OK, OK, I don’t mean FREE in the sense of “no cost.” I mean “free” in the sense of no fipple. . . please read on.
In my current fit of whistle acquisition disorder, I bought a quena</A](http://www.fippless.org/Quena">quena</A)> from Erik the Flutemaker. Wow! What a cool instrument! Think Simon and Garfunkel’s El Condor Pasa if you’re unsure as to what a quena is (or click the link above).
Anyway, what I wonder is . . . why aren’t we using quenas in Irish music? The standard key is G, and a standard Quena is pitched in the same octave as what we’d consider is a low G whistle. The thing is, the instrument is a lot more versatile in that the tube is hollow with a notch: your lower lip makes the fipple, which you can alter. Read: instant voicing! You have a LOT of control of the pitch of the notes, and it doesn’t have to sound like the El Condor Pasa super-chiffy Inca-music-synonym; you can actually get a very clear tone on the instrument and it sounds like a very nice whistle.
Any other Chiff-and-Fipplers tried this sacrilege, the fipple flute without a fipple? They seem like they’d be super easy to make, and I think the design (and great ease of self-voicing) would lend itself to making a very playable low D instrument. There is one, actually, that I’ve not had a chance to try . . . a low-pitched version called a “quenacho,” which is in D!!
I think the embouchure is similar to that of a shakuhachi, but easier. Anyway, it’s an exciting find, and Erik’s instrument is very reasonably priced ($28).
No, that’s different; it’s just a regular side-blown flute they want you to blow from the top. Take a look at the quenas at the sites above; it’s as though you took a whistle and cut it off through the window, so that all you’re left with is part of the window and the blade. The tube is totally hollow, and you put your lower lip into the tube (or hold the tube to your lip, more properly) and use your lower lip as the fipple.
I bought my quenas at the Tulsa State Fair. Indeed they are a wonderful instrument. It’s like they combine the advantages of endblown and transverse flutes.
Making one is the easy bit.
I made one as per instructions, and after a few minutes of moving it up and down, pursing lips, blowing harder/softer a sound emerged.
Once you have got the position - so to speak - the sound is pleasant, and with a bit of practice tunes follow.
Cheap,fun and easy to make, but it isn’t as good as a whistle. But then nothing is
Quenas are VERY cool. I made a PVC one from the same instructions posted above. Took about an hour, and plays VERY well, once you get the hang of obtaining a sound. Irish tunes are no problem at all. A very cheap WHOA fix.
I’ve been playing quena with an Andean band for around 8years and one thing to consider is the volume. If you think Susatos are loud then you will run shrieking from the room if someone pulled out a quena at a session. The top of the second and bottom half of the third octave are loud enough to cause low flying aircraft to veer (OK maybe not that loud) I use one occasionally to play a solo waltz at contras but thats about it outside the Andean group. The sound is amazing and the pitch control is great but at the cost of a lot of air to get them going (not as much as the 5 foot tall panpipes though [toyos]).
I use one occasionally to play a solo waltz at contras but thats about it outside the Andean group. The sound is amazing and the pitch control is great but at the cost of a lot of air to get them going (not as much as the 5 foot tall panpipes though [toyos]).