Gone Native

Whistle
21

I don’t think I want to learn any standardized music for my NAF, but would let it come from me. I have no intention of checking the tuning against electronics or anything else, as I don’t think I have any desire to play with another person. My problem is that I’m so used to the penny/tin/Ir whistle, and its 6 holed fingering, that I expect the NAF to at least come out with something resembling a nice progression if I finger it the same way, and that EMPHATICALLY isn’t the truth!

I did a Google search on Native American Flute, and came up with scads and hordes and heaps and piles of good info, all linked to other sites, makers, enthusiasts. What I haven’t been able to find is any info on the man who made THIS flute. I got a picture of him, coincidentally at my alma mater of Purdue, but nothing on his flute making. He may very well have stopped, as he appears to be a man of some age. If anyone has any info on a Chief A. Two Crows of the Miami tribe, I would appreciate it.

22

Tyg, though you don’t want the music, much of Nakai’s book is about fingerings for different flutes (6 hole and 5 hole) and philosophy of playing. The written out music in the book is less than 1/2 the content.

— N

23

I’ll check it out in Borders this weekend. Thanks for the tip!

24

Keep up the search Tygh. I agree with what everyone has said in this thread, even if it may have seemed I was disagreeing. I do promise I was not. I am glad this thread go started. It is nice to know there are others out there who are interested in the NAF. I was not aware that many of the makers were now concert tuning their instruments. It is a rather exciting notion at they are paying attention to the people who play their instruments. I just hope that we do not negatively affect the tradition of the NAF and its individual voice. Just my own lowly opinion. Take it with a grain of salt of you will.

25

I purchased a NAF from Butch Hall. Not only is the flute very nicely made and reasonably priced, they are very kind, patient people. She played several flutes on the phone for me so I could pick. Also they let me use layaway. I sent them payments over the course of 3 months until I paid it off (i was poor at the time, but really wanted a NA flute.) HAPPY DAY! It took a little practice until I could make those lovely mellow tones come out. I love playing my flute. It brings me up when I’m down and soothes my soul. I can get lost in it. Thank you for starting this thread. I’ve enjoyed hearing about other people’s experiences.

26

I should have looked at this thread sooner. Ty, there is a yahoo group who will be able to answer all your questions, most likely. Check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeflutewoodworking/ - full of VERY nice flutemakers and players. Some people there know me, though I haven’t posted there in months. A man named Dusty (yahoo name: greatwave) might remember me, and he’s very very nice. Check it out.

27

Has anyone tried the injection-molded NAF made by Ken Light? Carlos Nakai apparently uses them and speaks highly of them, but I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with them? $60 for headpiece and bodies for two different keys…seems too good to be true. Seems like a great way to try NAF out without shelling out too much wampum.

28

Dazed:

I have Ken Light’s plastic model, and it’s worth the $60. Actually, it plays better than many wooden flutes I’ve played; far better than your average arts-festival/crafts-fair models, certainly.

The differences:

It has perhaps a slightly brighter tone than most woods.

It might be a bit louder (though not much, really).

It’s not as satisfying to hold as wood is, if you’re into the tactile.

It waters out a little faster than my wood flutes (you have to shake it out slightly more often, to clear moisture from the windway under the bird).

It uses the Ken Light/Butch Hall fingerings, which have a couple differences at the top of the scale from many other flutes. I find their fingering system more flexible, though, since there are convenient alternative fingerings for several notes. I prefer Butch’s standard upper-octave fingering for the bell note (ooxxoo) to Ken’s (0x0000), especially for faster playing. Both fingerings work on both Ken’s and Butch’s flutes.

(In fact, Nakai plays both Hall and Light flutes, so his preferences have probably colored the way each maker tunes their flutes. I happen to like this fingering system.)

If you’re considering the purchase, I’d say go for it. You can always get a wooden flute later, in one of the same keys.

If wood is your bag and you don’t mind a slightly higher pitched flute, Butch Hall makes a wooden flute in Am called the “Little Horse”, which sounds very nice and I think costs even less than the plastic Light flute (though I’m not positive). It has round, rather than square, cutouts for the windway, which makes for a slightly breathier, less full sound, but I actually like the sound of this flute.

For anyone interested, there are also beautiful, beautiful flutes at http://www.heartsongflutes.com . I want one of the closed-end drones, someday. . .)

Cheers,

Aaron

29

What a great thread. With everything that we can learn from the rest of the C&F site and message board we as NAF players can maybe transfer the knowledge over. I was thinking that it could be very interesting if we were to transfer some of the reels and jigs to the six hole NAFs. Just a random thought from a random thinker.

I know that C&F talk about 6 hole flutes and that is great because there is the possibility that we can transpose an Irish reel to the NAF possibly. My question is does anyone have any five holed flutes that we might be able to work together on? If you do please feel free to contact me and maybe we can work something out.

Also if there is anyone who lives in the Denver Colorado area who plays the NAF please let me know because I would love to start up a group who either does sessions or maybe formal performances on the NAF.

I hope everyone is well and I look forward to talking to you all soon. If you care to talk more please feel free to contact me online or call my cell phone at 720.427.1761.


Thanks all

Graham M Moran

30

I have a couple of 5 hole flutes, but I’ve got to get them out of storage.

31

It is really weird, but fun, to play Irish tunes I know on the 6-hole NAF. I just use the regular fingerings and out comes… the most bizzare things.

— cheers, NancyF

32

Yep.