I'm spoiling you lot with guests at the moment, as for the second successive week we have one on the podcast, and this one is an actual flute player!

Hot off the back off his TWO debut solo albums, I sit down with Spanish flutist Juan Cossío to sip on Sangria and talk flute.

We'll be chatting about Juan's two albums featuring the music of Kummer and Henkel, his experiences studying with Jacques Zoon and Robert Winn and he even weights in to the Inline vs Offset G debate.

We wind it up with some flute games, with Juan trying to guess the flutist from 10 recordings and then to guess the piece based off a flutey excerpt. Have a listen and see if you can beat him to it.

The chapters of the episode are down below if you want to see what's on the menu for today.

And, if you want to chat more, he's all my socials, I'd love to hear from you!

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

You can find Juan on IG too @cossioflute

As for his albums, they're available on all the usual streaming platforms, just search for Juan Cossio!

The excerpt from today's clip is track number 32 from his first album, "Juan Cossio plays Gaspard Kummer, Complete works for flute and guitar," and is the fourth of Six Divertiseements from op.70.

If you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a beer or a Dr Pepper with my PayPal link below (also in my Instagram bio!)

Inline G will ALWAYS be free of charge, but small donations of a few euro/pounds/dollars help keep the lights on round here, if you can afford it x

www.paypal.me/garethhouston92

Cheers x

Chapters:

0:00 - Hola Juan

1:50 - Jacques Zoon, el amor

5:55 - Pub Talk

7:40 - Sangria y Calimocho

10:20 - Album one; Kummer

18:20 - Mental switch from chamber to orchestral music

21:35 - Album two; Henkel

27:40 - Jimmy Galway; A Passionate Defence

32:19 - Critical Reception to the albums

36:35 - Highlight from album one

37:40 - Juan Cossío plays Kummer

39:10 - Juan's Flute and Inline vs Offset G

47:50 - Game one; Guess the Flute Player

57:10 - Guess the Excerpt

1:01:55 - Juan's Socials and Hasta la vista

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well lads and ladies, we've made it to Episode 10! I promised you all a wee treat, so this week we have our first ever guest on the podcast; my former flatmate here in Cologne (and the finest man in Aachen's Fair City,) Jakob Sailer!

As a wee celebration, this week's episode takes a U-Turn and heads down a new road. During the COVID pandemic, I moved into a new flat with Jakob, a non-flutist, so I've got him on to talk about what it's like to spend lockdown with a professional flutist in the bedroom next door.

I test Jakob's memory skills on the orchestral excerpts he heard me play hundreds of times, and give him his first ever flute lesson, all whilst sipping on a few (many) flute themed cocktails.

The chapters of this chaotic episode are down below if you want to see what's on the menu for today.

And, if you want to chat more, he's all my socials, I'd love to hear from you!

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

You can find Jakob on IG too: @JakobSai

If you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a beer or a Dr Pepper with my PayPal link below (also in my Instagram bio!)

Inline G will ALWAYS be free of charge, but small donations of a few euro/pounds/dollars help keep the lights on round here, if you can afford it x

www.paypal.me/garethhouston92

Cheers x

Chapters:

0:00 - Who is Jakob?

4:40 - First experiences hearing the flute

7:05 - Specific memories of the flute next door

10:00 - A musical flat?

12:20 - The fella next door

18:45 - Jakob's Flute Painting

27:45 - Parties with the neighbours

31:22 - Teaching flute in shared flat

34:10 - The Inline G Cocktail

38:30 - Orchestral Excerpt Game

42:25 - Famous Flute Solo Game

49:50 - Jakob's First Flute Lesson

56:28 - German beers and goodnights

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the episode nobody has been waiting for; I'm finally taking a deep dive into the famous Flute Forum group on Facebook, reading you guys some of my favourite threads from within.

Looking at key factors (age and culture), I then look to suggest some reasons why the group can be so volatile, and help you develop a touch of empathy towards it all.

Finally, I have a look at a strange trend in the flute world that looks like an awful lot like a pyramid scheme (and give you some tips to recognise them, if needed.) As always, if there's a specific section you fancy skipping to, scroll down here for the different chapters.

Full disclaimer: nobody's real name's are used during this episode, and it's a work of comedy. Please don't come for me, I'm just a wee Irish lad talking balls on the internet x

If you want to chat more, he's all my socials (provided I'm not cancelled), I'd love to hear from you!

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

And if you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a beer or a Dr Pepper with my PayPal link below (also in my Instagram bio!)

Inline G will ALWAYS be free of charge, but small donations of 3 euro/pounds/dollars help keep the lights on round here, if you can afford it x

www.paypal.me/garethhouston92

Cheers x

Chapters:

0:00 - The Death of Inline G?

