Cuckoo’s Polka Op336

Cuckoo’s Polka, Op336 “In Krapfen’s Woods”  by Johann Strauss II

Arranged for flute choir by Monty & Phyllis Adams

Instrumentation: piccolo, 3 c  flutes, 2 alto flutes, bass flute, Cuckoo & Nightingale (Vogel)

Score and parts

This piece can be performed as a comic piece by having the Cuckoo stand in front of the group as a soloist.  I’ve included a couple of directions for the soloist as a guide to get started.  In bar 16 the second time around, the soloist could play E, G and then flip the music upside down for a comic effect.  Also, in measure 46 the first time the soloist could make a big production by turning the page as if there is too much material for the composer to put on a single page.  The literal meaning of  the word “Vogel” is “crazy bird”, so whoever is playing the nightingale, “go wild”! — Monty Adams