Fluteman
John Sangster wrote the score for the little-known 1982 Australian film Fluteman. Led by Don Burrows on flute, with eight other jazz players, the music makes wonderful listening quite apart from the picture.
Don Burrows concert flute, alto flute, clarinet, fife
Errol Buddle oboe, piccolo, alto saxophone
Col Loughnan flute, tenor saxophone
Roy Ainsworth bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
George Golla electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Tony Ansell electric piano, synthesiser
Alan Turnbull drums, finger-cymbals
Chris Qua bass
Fluteman is a 1982 Australian film that retells the Pied Piper of Hamelin. A rainmaker leads the village children away after the villagers refuse to pay him for his services.
Originally released on John Sangster’s Rain Forest record label in 1982, this Move CD is a digital remaster from the original tape master.
Fluteman Main Theme: A little rain-making introduces this light rhythmic version of the main recurring theme. Lots of room for flute improvisations from Don Burrows. Indeed almost all of the music in this album features Don’s various flutes, and the clarinet. It is, after all, music for Fluteman.
The Party: A variation for clarinet, marimba and guitar with the orchestra.
Fluteman’s Theme: A stereo-mix of the soundtrack music.
The Lost Children: Fluteman’s music has spirited away the town’s children, leaving the little deaf boy, Toby searching for them. A variation for the alto-flute and the guitar.
Call The Tune: A jazzy variation, with solos for Don’s concert flute, Col Loughnan’s tenor saxophone, and Errol Buddle’s alto saxophone.
First, A Little Smile: Into the streets the Piper stept. Smiling first a little smile, as if he knew what magic slept in his quiet pipe the while.
Toby’s Theme: Clarinet, bass-clarinet, marimba, guitar, drums, bass and some piano sounds.
Rain: Fluteman’s music brings the rain to a drought-stricken town, and everybody celebrates. This is another stereo-mix of the soundtrack music, which is why you hear the baddies, thoroughly discomfited, scurrying away at the end of the piece.
…And Pay The Piper: Some vibraphone variations on Fluteman’s theme.
The Children’s March: Featuring Don’s fife, or, as he prefers to call it, the school-flute.
Artists

John Sangster
John Sangster (1928–1995) was an Australian jazz composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist whose work stretched from traditional jazz and film scores to large-scale suites of uncommon range, humour and colour.
Don Burrows
Don Burrows shapes Australian jazz on clarinet, saxophone and a family of flutes, moving from soulful baritone ballads to light, dancing lines that colour film scores, swing and contemporary ensemble work.
Audio previews
Tracks
- Fluteman Main Theme John Sangster 6:19
- The Party John Sangster 4:03
- Fluteman's Theme John Sangster :57
- The Lost Children John Sangster 3:42
- Call the Tune John Sangster 7:00
- First a Little Smile John Sangster 7:25
- Toby's Theme John Sangster 4:17
- Rain! John Sangster 1:40
- And Pay the Piper John Sangster 4:18
- The Children's March John Sangster 4:30
Performers
- John Sangster · marimba, vibraphone, bell-tree, glockenspiel, vibraslap, tambourine
- Don Burrows · concert flute, alto flute, clarinet, fife
- Errol Buddle · oboe, piccolo, alto saxophone
- Col Loughnan · flute, tenor saxophone
- Roy Ainsworth · bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
- George Golla · electric guitar, acoustic guitar
- Tony Ansell · electric piano, synthesiser
- Alan Turnbull · drums, finger-cymbals
- Chris Qua · bass
Where to listen
Fluteman is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Fluteman is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3370
- List price
- $20.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 44 minutes 11 seconds
- Producer
- John Sangster
- Recording Engineer
- Martin Benge
- Release date
- 1982
- Musical work
copyright - © 2013 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2013 Move Records
- Categories
- Jazz, Soundtrack
- Genres
- Jazz & Improvised, Stage & Screen
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574337020
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