I noticed there were a couple of discussion threads on the flute in progressive rock many years ago, but I have not found anything recent. And as I have not seen a discussion asking people for their favorite prog tracks with flutes, I thought I’ll give it a go. If there’s interest, maybe we can build a list of top flute prog songs. Whether it was a recorder, transverse or other type of flute (and I’m by no means an expert), I believe the flute started to be used occasionally in rock mainly around the mid-1960s, notably in tunes such as Ruby Tuesday, Wild Thing and Jefferson Airplane’s Coming Back To Me. The flute then played an important role in a lot of progressive rock from the late 1960s to about the mid-1970s, with Jethro Tull, and to some extent Focus, making it a defining element of their sound. Afterwards, it seems that the flute became somewhat out of fashion, although Tull and occasionally Steve Hackett (with the help of his flutist brother) carried on the tradition to some extent. I don’t think the flute plays much of an important role in neo-prog. I am aware of some more modern bands that have some flute - Big Big Train (for ex. Winchester Diver), Mostly Autumn - but I’m not sufficiently familiar with enough of their material to tell how extensively the flute is used. 

I’ve always liked how various prog-rock artists incorporated the flute into their compositions, and some of my favorite prog tunes include some degree of flute playing. In putting together a list of my 10 favorite flute prog songs, I considered only those songs where the flute plays a prominent role, so I did not include any Genesis material. I think Peter Gabriel integrated nice flute passages very effectively in early Genesis material, but these were relatively brief, transitional passages (Stagnation, Dusk, The Musical Box, Firth of Fifth). The longest may be a little over a minute in Supper’s Ready but considering that song is over 23 minutes, I did not consider it significant enough to include it in my list. Similarly, I came close to considering Van der Graaf Generator’s Refugees and House With No Door, but thought the flute was not quite as prominent in those songs than in others on my list. It’s a subjective judgment call however, and in contributing your top flute songs, feel free to make that call as you wish!  I also tried to have some representation of different bands as I realized my list could easily be packed with Jethro Tull and Camel tunes. So here it is (in no particular order):

Harmonium: Histoires Sans Paroles – For my ears, the most beautiful and touching flute playing in an epic prog-rock composition; this indeed leaves me “sans paroles” (i.e. speechless).

Camel: Rhayader – Wonderful, upbeat flute-led short instrumental with a catchy melody – leaves you with a good-humored feeling inside.

Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick (Part I) A close to 23 minute masterpiece with plenty of gorgeous flute sprinkled throughout, particularly on edits # 1 and 4. Given its length this is the only Tull song on my list, but I could easily have included others such as Living in the Past, Cross-Eyed Mary and the flute classic  Bouree.

King Crimson: The Court of the Crimson King – This defining classic of prog-rock is still my ultimate KC track. The flute, while not dominant, comes in perfect time and duration to contribute with subtlety to the medieval, gothic atmosphere.  

The Moody Blues: Visions of Paradise – Flute and sitar? I could just meditate to this soul-searching gem.  Maybe not one of The Moody Blue’s most famous song with a flute, but certainly one of the best.

Focus: Love Remembered – Touching and relaxing, this is on Focus’ gentler side in the same vein as Janis (which is a close contender for my list). For a heavier sound and faster rhythm, House of the King gets my vote.

Maneige: Les Porches de Notre-Dame – Another tour-de-force, epic composition from a French-Canadian band from Montreal, a contemporary of Harmonium, and these two bands alone make feel proud of my home city; initially led by the flute, eventually all kinds of instruments explode in this dazzling symphony.

King Crimson: Lady of the Dancing Water – Yes, Crimson again, and why not? This time, a very gentle pastoral ballad, in the style of the more well-known I Talk to the Wind and Cadence and Cascade. This may be the closest thing KC came to a love song. I wish they had done more like these because they were really good at it.

Steve Hackett: Hands of the Priestess – Mysterious, enchanting harmonies on the flute and acoustic guitar make this one of Steve Hackett’s best collaboration with his flute-playing brother John. Also contending, The Serpentine Song, reminiscent of early King Crimson.

Camel: Elke – In contrast to Rhayader or Supertwister, this is a extremely serene and peaceful flute-led piece, heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Anyone who is not filled with love for the world after listening to this should just give up on life. The equally beautiful and moody Air Born was another strong contender from the band.     

Other prog bands I have enjoyed flute songs from include PFM (which had two strong contenders for my top 10), Horslips, Gravy Train, Out of Focus, Caravan, Triode, Supersister, Mythos and East of Eden.  Do you know any others?