Flight of the Flutes

Flight of the Flutes was written in 1977 by Richard Maltby (see below).

Paleolithic flutes are the earliest known identifiable musical instruments. A number of flutes dating to about 53,000 to 45,000 years ago have been found in the Swabian Jura region of present-day Germany, indicating a developed musical tradition from the earliest period of modern human presence in Europe. While the oldest flutes currently known were found in Europe, Asia also has a long history with the instrument. A playable bone flute discovered in China is dated to about 9,000 years ago. The Americas also had an ancient flute culture, with instruments found in Caral, Peru, dating back 5,000 years and in Labrador dating back about 7,500 years.

The modern, “Boehm system” flute occupies an important role in the concert band. Like all instruments, it has its aspects of strength and limitations. It’s undeniable that the instrument has the least loud and carrying sound of all the instruments of the band (except maybe the triangle). We overcome that characteristic by placing them at the front of the band, nearest the audience, and having many players play together. And they have many strengths, being able to play without fatigue and with a great deal of agility. Obviously, they often specialize in playing the highest notes (especially on piccolo), but I must confess that I love hearing their low notes (though that playing can only be heard when few other instruments are playing). Solos for flute are very common in many of our pieces, but almost always during periods of “thin” orchestration.

This sprightly arrangement very cleverly manages to keep the flutes in a prominent role, though the entire band plays at various times. Much of the time, the “background” parts are kept at low dynamics, but not always. The composer really knows how to construct an interesting interplay between the flutes (written in four parts with largely parallel writing) and the band. There’s no reference to birds (like you often encounter in featured flute music), but the flutes really do “take flight” in this great piece which enables us to feature our fantastic flute section.

Composer Richard Maltby Sr. (1914 – 1991) was an American musician, conductor, composer, arranger, and bandleader, most notable for his 1956 recording “(Themes from) The Man with the Golden Arm”. He was also the father of the Broadway lyricist and director Richard Maltby Jr.

After studying briefly at Northwestern University's music school, he left college to become a full-time musician. He played trumpet with several big bands, including those of Jack Little, Roger Pryor, Bob Strong and Henry Busse, as well as also doing some arranging. In 1940, he took a job as an arranger for the orchestra of the Chicago-based radio station, WBBM, before moving to New York City in 1945 to become an arranger-conductor on network radio, where he worked with Paul Whiteman. In 1942, Benny Goodman recorded his composition “Six Flats Unfurnished”.

During the post-war years, he made several recordings for subsidiary labels of RCA Victor, and in 1954, finally scored a Top 40 hit with “St. Louis Blues Mambo”. In 1955, he began leading his own dance band, with which he had his Top 20 hit, “(Themes From) The Man With the Golden Arm”, in the spring of the following year.

Maltby left RCA for Columbia Records in 1959, then moved to Roulette Records a year later. He stopped recording on his own during the mid-1960s.

He was also the musical director of SESAC Jazz Classics between 1950 and 1965, and recorded several transcriptions for radio. As a conductor, he worked with singers such as Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Johnnie Ray, Vic Damone and Ethel Merman, and after he stopped recording on his own, he served as an arranger and conductor for Lawrence Welk on records and television.

Matlby wrote over 5,000 original compositions and arrangements for dance orchestra, studio groups and concert bands. As founder of Richard Maltby Music Productions, he also wrote numerous commercial jingles for radio and television networks. His success lay not only in his great versatility, but also in his unusual inventiveness in creating works which have immediate popular appeal.

The music for Flight of the Flutes was purchased for The Gateway Concert Band by

Justin and Lisa Jones in honor of Carmen Jones.