Entrance of the Queen of Sheba: 6 Flutes Score & Parts

Marlatt's arrangement captures the ceremonial grandeur of the original without sacrificing the brilliant passagework that makes this work irresistible to players. Six flutes handling this material together creates a lush, cohesive sound that feels far more substantial than a typical flute ensemble piece, and the parts sit comfortably enough that you won't need a wall of advanced players to pull it off.

Regal and purposeful, with an undercurrent of forward momentum. The piece radiates confidence through bright articulation and flowing passagework, evoking a processional that feels both ceremonial and energized.

Flute ensembles working at the medium-difficult level who want repertoire that sounds impressive without requiring soloistic virtuosity from every stand. This is ideal for a choir or band director seeking a striking instrumental moment in a concert, or for a flute choir building its library of Baroque standards.

• Establish the rhythmic foundation in rehearsal by isolating the driving rhythmic motif that propels the piece forward; let the ensemble lock that pattern before worrying about individual line clarity.
• Balance the runs and scalar passages by having players think through where the phrase naturally breathes rather than mechanically rushing the technical passages.
• Record a quick rehearsal run-through and listen back as an ensemble to identify spots where intonation dips under the weight of fast notes; often just one or two flutes need adjustment rather than the whole group.
• Shape the arrival points with slight dynamic swell and release so the most ornate moments land with presence rather than sounding threadbare.

Open a concert with this and you signal sophistication and ensemble discipline in the first thirty seconds. It also functions beautifully as a recessional in formal contexts like graduations or weddings, where the combination of Baroque stature and celebratory character lands exactly right.

• Balancing fast scalar passages with phrase shape
• Ensemble blend in sustained harmonic sonorities
• Articulation clarity in Baroque rhythmic patterns
• Breath management across longer technical lines
• Ensemble intonation under the pressure of fast notes