Jack Ellory: flautist who played on The Fool on the Hill
Hyfler/Rosner
September 7, 2009
Jack Ellory: flautist who played on The Fool on the Hill
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6823902.ece
Jack Ellory was, for more than 30 years, a leading flautist
and session musician. As such he worked with personalities
as diverse as Toscanini, Sir Thomas Beecham, Frank Sinatra
and Judy Garland.
He was also one of the last survivors of the V1 flying bomb
that in June 1944 hit the Guards Chapel of the Wellington
Barracks, killing 120 civilians and musicians, including the
Director of Music of the Coldstream Guards, Major Causley
Windram.
Alfred John Ellory was born at Tywardreath in south west
Cornwall in 1920 and while at primary school he started
playing a flute bought by his uncle. With the encouragement
of his headmaster, Mr Painter, who had set up the first
school orchestra, Ellory was soon playing in public and
winning music competitions in Cornwall.
At the 25th Cornwall Music Festival in the mid-1930s the
chief judge commented in a newspaper article that he would
without doubt be the finest flautist in England. Young
Ellory's achievement was all the greater because this was a
substantial competition involving some 2,000 musicians being
judged over a period of a week.
At the age of 15 he joined the Band of the Coldstream Guards
and became its youngest member and while still a teenager
gained scholarships to both Trinity College and the Royal
College of Music where he studied under Robert Murchie,
Professor of Flute. Despite being in the guard's band for
more than 12 years, Ellory was also able to take part in
outside engagements including performances at the London
Palladium and with orchestras and chamber ensembles.
In 1945 the Philharmonia Orchestra was founded, and Ellory
played second flute to his mentor, Arthur Gleghorn, and was
conducted by such luminaries of the day as Toscanini and
Beecham.
The Philharmonia being in effect the in-house orchestra for
EMI - having been formed by one of the company's directors,
Walter Legge - it provided the musical backing for the
majority of the original Ealing comedies. When Gleghorn left
for Hollywood in 1949, Legge engaged Gareth Morris
(obituary, February 27, 2007) as his first flute for the
Philharmonia, and Ellory left to become a successful
freelance player for the rest of his professional life.
Such musicians are the unsung heroes of the music world, as
it is they who produce the music for films, TV and popular
albums, although remarkably their names are often not
included among the credits. In the Fifties and Sixties, when
live music was an important part of radio and television,
Ellory was the first flute for many orchestras and bands,
including Cyril Stapleton of the BBC Show Band, Jack Payne
and Frank Chacksfield.
During this time it was commonplace for US composers and
conductors to hire British musicians to work on their
productions such as the Pink Panther films (Henry Mancini)
and other projects including The Guns of Navarone (1961) and
Where Eagles Dare (1968). Ellory pioneered the use of the
alto and bass flutes, and these instruments were utilised
particularly by John Barry, the maestro of the Bond films.
Ellory was one of the flute players on these films of the
Sixties and Seventies where his haunting tone of the bass
flute complemented the thrust and energy of the brass
section. In contrast, no doubt because of his military band
background, Ellory's playing of the smallest member of the
flute family, the piccolo, was particularly evident on the
soundtrack of Lionel Bart's music for the film Oliver!
(1968).
The tone of his flute was often referred to as being
commercial, but that did not give true justice to the live,
lyrical, sonorous and energetic tone that he produced across
the whole range of the instrument. It is his flute that you
will hear on the Beatles' The Fool on the Hill (1967) and on
Goodness Gracious Me (1960) with Peter Sellers and Sophia
Loren, a novelty recording inspired by the film The
Millionairess. While Gleghorn is regarded by most flute
players as being the finest flautist of the 20th century,
not least because of his tone and technical ability, Ellory
rivalled those talents, and one of his fellow musicians once
described his flute as having the same power as two flutes
playing in unison.
