I’m thinking about future flute purchases, what I will really “need” in the flute department to feel really complete (if one ever does). As some of you may know I’ve found an antique concert flute which will serve me well and which I will never part with, and for as long as I can foresee I will not need another concert flute.
Now I’m looking for instruments in different keys. I’ll get a Bb eventually, but that will most likely be a contemporary keyless instrument. I’m also thinking about Eb flutes, and I know there should be lots of fine antiques floating around. I’m not hoping to find a lefty, I’ll probably just get a nice right handed 8-keyed flute and remove the keys I can’t use because of my leftyness…
What sort of stuff should I be looking for? I want a flute which will be well in tune with itself, pitch is not as important, but it would be a plus if it was at A=440. The reason it’s not that important is that this instrument will be used for solo stuff or with accompaniment of a guitar or something similar, which will tune to you anyway, but it would be helpful if it was at A=440, because you wouldn’t have to retune the accompaniment when switching flutes. Block or pins doesn’t matter, nationalty doesn’t matter, but I do want something which is suitable for Irish music, meaning a good, strong bark.
Do you folks have any recomendations? If I ever see you afterwards I’ll reward you with a wee dram of the
whisky
The antique Eb flutes typically are better intune with themselves than the other pitches, mostly because they were largely made later. Not to say early versions dont’ exist, they do, but the better “band” flutes will be later.
I have an Eb Boosey in Ebonite, 8key, that’s a fine player. Great for noodling for me (i play an Eb keyed Olwell in stage work) but I’d consider parting with it. Pretty indestructible thing. iEmail privately if you’re interested on that one.
You do need to take care in getting a true Eb …not a sharp D (452)…true Eb is, as I recall – and correct me if i’m wrong writing this on the fly – is 466. The sharp tuned ones are definitely not it…and can be easily confused if you’re not accustomed to the pitch difference.
Rockstro said Eb was the best key for flutes and I agree. So much brighter and responsive. 440 is flat and dull. Our band tunes up to 444 and it makes a hill of difference.
But be careful! Once you do Eb, you’ll not want to go back to the dull sound of D! Our current set list on stage has 5 sets on the Eb and just one on the D. Dervish is big on Eb and was Cian.
