All the Colors of the Rainbow (original version)

All the Colors of the Rainbow
Chinese Folk Song Suite for Flute

Electro-acoustic version

CD cover art This work was commissioned in 1992 by a flutist friend from Taiwan, as part of an effort to popularize and “Westernize” traditional Chinese folk songs.

Of the seven movements, six are based on authentic Chinese folk songs. The seventh movement is a set of variations built on a theme that was my attempt to create an original theme that evoked a Chinese folk song.

1. Boy with Purple Bamboo Flute

2. Poor Man Blue

3. Mountain everGreen

4. Tiny Yellow Bird

5. Woman Sewing Orange Purse

6. Red Ribbon Sister

7. All the Colors of the Rainbow

Approx. total performance time: 28:00

Over the years, I have published (and demoed) three versions of this suite. All three have the same flute part—only the type of accompaniment is different:

The original, electro-acoustic version (the one on this page)
A version with piano-only accompaniment
A version with symphonic orchestra accompaniment

In addition to the demos available on this website, this electro-acoustic version and the piano-only version are both featured on a “Trax-Minus-One” CD, which is available on request for a modest fee. That CD allows the soloist to perform the work without the need for a live accompanist. If you are interested in performing this piece, feel free to contact me.

The music of Charles O. Beck

All the Colors of the Rainbow Chinese Folk Song Suite for Flute

Electro-acoustic version

All the Colors of the Rainbow
Chinese Folk Song Suite for Flute