The Flight of the Bumble Bee
Harry James Orchestra Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'The Flight of the Bumble Bee' by these artists:

Harry James & His Orchestra Be my little baby bumble bee (Buzz around, buzz around Keep …
Harry James and His Orchestra Be my little baby bumble bee (Buzz around, buzz around Keep …
Ray Martin and His Orchestra Be my little baby bumble bee (Buzz around, buzz around Keep …

We have lyrics for these tracks by Harry James Orchestra:

All Of Me It all comes back to me now, A starry summer…
All or Nothing All, or nothing at all Half a love, never appeal…
Avalon Ev'ry morning mem'ries stray, Across the sea where flying f…
Begin the Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of…

By the Sleepy Lagoon A sleepy lagoon, a tropical moon and two on an…
Cherry Cherry, cherry, you're hard to get Cherry, cherry, I'll get…
Ciribiribin When the moon hangs low in Napoli, there's a handsome…
Craziest Dream In a dream the strangest and the oddest things appear And…
Five Well twirl my turban, man alive Here comes Mister Five by…
How High The Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
I Can't Begin to Tell You I can't begin to tell you How much you mean to…
I Cover The Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea, Will the one I…
I Cried For You I remember other days how I used to weep Over…
I Don't Want To Walk Without You All our friends keep knocking at the door They've asked me…
I Had The Craziest Dream In a dream the strangest and the oddest things appear And…
I Remember You This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I Want To Be Happy I'm a very ordinary man Trying to work out life's happy…
I'm Beginning To See The Light I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
I've Heard That Song Before It seems to me I've heard that song before It's from…
It's Been a Long Long Time Never thought that you would be standing here so close…
Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
Lover You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Melancholy Mood Melancholy mood forever haunts me Steals upon me in the nigh…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
Skylark Skylark Have you anything to say to me Won't you tell me…
Sleepy Lagoon A sleepy lagoon, a tropical moon and two on an…
SLEEPY TIME GAL Wouldn't it be a change for you and me to…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
The Nearness Of You Its not the pale moon that excites me That thrills and…
Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …

You Made Me Love You You made me love you I didn't wanna do it…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

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Comments from YouTube:

@TheSproutarian

7y↑230

He is the only player l have heard who can make the piece actually sound like a bumblebee. Very clever.

@Gr8nessnMe070

4y↑6

This sounds horrible. 🤨

@hensonsf2701

3y↑5

@Gr8nessnMe070 Lol. No, it doesn’t.

@ahsangaming7367

Me 1st time search and see its so interesting

@albertarbelo

3y↑5

Search Rafael Mendez Bumblebee. And yes this does sound horrible. There is no technique. Yes, he has played it enough to memorize the insane amount of notes but so have plenty of others. At most, he's holding a beautiful tone and moving his fingers extremely fast. But the piece losses it's essence at that tempo.

@RosaPerez-uk9fx

3y↑2

Rafeal mendez check his out way cleaner and smooth this one is pretty loud bright and sloppy

20 More Replies...

@trallfraz

2y↑16

I've played professional trpt since I was in 9th grade (1968) and I've NEVER heard anything played this fast and accurate on a trpt. I got to hear Harry LIVE twice and he literally blew the roof off the bandstand each time.

@FalandoDeFlauta

26w

Search for Ruben Simeo and Allen Vizutti.

@richardsalvucci3472

8y↑27

James was the quintessential power player. To which he added immaculate technique. I doubt there's ever been anyone else who could duplicate him, plus a sound that cut cut through anything. No surprise so many players worshipped him. He was without perr

@error.418

He was good, but he had plenty of peers.

@fernmann7

3y↑1

Um, no. Try again.

@larbueno

Maybe listen to Rafael Mendez before making such sweeping statements.
Please listen to this and weep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUij8FCg0z8
To be sure and clear, Harry James was phenomenal!!!

@richardsalvucci3472

@Larry A I've heard it. OK? Bye

@mariano4617

38w↑1

I can hear Harry James tone and energy in Doc Severinsen.

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@wayneandrus307

3y↑18

He was a very rare and exceptional Musical talent.

