Hello, dear listeners, I'm so grateful for your wonderfully supportive responses! I would like to say that the music comes "to" me, and then "through" me. I can't really accept credit for the ultimate result, but I'm so happy for your wonderful responses and enthusiasms! Pace. Rhonda
Rhonda Larson You are an awe inspiring force that will forever be remembered. I am now ready to play with more passion. Singing is great, but the flute, well, I am sure You understand, words aren't necessary!
An absolutely marvelous performance in a "haunting melody" You, along with Paula Robison and Doriot Dwyer have become my favorite flutists. Thanks, Jim
i played flute for 8 years and to be honest... i stopped playing because i had to get busy with school and work, not going to lie i miss playing my music and flute and this video brought me back memories of how much i enjoyed wonderful pieces like this.
Lydia Mendoza Hello, I hope you start playing your flute again. It can HELP you with whatever else you do in your life because it is a 'grounding' activity (to play), and you will come to know yourself in a deeper way in the process of playing your flute! Best wishes, Rhonda
This is so hauntingly beautiful, when I listened to this I was literally taken to beautiful fantasy. I've been playing the flute for about 10 years and the difficulty of the techniques used in this piece mind blowing and just wow. This was absolutely incredible. :D
Well, I've been playing for 16 years, and Rhonda's music still makes me trip over my own fingers at times lol. It's totally worth all the hard work to learn it though. =) I incorporated two of her pieces into my recitals in college (I majored in performance on flute) If you love the flute, and you practice you'll get there one day
@Jorge Picabea I agree with you, it is busy. But I wonder if you are able to hear the melody line ABOVE the busy harmony line? Thanks for sharing. Rhonda
I bought the score of this wonderful piece from your website almost a year ago and after many months I mastered the complexities to a degree I had to share it myself. Recently I played "Be Still My Soul" for the first time in public using a reverb effect and piano. (We tried a synth but the quality of our instrument was not effective. Using the Grand Piano as an alternative worked fabulously in our case.) As we played, a hush came over our church and the moment was well, angelic. Although I have not completely mastered the speed that you so artistically display, I must say I came pretty close and was so proud of myself and felt I pulled it off. Soon I hope to present this piece as my own RU-vid debut and will post it as a response to this video. Thank you Rhonda again for your wonderful music.
I want to get better at playing my flute. But I always doubt myself. I was never great in high school. My sounds are horrible and I need a lot of practice. I just don't believe in myself enough.
Esmeralda Leal You can always get better! You are not the only one who passed through this moment when you just feel struck and not getting better at all. Just keep on practicing, KNOWING you'll make it. And eventually, you will. Cheers! :D (Sorry if there are any mistakes, English is not my mother tongue)
Hello 'forgetthedifference', The grade for the piece? Perhaps an A minus? (Just kidding!) As I wrote it myself, I don't know how to grade it, but it is very challenging! The trick is to not make it sound as difficult as it is...The vocal/flute part alone took me several years before it was ready for the stage...And the body of the piece is challenging in getting the melody to 'shine' above the harmony notes---lots of beloved practice, that is all I can say. Thanks for writing. Rhonda Larson
Hi Rhonda, I'm your new fan. SO inspired by your playing. I'm a guitarist but love flute; I only play bamboo flute so far. Anyway, enjoy your playing very much. Please let us know on youtube where you perform so we can come and support.
@john alchmist How to do the flute/vocal technique? Five years working on it. I liken it to being a ventriloquist. I will be posting a video soon about how I learned the technique. Thanks for your question. Rhonda
this piece just changed my perception of the flute. awed! Definitely will aspire to playing this one day. You must have faeries and magic floating around you every day!
This is so inspiring! I love to sing and am starting to learn to play the flute. I love how you combined the two together in the beginning. Simply beautiful!
