I’m interested in what one can do with a 6 hole flute that one can’t do with a whistle?
Thanks Walt
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I’m interested in what one can do with a 6 hole flute that one can’t do with a whistle?
—endquote—
Some things that come to mind would be to play one octave lower, to use strong breath accents, to produce a hard-D effect, to produce other multiphonic effects, to play with greater volume, and to have better control over volume in general.
However, there is a flip side to this, as there are things the whistle does that the flute can’t do as well.
Although they share the same fingerings, they are actually two very different instruments, and trying to compare them is very much apples and oranges.
Best wishes,
–James (who loves flutes -and- whistles)
http://www.flutesite.com
You can usually get more volume out of a flute, than the equivalently pitched low whistle.
I agree with the previous poster that it is like comparing apples and oranges. I love the sound of my cheap flute, and I love the sound of my cheap whistle, and they are quite distinct sounds. Playing the low whistle for my grandmother, she said, “It kind of sounds like a clarinet.” You don’t get that reedy sound out of the flute.
Walden, what cheap flute do you have that you like?
TK
Various bamboo and cane flutes. My key of E East Indian flute plays more easily than the key of D, but doesn’t look as nice, and is a rather useless key for playing with other musicians. Still, the flutes from India are better than, or at least as good as, the South American ones, and come in more keys.
Of course among most (American) Irish music enthusiasts, these are called “my souvenir of Bombay” flutes, and scorned. The only bamboo or cane flutes that please most “Celtic” players are the Olwell ones. But I think that (assuming you get a well made and in-tune example–it’s not unlike the Generation lottery) the “Third World Imports” can sound quite nice, and be a good musical companion.
I used to have a beautiful Hall crystal flute, but it fell to the fate of crystal flutes (fell under couch cushion and, alas, was sat upon).
For a totally different sound I have a Chinese Dizi (Di tzu) in C. They’re not at all expensive, and a great way to increase the tone colors available for your playing.
Walden,
Where did you get your Dizi?
[ This Message was edited by: ysgwd on 2002-06-16 11:34 ]
On 2002-06-16 01:29, Walden wrote:
You don’t get that reedy sound out of the flute.
In my experience, just the opposite is true - assuming you are comparing your average Low whistle to the type of flute preferred for Irish Music: Most whistles (Overtons being the main exception) tend to be rather purer sounding and NOT terribly reedy at all, where as a good wooden, or even polymer, flute in the hands of a skilled player can be reedy as hell.
Listen to Conal O’Grada’s and/or Hammy Hamilton’s playing - enough reediness to rattle your teeth if you really have the volume cranked!
Play the first track of Laurence Nugent’s “Windy Gap” CD and tell me
that doesn’t sound reedy to you.
Still don’t agree? Watch the Solas live video and compare the sound when Seamus plays the Copeland Low D vs. The Olwell Woodenflute - His flute sound is MUCH reedier than his Low whistle sound.
Of course I could be wrong, perhaps I have tin ears to match my tin whistles =;^)
Loren
Thanks for the good information. It makes the flute all the more interesting. Is there a different collection of music for the 6 hole flute? (Somehow I think not.)
I’m going to get the flute head for my low D Dixon and play around.
Thanks, Walt
ysgwd wrote:
Walden,
Where did you get your Dizi?
Lark In the Morning
http://www.larkinam.com/MenComNet/Business/Retail/Larknet/china
Loren wrote:
In my experience, just the opposite is true - assuming you are comparing your average Low whistle to the type of flute preferred for Irish Music: Most whistles (Overtons being the main exception) tend to be rather purer sounding and NOT terribly reedy at all, where as a good wooden, or even polymer, flute in the hands of a skilled player can be reedy as hell.
You may be right. I just pulled out a D flute, and it did have a reedy sound to it. I just normally think of flutes as having a round tone more than the chiffier whistle. You can do so much with the flute tone wise, because of the ability to adjust the airflow from the lips.
The low whistle I was comparing to is a low D from India, with a horribly wonderful reediness.
P.S. The East Indian cane flutes from mid-east.com are horribly out of tune (though in tune with themselves). Lark’s dizis are well in tune, as is my Mid-East low D whistle.
Walden
Deus converte nos et ostende faciem tuam et salvi erimus</font color>
[ This Message was edited by: Walden on 2002-06-17 02:40 ]
On the topic of reediness, I also agree that most Irish flute players tend to strive for a reedy sound.
By the way, a Dizi is really really reedy in a sweet way because of the vibrating membrane that covers the hole between the embouchure hole and the fingerholes.