@KyleComino

10y↑154

Love how he just casually pulls his horn from his mouth. As if what he's doing is simple

@williammock7932

7y↑2

Kyle Comino k

@elijahgrimm1550

6y↑4

He was the best at it

@eriknorlin4287

playback

@Dorodigital

because he was miming to a pre recording

@PumilateVFX

@Ricardo Dowridge no

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@jeanmenard3060

2y↑8

The greatest trumpet player ever ! Maestro Harry James ! Bravo ! 😃👍❤

@allenhinc1991

8y↑27

You know there are others that play it as fast but in Harry's case there is that round fat tone and he is so precise. Harry also has something that cannot be defined it is a style and sound that others don't achieve. You can always t6ell if it is Harry. He had something that cant be put on paper or taught truly the master.

@bradstewart7007

3y↑2

Definitely. Oh, and let’s just stop and direct the orchestra while I’m not playing.

@tobascoheat6582

@ ALLEN HINC I agree with you totally. And may I add that the things he accomplishes, which can't be put on paper or taught, is his precise ear. Just my opinion.

@andrewdnix4759

The video is also sped up. Not sure why so many old recordings are, but they get away with it from the sound quality

@2009Patches

11y↑4

There are simply no words I can bring to my mind to sum up how I feel about the incredible technique that was displayed here. Well done Harry, you're legend will live on.

@trumpetman309

11y↑2

I'm trying to play this for an audition in a few weeks. It's like you almost need a controlled seizure to play it at this speed. I have the utmost respect for anyone who can play this piece.

@theartfactor

13y↑5

Harry James was trained first as a drummer, age 4. Started on the trumpet at age 9. In addition to becoming a trumpet virtuoso Harry was also a composer of original tunes which became James standards ( Carnival, Ultra, Back Beat Boogie, James Session and scores of others). He was also an arranger and conductor. He had perfect pitch and once he read an arrangement he had it memorized forever, in other words a photographic memory.

@davincent98

13y↑3

Beautiful. I played for one year, and that taught me to read music and appreciate the trumpet players. Anyone that can work those fingers, tighten those lips, and hold that much air deserves something grandiose.

@konpopsrisauy3907

12y↑5

He play that trumpet and command that band... like a boss.

@bblegacy

25w

That's why he was the boss, at a time when the meritocracy was everything.

@Chrismacleod777

10y↑21

What an incredible trumpeter!

@macDaddy1118

12y↑1

Harry James is a GREAT musician and i admire his work as a trumpet player, but as a Viola player i gotta give some props to that STRINGS section to (including Piano and the Guitar) Their transition between notes were so clear considering how fast they were playing.

@tobascoheat6582

2y↑7

Also his amazing breath control!

@luisrosario2467

3y↑3

That is freaking awesome. He does make it sound like a bee.

@happychildhood591

2y↑3

The BEST their ever was! Period..! End of story! Truly a LEGEND...! Thank you Harry James...! RIP but keep it up in Heaven!

@ChrissyTheBlacc

5y↑4

conducting and playing at lightning speed at the same time very impressive not to mention i see him looking at no sheet music meaning he memorized it even more impressive

@PapillonOne

12y↑1

What an amazing video! The clarity and sound are wonderful. I only wish my father had survived long enough to see this but he died in 2004. Back in the 70s, my father asked me for his birthday gift to locate a record of this but though I contacted the companies in the big cities like NYC that might have been the place to obtain it, there were none available. Always felt bad, he never got to hear it again.

@gailklein6022

11y↑2

Un-freakin' believeable! When Harry James plays this, you can really HEAR the bumble bees buzzing around!

@LEFTY91335

12y↑3

RIP Harry James, A True Legend

@Microblitz

13y↑1

Harry James was probably one ofthe most underated trumpet players ever. The Jazz guys get all the glory, but he was technically one of the most brilliant players I've ever seen. If you watch Mendez playing the flight of the bumble bee, even he is tired after playing it. Harry even has time during the performance to make sure that his section is keeping up with him, and after, it looks like he just got done playing tune a day book one! if you want cool that's it.

