We were recently marveled by Lizzo's performance on James Madison's 200-year-old crystal flute, which reminded us of the creative possibilities of this often-overlooked musical instrument. Now, a unique arrangement of the spooky song “Danse Macabre” featuring a flute and an organ is making the rounds online as we greet farewell to the Halloween season.
“Danse Macabre” (which means “Dance of Death”) was written in 1874 by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns as a tone poem for orchestra. A tone poem is meant to illustrate or evoke the content of a literary or non-musical piece. In particular, “Danse Macabre” tells the story of personified Death making the dead rise from their graves on All Hallows Eve and dance until dawn while he plays his fiddle.
Although “Danse Macabre” was originally written for violin and orchestra, Andrea Fisher's (aka Fluterscooter) arrangement with the flute and organ adds an extra frightening layer to this tune—and it's not just because she's clad in a skeleton suit. Beyond the story that the song tells, her performance is a true display of musical talent.
Recorded at the University of Iowa School of Music in October 2017, the video of Fisher shows her playing the flute with her left hand and the keyboard of the organ with her right hand, all while her feet control the pedals. On top of that, she seems to be playing from memory, as there is no sheet music in sight. It's like she's playing a duet with herself.
This isn't the first time Fisher, a graduate of Juilliard and the founder of a brand of flute bags, created a unique arrangement with these two instruments; she created an equally enchanting version of the song “Sleigh Ride.” Her creative approach to music has led her to perform at renowned places and festivals around the world, such as the Galway Flute Festival, Seoul Arts Center, and the Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival.
Watch Fisher's performance below.
English (US)