes from this period. Continue reading

Posted in Building A Flute Library, Flute Music, Music Recommendations | Leave a comment

Composer Profile: Amanda Jane Fox

I absolutely love the music of Amanda Fox. She is a wonderful combination of classically trained flute player and natural jazz pianist. She has an amazing way of performing her own music, her rhythmic understanding being instinctively different from the ordinary musician. She once described to me an astonishing list of styles that she has drawn from. These included Bach, Rachmaninoff, Elton John, Carol King, Debussy, Chaminade and several jazz musicians – very much a mixed bag. She is also quite a character! She never stops talking, and is infectiously enthusiastic about all she does. Continue reading

Posted in Composer Profiles, Hidden Gems, Music Recommendations | Leave a comment