@hershman1956

13y↑1

The hardest part of this piece is the speed. Not everyone, even good trumpet or cornet players, can play at that speed.

@miriameh5289

9y↑31

This is my ambition - to play this song at at least half that speed. I'm thirteen and in my sixth year of trumpet, so MAYBE, in a few more years, I'll be able to play this song with a lot of practise.

@HernandezEncoreDCIMore

7y↑1

Sorry to come off as rude but I find it hard to believe your Thirteen and you've played trumpet for 6 years. But if so that's pretty impressive, I'm in 8th and I've played since 5th grade.

@miriameh5289

7y↑3

Kindru GamingxVideos You're not being rude, dw :) Most people in my band didn't believe me at first either. It's a tradition in my family that we play piano from a young age, but I absolutely hated piano, so for my seventh birthday my mother got me a trumpet (the only thing I wanted... aside from a drum kit, and you can see why that didn't happen). Now I'm on my 8th year, and I'm actually learning this in my lessons! It's awfully hard but I'll get there some day. Good luck with your trumpet endeavours!

@HernandezEncoreDCIMore

Nice :D, What trumpet do you use? I use just a regular conn rn but i'm saving up for either a Getzen 3003 or a Conn 1B Vintage, Conn is bae cause their valves are just marvelous.

@miriameh5289

7y↑1

Kindru GamingxVideos At the moment, a regular old yellow-brass Yamaha. I can't remember the exact model and it's in the shop so I can't check. I use a custom mouthpiece to get a nicer sound :)

@HernandezEncoreDCIMore

Yah I use a custom one to, it look's different compared to the other trumpets in my band. Im saving up 50$ to buy a 3c boch mouthpiece from one of the trumpets, I use a 7c and I can still hit above a triple C somehow lol

4 More Replies...

@ASouthernEquestrian

11y↑1

~He's incredible! He plays SO FAST! Classic~

@CharlieKang

11y↑1

Bravo...........one of the hardest pieces to play on the trumpet known to man.

@theartfactor

12y↑2

An added bit of information on this great classic recording of the Rimsky-Korsikove composition: Although Harry at this time )1941) had several great arrangers in his band, namely Jack Mathias and Ray Coniff, Harry arranged this version of FLIGHT himself. Harry was both a brilliant arranger and composer and in the ensuing years would write and arrange many of his big instrumental hits notably CARNIVAL, ULTRA and BACK BEAT BOOGIE to name just a few.

@emiliamazur5869

❤❤❤

@claudecrabier1887

8y↑1

ce fut un véritable virtuose, pour moi, le meilleur de son époque

@rodrigozuniga45

12y

There is a live recording of this piece in one of Harry's albums, the one entitled "One Night Stand." He performs the piece with an accordionist. No edits, speeding ups, whatever in this one. Harry could, simply, play!! Period!!

@farout166

Tommy Gumina was the accordionist.

@marthahenrich1185

My late dad’s favorite. I loved to watch his face when he listened to big band music. How he loved it.

@theartfactor

12y↑3

The classic recording of FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE by Harry James in 1941 and rerecorded for the film BEST FOOT FORWARD, 1944, was arranged by longtime James arranger Jack Mathias. Of the many recordings of this Rimsky-Korsikov composition by many different trumpeters of varying abilities, this version remains the most famous and in my opinion, the best!

@albiondi4078

2y↑1

Effortless with very little pressure on his lips Harry was the best!

@theartfactor

12y↑3

I have heard through a ten year veteran in the H.J. trumpet section in the mid to late '60's that Harry purposely had arrangements scored in the toughest keys as a discipline.

@theartfactor

12y

I couldn't disagree more. Harry James made the definitive solo instrumental out of this classic.@TheClarinetExpert

@Hiraghm

12y↑2

My father always wanted me to play this. I tried. It was so *hard*, and I never did master it. Listen to him... you can hear every... single... note..

@Gingahbreadman98

12y

not sped up, Harry James is just the best trumpet player ever, i know his tone isn't comparative to other players but that's why he was the best trumpet player ever, he has such a nice fat tone that is distinctive to every other player out there...

