Dance of the Reed Flutes (Danse des Mirlitons)

Dance of the Reed Flutes (Danse des Mirlitons) from The Nutcracker Suite, Op71a by Peter I. Tchaikovsky
Arranged by Herman A. Hummel for 3 Flutes and Piano
Includes separate flute parts and a piano score.

A “Mirliton” is a toy instrument similar to a “kazoo,” but this composition has nothing to do with the sound of the Mirliton. In the original folk taleon which the music of the Nutcracker is based, the toys came to life and dance, hence the music represents the twirling and whirling, the leaps and the bounds of the animated Mirlitons.