Two Pieces – 2. The Squirrels

The second of the Two Pieces for flute and harp or piano accompaniment, “2. The squirrels” is a lovely short piece composed by Henri Busser. Really different from the “1. The swans,” this piece is much more cheerful and slightly faster. It is perfect to work on the flexibility of the tone and good training to be able execute more challenging pieces. Starting in D major, the piece has a ternary form (ABA), with a beginning in staccato, a slower B part and the repeat of the initial theme for the end. The most difficult part of this piece will be found in the last two measures, with really fast notes to play. It will be necessary to start to play them at a slower tempo to get the perfect technique and then increase the speed. This work is preceded by “The Swans,” with a difficulty rated at 5. Henri Busser (1872-1913) is a French classical composer and organist. He was a professor at the Paris Conservatoire and a member of the Académie française. He wrote a ballet, numerous operas and chamber music.