@theartfactor

12y↑1

The studio recording of FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE by Harry James is available on several complilations of Harry's music on Amazon.com. The specific CD album is ALL TIME FAVORITIES, Columbia Records special products. Check out the many other H.J. albums for this track also.

@JuanBernardoIrigoyen

9y↑33

"Flight of the bumblebee" (El vuelo del abejorro) de Rimsky-Korsakov , en una adaptación hecha por Harry James, a propósito de esta obra les diré que Korsakov inventó una trompeta, que nunca se fabricó para que un intérprete normal toque como un virtuoso. Si el compositor lo hubiese conocido a James, este instrumento no lo habría inventado.

@germanquintero10121946

Magnifico y hace que transporte aquellos años

@JuanBernardoIrigoyen

german quintero Gracias Germán, saludos.

@germanquintero10121946

ESPECTACULAR

@JuanBernardoIrigoyen

9y↑1

GERMAN QUINTERO ,Gracias Germán, saludos.

@danieljohnson7443

Would someone care to translate?

@aridecompany

9y↑8

Practice does make perfect,especially in this case. Beautiful control.

@ratin3143

Harry James and The Ventures = Great Performances !

@SeamusMcGillicuddy0

Let’s give an honorable mention to Zigington Harry Finkelman Ellman.
He blew one mean shofar. His debut LP was, “Syncopated Shofar”, w/ Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson.

@tommyhall5010

8y↑6

I had the great pleasure of seeing the James orchestra in England many years ago, the great Sonny Page was on drums, a night I will never forget.

@theartfactor

3y↑1

You mean Sonny Payne!

@mertlajz

12y

He is the definition of the word "Boss".

@themeleed

12y

his tone fits this soooo well

@DAMFOREIGNER

You could almost see the bumblebee. Bravo!

@mharbaugh

12y

It's so great to see such a great high quality colored video from this era!

@fctrumpet

8y↑1

Harry is awesome!

@jorgelima86

Fantástico

@theartfactor

13y↑1

@TheForrestal You are right on the money, Forrestal. Some of the most difficult classical pieces were written primarily for the violin and the piano. Being a trumpet player myself and having a son who is a trumpet ace those pieces are extraordinarily difficult for the various reasons you state. 85 to 90% of the famous Pop and Jazz trumpeters of the 20th century never had the strict technical foundation that Harry James had. It showed in is playing throughout his career.

@donmoseslerman

13y

what valve work unbelievable talent !

@theartfactor

13y

Being the virtuoso of the trumpet that he was Harry James more than likely used a technique known as "circular breathing" which, when mastered, allows a trumpeter to take in and store breadth as he is expelling air.. Classical dtrumpeters use it more than big band or jazz trumpeters.

@theartfactor

13y

@Zoomuck000 Harry James, trumpet virtuoso, big band leader and Jazz superstar, was the first trumpeter to record that classical piece to my knowledge. He became a trumpet star in Benny Goodman's band in the late '30's, started his own great band in 1939 which he lead for 44 years until his death in 1983. He was a star in films and in BEST FOOT FORWARD lip synced to his own recording. That's what they do in films with singers and musicians so they get it right the first time.

@keiththomas3141

3y↑1

He's the best there ever was.

@theartfactor

13y

That makes sense because in Vegas and elsewhere with his big band playing mostly Jazz solos or ballads circular breathing would never be necessary but being the classically trained virtuoso he was, as a young guy, when he played the bravura classical numbers he more than likely used it then. As I stated before the circular breathing is primarily used by classical trumpeters especially on the long solo passages common in trumpet literature.

@klausklaus4167

6y↑12

his timing is insane

@larbueno

2y↑1

A little off topic, but early on Frank Sinatra was Harry James' singer. Tommy Dorsey wanted Frank in HIS orchestra. Harry's group was excellent, but Harry knew Tommy Dorsey's group was a step above. Harry gave Frank his approval and wished him well in his new endeavor with Tommy. Frank was ALWAYS grateful to Harry James for that.

