Just rehearsed a piece tonight for flute and piano (I'm the pianist). The flute part goes up to high Db (that's the fourth Db above middle C). As I understand her (possibly I don't), my flautist collaborator maintains that this note is inevitably sharp. Is that true?

Earlier in the piece there's a fairly rapid passage (16th-note triplets at quarter-note equals 108), moving from the first Eb above middle C to the first Db above middle C to middle C. Is the fingering awkward here? Is there anyway around it or does anyone have any suggestions about how to negotiate the passage?

Thanks

Thanks. For the record, there's just one of these high Db's in the piece, lasting one quarter note at q=108, prepared by a longer high C and resolving to a longer high C. The passage is fortissimo.

It may be that that high Db is sharp..........on that flutist's instrument. Mine is generally a tad flat. If it were I, I'd try a few workarounds. such as alternative fingerings or head joint position. If this is a newer import with a construction tuning of 442 hen the flutist may have hre head pushed in a bit and rolled back which could cause an issue.

On those lower notes, it can be a problem on some flutes. Sure that some of the other instruments have these sorts of things but on the flute this is generally not common to have these specific notes. So they may not be all that practiced and developed regularly by ordinary flutists. Generally the better instruments have a good feel on the low notes in relation to the spring tension and to the key design. Some flutes even have d# roller to help this along but it will still involve some training of that RH pinky.


BTW: Why avoid posting the name of the piece where it may be relevant?