5:35 - Facebook Flute Forum Threads

27:03 - American Culture (and older folk) on FB

34:10 - Pyramid Schemes in the flute world?

49:47 - Cheers, everyone x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bumper music history episode this week, as I firstly explore the Vienna Philharmonic's shockingly dark Nazi past, as well as there racist and sexist present.

The second half uses the two extremes of Belfast adjectives, Shite and Class, to analyse Johann II and Richard Strauss. Looking at both of them, I compare their lives, their music and their respective links to the Nazi Party.

I round up with a delicious recording of some flute Strauss, all whilst sipping on an Irn Bru.

If you want to chat more, he's all my socials, I'd love to hear from you!

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

And if you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a beer or a Dr Pepper with my PayPal link below (also in my Instagram bio!)

Inline G will ALWAYS be free of charge, but small donations of a few euro/pounds/dollars help keep the lights on round here, if you can afford it x

www.paypal.me/garethhouston92

Cheers x

Chapters:

0:00 - Why the Nazi's?

5:58 - The Nazi Philharmonic Orchestra

23:18 - The Sh*te Strauss

30:00 - The Class Strauss

35:00 - Strauss Flute Recordings

41:29 - Jimmy Galway playing Salomé

42:45 - An apology (to my grandmother, mainly)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I went and saw the Barbie movie and got inspired to do an episode on female flute players, which has quickly spiralled out of control (quelle surprise). This week's episode starts with my own experiences of female mentors, before listing the first female principal orchestral flutists in fourteen different countries, in the form of a game show (yes, really).

I move on to taking a look at a real success story for female orchestral flutists; the current orchestral landscape in Paris. Then finally, I wrap it all up with some of my favourite female players (Magali Mosnier, Irina Stachinskaya, Zofia Neugebauer, Sophie Cherrier and Rachel Brown) and the essential recordings to get your ears around.

If you want to chat more, he's all my socials, I'd love to hear from you!

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

And if you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a beer or a Dr Pepper with my PayPal link below (also in my Instagram bio!)

Inline G will ALWAYS be free of charge, but small donations of 3 euro/pounds/dollars help keep the lights on round here, if you can afford it x

www.paypal.me/garethhouston92

Cheers x

Chapters:

0:00 - Welcome back! This week's menu.

6:19 - Barbie and my own female mentors

13:59 - The First Female Principal Flutes - A Game Show

24:20 - La Révolution Parisienne

29:27 - My favourite female flutists

37:01 - Further Resources (and an apology to my Grandmother)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is a long one, so feel free to scroll down and find the chapters in the description below if you fancy skipping to a certain part. Anyway, I'll be talking about music college, including my own experiences (both positive and negative), and the newspaper article that inspired this episode.

We'll look at the unique teacher-student relationship and the power dynamic that comes with it, as well as the role of social classes amongst students in college.

I'll be rounding it up with 5 tips for anyone going to or currently enrolled in music college, that I wish I had known before going.

Please excuse my tired voice, this was the second full recording after I had to delete the first for getting a little bit carried away emotionally (heads up; this episode isn't my usual light style)

If you want to chat more, he's all my socials, I'd love to hear from you!

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

And if any of today's topics affected you, Help Musicians is a great resource for mental health as well as for victims of bullying and harassment.

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro (and an explanation on my voice)

4:33 - Part 1: What is music college?

7:45 - Part 2: Positives of music college

15:33 - Part 3: Toxic music college culture

27:25 - Part 4: Hattie Butterworth article

32:31 - Part 5: Social classes in music college

38:54 - Part 6: Positive teaching; Roger, Eva and Magali

49:04 - Part 7: Five Tips for surviving music college

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is one that's particularly close to my wee Belfast heart: The Flute Band Tradition of Northern Ireland.

Using my 2015 Bachelor Thesis as a basis, this episode is a beginner's guide to one of Northern Ireland's most significant cultural traditions. We'll look at a little bit of Irish history and politics, before talking about the different types of flute bands and the music they play.

Then, we'll wrap it all up by talking about the gem atop the flute band crown: Sir Jimmy Galway.

If you enjoyed the episode, hit met up on my socials, I'd love to hear from you;

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Slainte,

Gareth x

Chapters

0:00 - Intro and what's coming up

7:15 - A brief (as it can be) history of the Northern Irish state

10:36 - What even is a flute band?

14:22 - What do flute bands play?

22:55 - Ballygowan Flute Band excerpt (Tchaikovsky)

23:38 - The Twelfth and Kick-the-pope bands

28:16 - Whiterock Flute Band playing Follow Follow

28:46 - Sir Jimmy Galway

37:15 - Sir James playing Mercadante

38:10 - What's coming up in the future

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm really spoiling you lot this week, with reviews of no fewer than five delicious versions of the famous flute solo from Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé!