@brunilldafrancis753

I was so lucky to see Harry James in the sixties the start of many concerts

@theartfactor

13y

Being the virtuoso of the trumpet that he was Harry James more than likely used a technique known as "circular breathing" which, when mastered, allows a trumpeter to take in and store breadth as he is expelling air.. Classical trumpeters use it more than big band or jazz trumpeters.

@theartfactor

13y↑2

Harry James played a Selmer Balanced model Bb trumpet until the late '50's when he switched to a King trumpet. In the filmstrip Harry is playing his gold plated specially engraved Selmer. I have a rare Selmer Balanced Harry James model Bb trumpet which my paraents purchased for me in 1954 when I was in high school. It is in mint condition and highly prized.

@theartfactor

11y

He certainly does. You can find it on several CDs most notably ALL TIME HITS by Harry James. It also has F.O.T.B.and CONCERTO FOR TRUMPET. Check out Amazon. com , enter "music" then Harry Jamres and FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE.

@theartfactor

12y↑5

@92cervus82 For his time? Harry, his style and abilities hold up against any of the so called "trumpet stars" of today. He was an extraordinary musician, tremendously disciplined as a trumpeter but undisciplined in his personal life. Were he around today he would still be tops.

@Jazz4Joe

My opinion is that, ordinarily, Mendez can be considered one of the foremost trumpet players. No question. However, Harry James plays this piece with more clarity, crispness, and above all, a superior style. He definitely plays Flight of the Bumble Bee like, as someone herein says, you can almost hear the bees. Bother players also have a beautiful orchestra filling in "behind" them. If I may suggest, hear a newer trumpet player's version right here on YouTube who, moreover, has written a book entitled Trumpet Techniques, now considered THE foremost trumpet book for all trumpet players. He plays Flight of the Bumble Bee in front of music students at Ithaca College of Music without backup, on a "lonely stage", showing a skill that's right up there with the best. He's Professor Frank Gabriel Campos. Give a listen. Notice, please, that he is playing all "backup" right along with the main piece. A very relaxed, informal presentation, but very nice, indeed.

@theartfactor

13y

You are half correct. The other half is the breadth control to play those long difficult passages in one breadth. Another interesting fact is that Harry often purposely arranged his parts in extremely tough keys, especially for Bb trumpet players, for instance 6 sharps. That alone would kill most trumpet players

@clmortenson

12y

Thank you so much for the upload, I'm reading a great bio of Harry right now called "Trumpet Blues" and I need to get a fix of the real thing every few chapters! ; )

@frankmorton1626

2y↑1

One of the greatest bar none👏👏

@VidiotsFA

11y

i think my teacher might be a able to play this he's that good, but idk, this guy is AMAZING. i feel like crap

@jakewilliams7484

12y

One of the best who have ever lived. We miss you!

@littlemackerel1456

2y↑1

Amazing

@jeandecock9635

Prachtig!

@speedyneutrino1729

9y↑1

Not to take ANYTHING away from the great Harry James.......if you want to hear another virtuoso...........Maurice Andre and "Hora Staccato", as well as "Carnival of Venice"....BRAVO HARRY !

@dickbobnick4008

9y↑1

According to former lead trumpet with the Harry James band, Tony Scodwell, during one of Harry's numerous appearances at Las Vegas' Flamingo Hotel, Rafael Mendez was in attendance and approached Harry with a question about his performing Hora Staccato in the film BATHING BEAUTY, Harry informed Mendez that he performed that number single tonguing and not double tonguing. Mendez apparently was amazed at Harry's fast single tonguing.

@theartfactor

9y↑1

+fibsernum30 It is not necessary to play that piece with tonguing. It is a matter of choice. Harry was a superb "tonguer" if you have heard him on CARNIVAL OF VENICE and HORA STACCATO.

@knotwrite

11y

He makes it look so damn easy.

@vakaski

6y↑3

Greatest of all time

@RacerXGTO

12y

I used to play trumpet exactly like that, but then I took an arrow to the knee

@Elegantjet

12y

Fantastic!!!

@RobertWPaine

“He hunts the biggest of all game - public enemies that even the G-Men cannot reach. The GREEN HORNET!”

