Fluting in the Rockies

This is a “maiden voyage”, a collection of original compositions created during my “second childhood” (aka retirement) and I hope more will follow.  Living in Colorado, not far from Rocky Mountain National Park (aka “Rocky”), the many miles and days spent there provide much of the inspiration for these songs.  Many are named after places or features in the park.

Beyond Chapin Pass:  The pass is accessible by old Fall River Road, the original road through “Rocky".  Beyond that pass are gorgeous peaks to hike to: Chapin, Chiquita, Ypsilon and beyond; or for the curious, drop down into the Chapin Creek drainage. Flute in the key of high B, Mahogany.

Morning at Bear Lake:  Perhaps the most visited spot in “Rocky”, it is a place of quiet beauty, especially early morning before crowds arrive.  Flute in the key of mid-F, black walnut.

Earthtones in Clay:  A departure from “Rocky”, this piece pictures walking in a jungle, into a village where the residents are having a ceremony of sorts.  Titled “earthtones” due to use of a triple-chamber clay flute and a clay udu in the recording.   Clay triple drone flute in F Minor.

Mourning Doves:  This was inspired by an unusual call of a Mourning Dove during a walk around my neighborhood.   That call serves as the song’s motif. Flute in the key of mid-A, eastern red cedar.

Fires of ’20:  Colorado, as did many places in the west, endured numerous large and destructive fires in 2020.   Two of the largest charred large portions of “Rocky”, the later fire running 18 miles in one day.   The song is meant to capture a sequence of tense quiet, danger, alarm, panic and destruction of plant and animal life during these massive fires, followed by near-quiet of the charred remains and sadness in the aftermath.   Bass flute in the key of G, butternut; mid flute in the key of G, Kachina Peaks aspen; high flute in the key of G, eastern red cedar.

Bighorn Flats:  If you’re willing to put in some miles and altitude gain, this spot in “Rocky” is fantastic for seeing incredible sights and distances.   It’s a fairly flat, rolling area that is fun to hike once you’re arrived.   Listen to the fun! Flute in the key of mid-E, western red cedar.

They C Across the Canyon:  Here, I picture a beautiful canyon, such as Mesa Verde, Canyon de Chelly, or Zion.  One resident begins the morning or evening with a “call”, hoping for an “answer”, and finds one.  Later, others join in, flutes and percussion, trying out different ways of playing together.  The “C” is meant not only in a visual or audible sense, but is the key to which all three flutes of this piece are tuned.  Bass flute in the key of C, red alder; mid flute in the key of C, eastern red cedar; high drone in the key of C, redwood.

Emerald Lake Trail:  Perhaps the most traveled first trail for first-time visitors to “Rocky”, it begins near Bear Lake, and has three sections:   from the trailhead to Nymph Lake; from Nymph to Dream Lake; and from Dream to Emerald Lake.  The song reflects the three sections, and the anticipation, joy, excitement, and exhilaration that so many feel as they journey along this trail, which ends at over 10,000 feet above sea level at the foot of Emerald Lake; it also takes in the feelings which many have as they rest there and absorb the fabulous scenery and thin air, represented by the final minutes of the song.  Diatonic flute in the key of F, Peruvian black walnut.

Frenetic Morning:  The theme of this piece was written under some self-imposed pressure, and perhaps that’s the basis of the idea for this piece, which is to musically mimic one of those mornings all of us have experienced (sometimes too often) where it all starts out well, but then begins to unravel and falls apart.  Two flutes here:  first is the key of mid-A, eastern red cedar; the second is key of mid A#, redwood.

Echoes in Glacier Gorge:  This is a long beautiful area of “Rocky” with trails leading to so many places that you’d probably need a week to see most of it.  Get back there far enough, and you see and hear many kinds of wildlife.  This song is dedicated to the sights and sounds of the Gorge and surrounding areas.  Flute in the key of low D#, Port Orford cedar.

Lost Lake:  There really is such a place in “Rocky”, about ten miles in from the trailhead.  Because it’s so far in, it’s not visited that often.  It is all the more rewarding once you get there.  Flute in the key of low D, aspen.

Wild Basin:  Another very large area, the southeast portion of “Rocky”, well forested, offering wonderful lakes, streams, waterfalls and the like.  Drone flute in mid-F#, walnut.

All songs composed, arranged, performed, recorded and produced by Tom Farber.

Mastered by Joseph L. Young

Copyright 2018-2021, Thomas Farber and Glacier Gorge Music (ASCAP)

All Rights Reserved.  Unauthorized duplication is a violation of all applicable laws.

Flutes used in these songs are made by:
J.P. Gomez, Heartsong Flutes
Nash Tavewa, Flutes by Nash
Pat Haran, Pat Haran Flutes
Odell Borg, High Spirits Flutes