All I can say is WOW!
Check this out
http://www.eriktheflutemaker.com/?pageid=9734
Bamboo Irish flute with keys!!!
I have one of his 22" bamboo D flutes and it sounds great but it’s really a stretch to cover the holes, pipers grip helps. Nice tone though and very loud. I’d expect this to sound just as sweet if not better.
That’s one weird flute - pretty though. Apparently the keys are only there to make the reach easier for the third finger on each hand (I count only 4 obvious holes on the flute body).
If he can do that though, it seems like he ought to be able to put real keys on one, too.
Eric
mmm. you think?
What makes that an “Irish” flute then?
Yours with cynicism,
Mat
Yeah Mat, I do think Erik’s flutes are pretty, but I like bamboo flutes. They keys are really odd though.
As for what makes them “Irish” flutes? I think it’s simply because they are in the key of D. They’re no different than any other flute in D - none are really Irish flutes (unless being made in Ireland makes them Irish flutes)…but being D flutes makes them ideal for Irish music.
Eric
I’ve thought about trying to put keys on a PVC flute before, but never quite figured out how to make it work.
From what I can see you are right; the keys look like they just ease the reach, kind of a “Siccima system” bamboo flute. His key design looks a bit unconventional, but as long as it works…
–James
James - would that make this a Siccamboo flute? 
As for keys on PVC, how are the M&E keys put on? I assume they’re post mounted, but does that mean they screw into the bore to hold the posts in place? I’ve never seen a post mosted trad flute in person before, so I don’t know how they look/work.
I’d like to try adding keys to a home made bamboo flute some time, but first I’d have to be completely happy with one of my bamboo flutes first and that has not happened yet.
Eric
Sort of a “Sick Mama” system, maybe.
(Actually, this is pretty clever, and I hope it works for Erik. Hard to tell how sturdy those keys are from the photos.)
This is probably a good innovation for Erik’s flutes; I have one of the first D flutes he made, and it’s very, very difficult to play because of the extreme reach and very large toneholes. And I have relatively large hands. Apparently Erik used his pinky to cover the last hole, but I wanted to learn traditional technique, so the thing’s been sitting in my closet since soon after I bought it. (If anyone wants it, you can have it for the cost of shipping! Just beware the stretch and hole-size. . .)
I strongly disagree. An ‘Irish’ flute (in my humble opinion) would be a flute of the kind traditionally used for Irish music ie. wooden (cocus, blackwood, rosewood, box to a lesser extent), simple system etc. etc. These are NOT ideal for Irish music. This is not to say that Eriks flutes are bad (I have not played one) but just that to describe it as ideal for Irish music is misleading.
If someone new to ITM read these posts and bought one on which to play Irish music then they would ultimately be dissapointed.
Just because a flute is in D does not make it IDEAL for Irish music, it simply means it is possible to play Irish music on one (it is also possible to play irish music on a Tuba/electric guitar/church organ but these are also NOT ideal for ITM.
Am I wrong? Come on you cynics out there…some support please 
Well, since the “Irish” flute (blackwood, cocus, whatever) has only been around as we know it since the 1800’s it’s really not traditional either, it’s just been bastardized for use in traditional Irish music like the tin whistle. So by those lights, I’d say this qualifies as an Irish flute. Possibly more traditional than the R&R’s and Prattens because the bamboo flutes are closer to the “real” shepherd flutes.
Just play it, if it works, than it’s a “real” “Irish” flute 
mmmmm. I think we may have to agree to disagree. 
I just cant imagine anyone going out of their way to make space for you if you walked into a session with one of those! As for the ‘traditional’ness of the simple system flute and whistle I dont think anyone would really disagree that both those instruments are now firmly part of the tradition. Neither am I saying that there is no place whatsoever for bamboo in ITM (check the cover of Finbar & Eddie Fureys Dawning of the Day Album, there is if I remenber rightly a bit of bamboo to be seen amongst their instruments) I did as it happens play a very nice bamboo fipple flute the other day. It was a bit out of tune but had a wonderful tone and fired out Carolan tunes like nothing else (sucked big time for jigs & reels tho’). However this cost about £3 and did not pretend to be anything other than what it was.
it is just a bit tiresome to see the ‘irish’ tag shamelessly applied to every bit of pseudo-celtic-new-agery.
Rant over
A lot of folks recommend Olwell bamboo flutes for beginners for playing Irish music on. In fact, I’m pretty sure if you were to poll most players of Olwell bamboo flutes you’d find they were playing ITM on them.
While I agree with your point to some degree (i.e. - that most people think of Irish flutes as blackwood pratten or R&R style flutes), if you want a low cost flute to try ITM on, a D bamboo flute is ideal. You’re out less than $100, and you’re in the right key to play with others. If a novice hits Erik’s website, thought any flute would work for ITM, bought a key of F flute to play at a session - well, that would suck. I’d rather the flute maker recommend which flute he sells is best and/or ideal for ITM than let someone less knowledgable buy the wrong flute. In the US and western Europe, most bamboo flutes are used for ITM/“celtic” music.
I’ll disagree with you also on what should be an Irish flute in general. If you’re so hung up on bamboo not being acceptable, you’d probably chuck out me on my delrin seery (made by an actual Irishman in Ireland BTW), Joannie Madden on her silver flute, and any number of players who don’t have an actual wooden flute.
Then, let’s chuck out the bouzoukis, banjos, mandolins, bodhrans (OK, I know, not a bad idea ), and other instruments not regularly found in the tradition until the last 75 years or so because, well, they’re really not trad…Oh, those D whistles need to go to. Those didn’t come around commonly until the mid 20th century.
Eric
I think you are missing my point entirely. I said that I do not rule out bamboo etc… and I have not in any way stated that instruments need to have been played for X no. of years before they can be called traditional.
The bottom line…
…I dont think that flute is good for, let alone ‘ideal’ for ITM. I would love to hear someone pulling off some crisp rolls with those big chunky keys and yes I know all about Siccamas but they are really in a completely different class.
Well thats it.
Im going off to play the flute.
Bye. :roll:
Mat - my mistake there! I completely misunderstood you. I agree that that specific bamboo flute would appear be far from ideal for ITM (without having playing it, it’s hard to say how crisp the keys are, but I can’t see rolls or sliding up notes, etc. working well on those notes), but it might offer hope for those who want something for aires and such that have small hands and not enough cash for a Casey Burn or other small handed model.
The wording on that page matches the wording on Erik’s standard D bamboo flute page. It might simply be that he didn’t think through the key issue, or maybe they work better than they look like they would.
Who knows, but I do apologize for misinterpreting your earlier remarks…
Eric
No worries! 
it is just a bit tiresome to see the ‘irish’ tag shamelessly applied to every bit of pseudo-celtic-new-agery.
Definately agree with this. However after reading that Aran Olwell made a reasonable playing flute out of a carrot and the winner of one of the ITM flute competitions last year in Ireland won on a PVC flute he made himself (don’t ask me which competition, I don’t remember) and by the fact that many really good traditional players do use bamboo flutes occasionally. I don’t think this is a stretch. However I do see your point about it not being ideal however, I can’t think of an ideal flute for ITM for $150 so maybe it’s ideal in the price range