Ellory had a sharp and quick sense of humour and he was a
great raconteur, often entertaining his family and friends
with anecdotes of the musicians and stars with whom he
worked who included Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Peter
Sellers and Harry Secombe.
When not working he preferred home life and following his
passion for flat racing. During the 1980s he taught at
various schools within the London borough of Merton and on
retirement he lived quietly in Surrey.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and their son.
Jack Ellory, flautist, was born on June 18, 1920. He died on
July 5, 2009, aged 89
Matthew Kruk
across the name but it just didn't stick in the ol' noggin'. Thanks!
"Hyfler/Rosner" <rel...@rcn.com> wrote in message
news:h84nbh$lck$1...@reader1.panix.com...
Matthew Kruk
> September 7, 2009
> Jack Ellory: flautist who played on The Fool on the Hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIsou0IRIQU
R H Draney
>
>Damn this is good ... I always wondered who it was. Perhaps I came
>across the name but it just didn't stick in the ol' noggin'. Thanks!
I think I just assumed it was George Martin, having another go after his earlier
solo on "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" (which of course was actually John
Scott)....r
--
A pessimist sees the glass as half empty.
An optometrist asks whether you see the glass
more full like this?...or like this?
Matthew Kruk
news:h84u4...@drn.newsguy.com...
> Matthew Kruk filted:
>>
>>Damn this is good ... I always wondered who it was. Perhaps I came
>>across the name but it just didn't stick in the ol' noggin'. Thanks!
>
> I think I just assumed it was George Martin, having another go after
> his earlier
> solo on "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" (which of course was
> actually John
> Scott)....r
Likewise my thoughts because GM did a lot of stuff R H. Again, obits
can be great things - answer those little niggy thoughts. Never mind
helping one win at Trivia Pursuit :-)
Matthew Kruk
> The tone of his flute was often referred to as being commercial, but
> that did not give true justice to the live, lyrical, sonorous and
> energetic tone that he produced across the whole range of the
> instrument. It is his flute that you will hear on the Beatles' The
> Fool on the Hill (1967) and on Goodness Gracious Me (1960) with Peter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKMy15O1tCw
Joan
> From The Times
> September 7, 2009
> Jack Ellory: flautist who played on The Fool on the Hillhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6823902.ece
>
> alto and bass flutes, and these instruments were utilised
> particularly by John Barry, the maestro of the Bond films.
>
> Ellory was one of the flute players on these films of the
> Sixties and Seventies where his haunting tone of the bass
> flute complemented the thrust and energy of the brass
> section. In contrast, no doubt because of his military band
> background, Ellory's playing of the smallest member of the
> flute family, the piccolo, was particularly evident on the
> soundtrack of Lionel Bart's music for the film Oliver!
> (1968).
Holy crap! My hat is off to anyone who can play both piccolo and bass
flute that well. Now that's an embouchure with range!!
CI,
flute/piccolo player in a previous life
Jim Beaver
> September 7, 2009
> Jack Ellory: flautist who played on The Fool on the Hill
>
> When not working he preferred home life and following his passion for flat
> racing.
What is flat racing?
Jim Beaver
Brad Ferguson
<jumb...@prodigy.spam> wrote:
It's a variety of horse racing. Wikipedia says: "Flat racing is a term
commonly used to denote a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is
run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from
steeplechase racing over hurdles. The race is a test of speed, stamina
and the skill of the jockey in determining by when he/she choses to
hold the horse back or to make the horse work harder."
More here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_racing
Nice to see you again, BTW.
R H Draney
>> racing.
>
>What is flat racing?
Like greyhound racing, only instead of dogs they use halibut....r
jeje...@gmail.com
Jane Davis
> I only found out 15 years ago as an avid Beatles fan that the flute player on fool on the hill was my wonderful grandfather. A gracious wonderful man whose amusing anecdotes of the music world were greatly listened too. He never realised how truly gifted he really was. A beautiful husband, doting father and humorous grandfather x RIP my wonderfully talented Grandad x always missed never forgotten x