Hi Yuuri, You can order the sheet music via my website, as listed as the very last "tag", as well as at the end of this video performance. Thanks so much! If you play it on Contrabass, you must send me a copy so I can hear it! :) --Rhonda Larson
@alegria5029 Hello! Despite years of trying to get my pinkie 'in line', it still does what it wants when I perform. It is the position, for me, of least tension. I apologize that it draws attention to itself. I do use a Bo-Pep attachment on my left hand, which helps me from having to bend my wrist too severely (plus, it helps when performing in hot lights which makes my hands slippery!). Hope this helps. Thanks for writing. ---Rhonda
Hi Rhonda - I'm interested in knowing what your technique is in your left hand specifically the pinky for the G# key. I see your finger tends to go under the key at times. Is this just to get it out of the way because you're not using it? Also - are you using a finger saddle? My left hand is the weakest part of my technique so any feedback would be greatly appreciated! I'm learning (and memorizing!) this piece to play this winter!
Hi Mrs.Rhonda, I love your sound and your playing has truly inspired me. How can I improve my technique rhythmic wise? I always find my self practicing the sections in my music where I just cant get my fingers to move and pretty soon they start working. But how can I practice my technique to were my sight reading will also improve?
Is this available on sheet? I first became aware of your playing in the Pearl website. Every time I listen to you, I love your playing more!! Just curious as to the combination of metals on the flute? Looks like a gold body. Platinum, white gold or silver head??? I play a Brannen-Cooper. Thanks, Frank
ok now im going to have to get my flute out of the attic and teach myself to play again. Havent touched that thing since middle school. BIG regret not keeping up with it. But you know, band wasnt the "cool" thing to do in high school. Wish i would have known that none of that matters when your 26, i def would have kept up with it!
Hi Rhonda, I saw you respond to a comment about your head joints, and now I want to know what brand your body joint is? Also, what makers do you recommend? I am searching for a new flute (I'm a high school student who plans to play in higher levels in the near future). Thank you for your time!
Love the dual melodies, especially during the arpeggios. And the sing/play technique is awesome. I'm still trying to perfect that with some of the different world flutes I play. Great Job Rhonda.
wow rhonda that was beautiful u need to upload more videos my name is ayden im a flutist myself and i think ur better then greg pattillo and james galway ur epic as soon as i heard this song i right away subscribed rhonda please respond. thx!!!
I think maybe your pinky's trying to tell you that you should've learned to play on an OPEN G# flute! At least then it would be put to good use on the spatula key more often! You would've been a natural at it, but you're great anyway!
i was just wondering what kind of headjoint do you play on? do you own several? I just ordered a pearl elegante flute and I also ordered a calore headjoint to go with it...still waiting on the flute. I love how sweet your sound is.
Hey Rhonda this is one of my absolute fav pieces that Ive heard you play...i recorded myself on here and wanted to know what you think of it? Although i do have the sing and play music part, I didn't include it in my recording.
im in band at m school and i play flute one reson i play flute is because i think its a pretty insterment and i love the sound one more reson i started because of you thank you for creating my life for future planning!
This is AMAZING!! I play flute..I've been playing for about 2 1/2 years and sax a little over a year...and I want to be a professional musician someday! My main instrument is flute, my second is saxophone, and my third (just taking lessons here and there) is piano. I want to play sax and flute professionally in New York someday. I've gotten into district honor band 2 yrs and got second chair in state this year. I take private lessons on all three but I still have TERRIBLE stage fright! Any advise about trying to make it as a professional or stage fright?
Katie 2000 Hello Katie, write to me on an email, Rhonda 'at' RhondaLarson 'dot' com, and ask me this very question again, I will offer you some advice. Rhonda
I have more than a few years on you. You should try The Golden Flute as performed by Yusef Lateef, if you haven't done so. You would do justice to that lovely tune.
Rhonda, I'm able to do the singing and playing at the same time to a point now. I've been practicing. It takes a really good person who has breath control to do that.
i hope i can play this when i get older cause i've only been playing for 2 years and i know that it's too early to try and play something with such fast fingerings haha
Hey Rhonda! That was wonderful! I hope one day I can play like that! I've only been playing for four years. That was beautiful! Please come to Iowa! I would love to hear you in person! Abby
Love the contrasting low and high notes in succession. Huge fan of your stuff R, one day I'll be able to hit those multi octave jumps. Any tips on getting louder notes when you're under low G?
