Valse Caprice

Valse Caprice for Flute and Piano by Daniel S. Wood

Edited by Matt Johnston, based on the original published material from Rudall, Carte & Co., 1909, held at the Nederlands Muziek Instituut.

British flutist Daniel S. Wood is best-known as the first principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra, beginning with the inception of the orchestra in 1904. Exemplified by his method book, Studies for Facilitating the Execution of the Upper Notes on the Flute, he was a well-known teacher, performer, and orchestral flutist thoroughly embedded in London’s musical life.

Though little is known about the Valse Caprice (first published in 1909), it was dedicated to the first major female flutist of London, Edith Penville. Comprised of long, elegant lines that freely intertwine technique and melody, the Valse bears remarkable similarities to the works featured in Rudall Carte’s 1920s publication, The Flute Player’s Journal, which was publicized as “from the repertoire of Edith Penville.”