So, there was I; sat down at session (in the back corner as I had some friends in tow) - there were some out-of-toweners in playing a load of tunes I didn’t recognise in some great tunes in some very un-whistle-friendly keys. Eventually I got a bit bored and I had to impress my friends somehow so I began a quick set of reels ending on ‘the sally gardens’ (my current favourite ‘look how cool I am’ tune )
A man in front who was playing fiddle, whistle and most importantly flutes turned round to me and said ‘nice instrument, and well played’ (this is probably the nicest thing anyone has said about my playing yet) – we shared some war stories about whistles and had a go on each others ( I offered) – I neglected to ask what his whistle was but it was similar breath profile to the Harper perhaps a little quieter – silver with a black plastic mouthpiece and what looked like an ‘s’ device lightly engraved on it. Anyway. He played better then me on my whistle so I swopped to the Dixon trad and played a bit quieter.
Come near packing up time and he asked me if I played flute – I noticed he had two fine instruments on his table a lovely keyed flute with quite large holes in a beautiful brown wood, and a plainer looking black number. I said yes (he didn’t ask me if I could play flute well) these would be the first flutes I had touched which were not on display at hobgoblin or on loan from markp. I had a go on the brown wood one first. Its holes were much larger then the German student flute I have on loan and it was much lighter, its keys however were incompatible with the pipers grip so I couldn’t have possibly played a tune on it. I didn’t check for the makers mark. Im glad I didn’t, I probably would have died.
The second flute (the Blackwood number) was light as a feather and playable, I tried to kick off a tune with it but it wasn’t quite the same breath that I was used to and it was my first public attempt at fluting so I failed there. – This was also from a famous maker but I didn’t catch the name when mark told me a week later at the same session.
I have no idea what the moral of this story is but it probably has something to do with the mouths’ of gift horses. – additionally, yes I am bored at work, I think ill go and look at pictures of flutes.
Just wait until I catch up with you…! Maybe I’ll try to pop over Leeds way when I finish overhauling MarkP’s German (in hand at last!)… or we’ll arrange a mid-way meet unless Mark wants to visit me again. (That way I could show you flutes awaiting attention as well as ready-to-go ones .)
i think thats the idea sir.
mark has said i can tag along with him if we are doing the midway meetup - i agree to do at at the same time as mark is doing his is the best tactic.
i hope mark chimes in here and reminds me what that other flute was, as it was super nice.
he he. Your Mr ‘Out of Towner’ was Bill Fry. His two flutes are an old Potter and the R&R (or, as he refers to it, his ‘Rolls Royce’). I don’t know the serial number, it’s not the patent tuning head. Jem will know him anyway. I suspect Bill would try to tell you it isn’t the best of R&Rs, but he gets an unbelieveable bottom end out of it… although you should hear the Grinter that Frazer’s wife Rachel has! (Frazer’s the fiddle player sat next to Bill in the session photo on my Facebook). If you smile sweetly at Jem you’ll get a go on another I’m sure.
PS. I’ve no objection to a day out to Wrexham if there’s a day when all three of us aren’t working (which might be tricky). You’d want to take your time trying things really. Alternatively an evening in Manchester - unless there’s a session at Birch Service Station? Or if Jem fancies any of the gigs/sessions at the Leeds Gathering. But we’ll fix something offline.
That Potter was lovley, and to be fair - my preduice against the R+R is soley because i wasnt holding it right - what struck me the most was how light they both were (in comparison to that student thing at least), and all this is certanly making me look forward to having a go on some other old instruments
this could well be the best idea ever formed by mortal man. - live music in one of the most banal environments mankind has ever created, thats a turner prize candatate for sure.
I do indeed know Bill Fry and his flutes, though I haven’t bumped into him for quite a while. His R&R is #5655, I believe, and a lovely flute, though in need of a replacement pewter plug for the low C# as far as I recall - he’s not much of a key-user… Give him my regards if you see him fairly often. He’s a grand player, especially of slower material! Chris will find my R&R much heavier than Bill’s because of the Patent Head, but the flutes I have for sale are much lighter.
As for the rest, I’ve got to finish the overhaul first!!! I expect the Leeds Gathering will be at a weekend, which rules it out for me, but maybe one of your midweek sessions… - I should expand my geographical horizons if feasible. But of course, I can’t carry everything with me - just currently ready stuff. As Mark says, we’ll make proper arrangements privately when his flute is ready - this is all speculative for now.
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