I agree. I think it's called "projection". You need stronger breath and blow harder than you would need in C2, C3. Hopefully Rhonda agrees. At least that's what Doriot Dwyer told me. (former Principal flutist, BSO).
not been a fan of the reeds, but this is beautiful. . . I'm hunting around for various instrumental solos, so I can get an idea of what each individually sounds like, out of a symphony. So far you're the only exception to my don't like reeds & woodwinds policy. . .
George, thank you so very much! I'm also so glad I'm not a reed player, for your sake, but I definitely am of the 'woodwind' category. Thank you for recognizing the qualities of the beauty of flute! Its been ahead of all other instruments in history, along with percussion, as the very first instruments EVER. Thank you for viscerally recognizing something special! Rhonda
some of the patterns in this piece sound similar to the call of the brown thrush in the wilds of the Adirondack mountains. If you have ever heard the enchanting call of the brown thrush you would know what I'm talking about...so gorgeous.
Ken Santiago I love that you heard such a thing. It was not deliberate on my part, but I will confess I am a complete Nature LOVER, and most particularly have my soul boosted when I hear bird song. But I'm not trying to emulate them, only in their ability to fly, perhaps!! (FLY, while playing music on the flute! THAT is what it feels like when I perform, and I often have many night dreams where I 'fly', no kidding)! Thanks for your input! R
Hello again Rhonda :) , I noticed you use your second trill key for your middle Es, is this for the tone color? It definitely has less resistance for sure. Or is this specifically a preference for you on your flute? Just curious...I might try it .
Hello Jonathan, very astute of you! I use it in rapid passages when I need the middle E to speak immediately/perfectly (which it does not, otherwise), and I also use it on high E when I need it to be effortless and very soft. The trick is, it makes it a bit sharp, so I have to adjust for it when the note stands alone (but not in rapid passages if all notes in the pattern are equally relaxed inside the mouth). Thanks for noticing and asking. R
Wow! that was beyond anything I have ever heard played on a flute! absolutely divine!! thank you for sharing such a gift .... you have just inspired me to try harder on my flute!! xoxo
I've playing the flute since I was 10 and I'm 13 almost 14 now and already in advanced band but second chair our 1st chair player is a senior this yr! :)
I think Rhonda is actually an angel. Not in the biblical sense, but in the sense of a being possessing a supreme beauty (referring to her musical abilities).
If I wanted to perform this in my Sr. recital, how would I go about getting the sheet music? This is absolutely stunning, and your playing literally took my breath away. Thank you for that.
I know I've replied before, but after your hauntingly beautiful performance in this upload you are my favorite flutist of all time. You are my inspiration. Because of your wonderful playing I'll pick up my flute again. Thanks so much. Only G-d could have given you the talent you have. Regards.
I was blown away when I first heard this piece. Awesome!!!! I ordered the music and trying to master it. Hopefully I can sound as good as you Rhonda. Thank you for sharing. Karen Lott, Flutist Savannah
@@RhondaLarson Thank you for the response and for sharing your music with us! I have actually just started playing on a silver head/gold body combo myself so it was inspiring to see this. I see the combo so rarely but it can be such a special sound.
This was beautiful!! I play the flute and your my inspiration. I've been watching your videos for almost a month now and I'm in love! I'm definitely subscribing! Great performance! You're a great flute player! ❤
what do you feel abot bamboo flutes and the hall crystal flutes? you ply the bamboo. if so is it possible for the above to be played in it.coz id love to try it...
Mridul Kaimal You would not be able to play this on either of the flutes mentioned, because it requires a Western european flute to play all the notes, in quick succession. You can find my crystal flute performance on RU-vid called, "The Boatman", but it is an entirely different piece of music, not "be still " melody.
I play the flute and have been for half a year and I can play a thousand years by Christina Perry.... this is sooooooo much more amazing.... thank you for being an inspiration to flute players!!!!
