This very well known American Negro spiritual was first popularized in 1909. Wallace Willis, a Choctaw freedman in Oklahoma “prior to 1862” wrote of the Prophet Elijah’s being taken to heaven by a chariot as noted in the Bible in II Kings 2:11.
This flute quartet arrangement offers the theme and two variations; one an energetic jazzy version and the other a sweet lilting waltz. It might be performed on 4 C flutes, 3 C flutes and an alto or bass, or 2 C flutes with 2 altos or one alto and a bass. Flutists of the hour should enjoy putting their own personal touches on their interpretation!