Page:The story of the flute (IA storyofflute1914fitz).djvu/186



Berlioz makes frequent and delicious use of the flute, availing himself much of the low register; he employs the entire compass, right up to C in alt., as in Faust, in which work the flute has a fine running passage whilst the horn plays the melody. In L'Enfance du Christ we find an entire movement for two flutes and harpa rather unique combination. Berlioz was very fond of writing for the flute or piccolo along with the harp; a notable example occurs in his arrangement of Weber's Invitation à la Valse. The combination appears to have been much favoured by the ancient Egyptians, and many modern composers have adopted it; amongst others, Mehul (Uthal), Mendelssohn (Antigone), Meyerbeer (Prophete and Stuensee overture), Adam (Si J'etais Roi), R. Strauss (Tod und Verklartung), Brahms (Requiem). It is used by Wagner in The Rheingold (where the two instruments echo each other), in Lohengrin, and in The Walkure in a curious passage for two piccolos along with three harps answering each other.

Berlioz frequently combines the flute and oboe, sometimes giving the flute the lower part, an arrangement