As you may be aware from a topic I started here last year, the original Indian made F bansuri I had for many years cracked after exposure to the dry cold of the Blue Mountains and I obtained this new one from Jeff.
It is a very well made flute but it has taken me a year to draw her Muse out. Only recently have I begun to feel that I have finally been able to say a psychic goodbye to the cracked one (which I ritually cremated last year). I now get very excited at the prospect practising or performing with this bansuri, mostly for C Mixolydian and also pentatonics from C
and G Dorian and G Aeolian.
Sounds great with vocals, open string tuned guitar or Appalachian dulcimer. I did a duet with a sitar player at a party about 6 months ago with this flute. People enjoyed it but I felt I didn’t have enough oomph with it. The sitar is a very trebly lute and the lower flutes work better with it.
I am surprised more ppl don’t mention that.
It’s probably not good, in the long run.
I agree, Mary. The oft used third octave was one of my least favorite aspects of classical (Boehm) flute playing. (Conversely, I love that Irish music sticks to the lower two octaves, which I find most pleasing and least worrisome.) This article has long had a sobering effect on my views on flutes and hearing. http://www.larrykrantz.com/flutesor.htm
However, I still think F flutes are groovy, though I don’t have plans to aquire another…right now I’m headed in the opposite direction, pitch-wise.
My hypohypothesis is that cultures that are based more or less on vegetarian foods have a higher register in their musical traditions.
I recall old age pensioners living in inner city tenements who were forced to eat canned dog food to survive had a low tolerance for Jimi.
Me, three. I played piccolo for 8 years, and that was about enough – although I do like my little F bamboo, and I wonder about an Eb. But overall, I’m a low-register gal.