Following on from last week's episode, we go straight into the deep end and talk about my personal top 5 recordings. We'll analyse them on 3 criteria (The Scale, The MoneyMaker Moment and Unique Points) before you get to hear a wee clip from each to make your own minds up.

I also briefly talk about the assault scandals in classical music, and give you a handy way to listen, guilt-free (or at least with less guilt), to recordings by problematic musicians.

The full titles of the recordings are below, as well as the chapters so you can skip to your favourite one.

And as always, if you enjoyed the episode, hit met up on my socials, I'd love to hear from you;

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Slainte,

Gareth x

Chapters

0:00 - What's coming up this week

2:20 - Jimmy Galway and Pahud, MIA

4:06 - A note on problematic musicians

7:54 - 5th place, Paul Edmund-Davies

13:58 - Edmund-Davies clip

14:33 - 4th place, Stefanie Faust

19:38 - Faust clip

20:16 - 3rd place, Ulla Miilmann

26:13 - Miilmann clip

26:47 - 2nd place, Juliette Hurel

31:12 - Hurel clip

31:46 - 1st place, Magali Mosnier

39:33 - Mosnier clip

40:08 - Merci's and smooches

Recording Number 5:

Flute: Paul Edmund-Davies

London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abaddo

Album: Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe

Year: 1986

Recording Number 4:

Flute: Stefanie Faust

Sinfonieorchester Aachen conducted by Kazem Abdullah

Album: Ravel; Daphis et Chloé

Year: 2017

Recording Number 3:

Flute: Ulla Miilman

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Matthias Pintscher

Video on YouTube on Ulla Miilmans account, titled "Flute solo from Daphis et Chloé"

Recording Number 2:

Flute: Juliette Hurel

The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Album: Ravel: Daphis et Chloé et pavane pour une enfante défunte

Year: 2015

Recording Number 1:

Flute: Magali Mosnier

Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France conducted by Myung-whun Chung

Album: Ravel: Daphis et Chloé

Year: 2005

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Things are getting HOT in the Inline G studio, as I deep dive into perhaps the sexiest piece (and flute solo) of all time; Daphnis et Chloé by Maurice Ravel.

It almost goes without saying, however there is a trigger warning for this episode; I'll be discussing things of a sexual nature and strong sexual themes, and the podcast does include strong language throughout (although that bit is hardly news.)

Anyway, this is is your one-stop-shop for all the background knowledge you need on the flute's most famous orchestral solo. The episode includes a quick history lesson, a concise explanation of the story, a short look at Pan (the pervy Greek god), some info on Ravel himself (including his Siamese cat's name) and finally, an analysis into all the things that make this music so God damn sexy.

Scroll down here to find a list of chapters if you fancy skipping to a certain bit.

Pop back next week when I'll be reviewing my favourite 5 recordings of the flute solo itself (including time stamps and track numbers so you can easily find them on all your streaming services.)

Chapters:

0:00 - What's coming up this week?

5:46 - What is Daphis and Chloe?

9:25 - The Story of Daphnis and Chloe

13:37 - Wee Pervy Pan (The Greek god)

16:19 - Maurice Ravel: A love affair with Mouni

25:30 - Why is the music SO SEXY!?

35:55 - Did Ravel write Die Hard? (no)

37:05 - Ravel and Die Hard - A Comparison

38:59 - Is the flute solo sexy?

44:03 - Tying it all up and what's coming next

As always, if you listened to even part of this episode, I would LOVE to hear from you! Find me at all these places below:

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

Slainte,

Gareth x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, I pull on the thread of the "world's most expensive flute" a little too hard, and end up telling the story of an almost mythical golden flute. I discuss high-end guitars and violins for comparison, before rounding it all up with what happened to the Flute Excalibur.

If you make it through this week's episode, be sure to fire me a message over on my socials to let me know what you think!

Instagram: @garethhouston_flute

Facebook: @GarethHoustonFlute

TikTok: @GarethHoustonFlute

And if you're already looking forward to the next episode, be sure to subscribe to the pod on whatever platform you use. If I get over 100 subscribers, I'll be making a special episode involving gin and my favourite flute euphemisms.

Cheers,

Gareth x

Chapters:

0:00 - THANK YOU GUYS!

1:47 - Today's topic

3:52 - The World's most expensive instruments

4:50 - Most expensive guitars

7:32 - Most expensive violins

12:33 - Most expensive flutes

19:29 - Louis Lot

22:18 - The Halo Effect

23:50 - The Golden Louis Lot and Monsieur Rampal

29:47 - Conclusions

33:30 - A gin fuelled promise to you x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.