@jackosallotment6224

Did he actually play this on the film recording erm.... However whether he recorded it then mimed in the film raj does not take away from the awesome talent this guy had!!!

@dickbobnick4008

9y↑1

Mark Jackson The normal procedure for musical performances in film was to pre record the selection, however, Harry's fingerings on the trumpet are so accurate it indicates it might have been recorded as it was filmed. My best guess is that it probably was pre recorded to guarantee the best recorded sound attainable at that time.

@jazzscarb

12y

I love lucille ball i love harry james i love this movie omg the perfect combination!!!! ;)

@herasjulian

Harry James my favorite trumpeter. Fantastic

@Gingahbreadman98

12y

ok, i may just die if i do his interpretation on this piece lol

@israelnavarro189

8y↑1

Rafael Mendez, 100% perfecto..el mejor.... Viva México.....

@TheLogicBeast

12y

Sorry fella, no speeding up required... Harry was just that good!!! Also, knowing his history, he'd probably had half a litre of vodka beforehand. Just an astonishing musician.

@012gummy

12y

Swaggalious !! He got that swag !

@theartfactor

13y

TheyCallMeIndigo: You are only half right on your comment. Yes, there are alternate fingerings for some notes but the valve stem-cap distance is standard on all trumpets I have ever seen. A friend of mine owns two of Harry's 1960's trumpets, a balanced King and a balanced Selmer, both gold plated and engraved. I have held them both and they have the standard valve stem lengths. Face it James was an extraordinary trumpeter and was able to play compositions that most could never play.

@RenoYeh

bravo! unfortunately this is video was accelerated, the pitch is a half tone higher and the string players' movements are abnormally fast.

@edwardconway27

13y

This man is fucking sick! You are God Mr. James!

@theartfactor

12y

Well millions of music lovers as well as trumpet aficionados prove you wrong. The trumpet is one of the most difficult instruments to master because it not only demands fingering control, but a good embouchure and great breadth control. Harry James himself that it (the trumpet) is a "bitch" you can never master.

@isaacnjenga3627

12y

he is amazing lol

@1qaz2wsx3edc5753

11y↑6

I forgot to mention how smooth Harry is as well.

@windstorm1000

12y

I LOVE Harry's schamltzy tone--has some fat on it for your ear to hook on to--and I mean that in a good way. Its not on this solo understandibly--no time for it!!!

@theartfactor

12y

Not confused, just factual. Millions of classical music lovers prove you wrong as many of the world's greatest trumpet players have recorded F.O.T.B.. in addition to Harry James including Wynton Marsalis, Doc Severinsen, Maurice Andre and Rafael Mendez to name the most prominent.and believe the trumpet renditions remain the very best on record.

@stayoffduhweed

11y

I'm first chair in our symphonic band but just......... Wow

@Monkey-ut7ke

This is a great daily warmup!

@user-ud1nr7ek6g

13w↑1

LOVE ❤❤❤

@theartfactor

12y

Good for you and your brass band experience but that does not make you an aficionado on Harry James, his abilities and recordings. Two of my professional friends played in the James band at different times and they attest to his expertise and virtuosity. To further dampen your doubts ace jazz trombonist Ray Sims, also with the James band for years, witnessed Harry doing a one finger version of BEE.

@AaronPetitPiano

11y

I can do it this fast on piano, but because I play both instruments, I know that its much harder on trumpet. LOL

@givemetoast

12y

Harry James...no joke!

@miltonchiarelli480

11y

and look at him a magnificent looking man this is the true art of the cool

@jamesmarshall8836

The great Helen Forrest originally performed in the film (you can see her sitting off to the side) but her numbers were left on the cutting room floor.

@ralphecairns5272

11y

Harry James was an incredibleand classic horn man he doesnt work up a drop of sweat .INdeed Harry is a legendary trumpet player.PS to all floks in you tube land is their a Winston Mysells viedo of this,OR another legendary trumpet player "Cat" Anderson

@sabinoson

12y

Now all we need is Gordon Jones and Keye Luke to ride in on their souped up and armored "Black Beauty" as "The Green Hornet and Kato" to this rendition!

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