Holy smokes, it seems like its been forever since I said hello to everyone here. Its been a wild and hecktic 5 or so months and now its over, just like that. It always amazis me how ones personnal adventures are carried out in relative isolation when compared to the big picture as it were. The key elements of said adventures, however, are the means by witch we either grow or deminish as humans so I am not swaied by the miniscule effect my adventures have on the rise and fall of civilizations.
This past summer has, to say the least, not been bouring. I came in personnel contact with 48,000 individuals from every corner of the world, delt with one or two of the largest egos I have ever run accross in my life, had the pleasure of becomeing one with a fine team of Belgians who I miss very much right now, and managed to aquire a few realy good flutes and a 1974 VW camper van, Westvalia(no I cant spell it) no less. I also went from fame and wealth to unknown and poor. Oh well, there is always next season. Although for the life of me I cant understand why they asked me back. You see I didnt like either my boss, 28 yr old kid that knew everything, or the owner of the company which made for some lumpy bits on this particular path I was following. But that was then and this is now. Boy did I get some nice flutes. Folks listen, when you hear people bad mouthing ebay and all the junk that is laid on an unsuspecting public, please dont let it cut you off from the po tential joy of getting more then you hoped for. I picked up 3 flutes and a piccolo this summer and not one is a dud. One, in fact, is about to be my dream flute when restoration is complete(havent started it yet because I am enjoying playing it so much right now). Anyway the ebay list is as follows: two flute and a piccolo from Austraila, a single key in D and a single key in Bb, both made of cocus I think and both in playable condition, the Bb being in perfect shape and the D having a poorly repaired crack in the headjoint. No makers names on either so I dont know where they were made or when. My guess is late 19th century. The piccolo I bought is a 6 key that I bought to practice restoration on. Now the fourth flute I got from ebay is the one which will be my flute for a long time. It is a 10 key Cloos in D made of rosewood without a crack or blemish of any kind. Now I had read a little about mr. Cloos a while ago and knew he messed with slightly larger tone holes twards the end of the 19th century and I was looking at maybe buying one that had been for sale for the longest time on vintage flutes. When one showed up on ebay, made of rosewood no less, I had to give it a try. Now when I bid on ebay it is with a limit. I plop down what I am willing to spend on a chance and then wait to be notified by email if it is mine or not. This little beauty was mine for a song. I love the way it sounds. My rosewood Dixon has shown me the magic of that wood and now that sound is one I seek. No review hear, just a simple statement of contentment. Now those werent the only flutes I aquired this summer. Thanks to Jessie I now have the pleasure of playing a Fred Rose flute in D. What a fine keyless flute this is. And yes it is a wild and crazy thing to play. It will rattle my windows or sneak quietly about. Real fun to play. Of course when I arrived here in Ketchikan back in April there was waiting for me a boxwood baroque flute from Luc. That is my biggest challange now. You see I am, shall we say, less then disaplined in my flute playing. The embouchure on Lucs little jewell is totaly intollerent of my sloughenly ways and I must adobt a completely different mindset when I pick up his flute. But oh what a beautiful instrument. If you are tempted in the least to try a baroque flute do it. You will either fall in love or not, but you will have nothing to loose and everything to gain.
So now I have about a million flutes and a ton of guilt in that I can`t get around to them all. My go to flute is still Mr. Dixons hunk of rosewood. In fact I took it with me a couple of weeks ago when I went south to pick up some of my stuff in Washington and found the most amazing bathroom ot play in. Holy smokes my ears are still ringing from that little session. But I have a few that need a better home so I will be going through my batch to see which ones I can live without.
Well the sun has broken through here on a dismall Ketchikan day so I will have to go out and play. My first winter here. We shall see.
Aaron, the Lehart found a new home a long time ago. Sorry my friend. We just never became close if you know what I mean. And of course it wasn`t the fault of the flute. It was more then ready to become what ever I wanted it to be. I on the other hand only thought I knew what I wanted and have since decided on a different sound and feel.
Hi Jessie, you look great.
TOM!!!
good to hear from you, I was just wondering about you yesterday, and here you are!
So, I guess I thought you’d make your way a little bit south of Alaska for the winter! Did you ever get your boat? Or is that for some time later?
What you gonna do for the winter?
Oh, and the Lehart is being enjoyed currently by someone who is likely to become much more proficient on it than I ever will! It’s a flute that would really be hard to give up…
Well, let us know what’s happenin’ from time to timel
Later, Amigo
Tom, I swear I was wondering about you a couple of days ago. I’m glad you’re doing well, still working with the wonderful horses, and still playing the music! Good to hear from you.
Thanks to Jessie I now have the pleasure of playing a Fred Rose flute in D. What a fine keyless flute this is. And yes it is a wild and crazy thing to play. It will rattle my windows or sneak quietly about. Real fun to play.
Sounds good, Tom. I’ve got one coming from Fred, I’m nearly half way thru the 4 week wait he predicted and it’s killing me! I don’t know how I’d survive the months/years it takes to get some maker’s flutes.
Seems like you found some eBay treasures too. Have fun having fun!
Well J.I. believe me it will be worth the wait. These are dandy flutes.
Jeeze Jon I hope I wasnt bidding against you and Eilam. I think the flutes I bid on are generaly flutes that knowbody cares about. Like I said I make a bid and just forget it. But I am done buying flutes for a while so it is safe for you two to bid away :slight_smile: So, Susan and Mary you are both a little psycic (?). It will be interesting to see where that Lehart ends up. I must say that I havent given it a thought except when someone asks about his flutes, which I still think are incredable instruments. But the Cloos is what I have realy been looking for and it even has a double touch on the Bb key. It was made for me and the wierd way I hold the flute. As for this winter I dont know what I will do yet. First thing I will be doing is some camping in my van. I havent had a bit of time to check this place out yet. As for a boat, I will know this Sat. if that is going to happen. If not then it will happen next season. I cant realy call myself a true Alaskan yet as I just havent made up my mind yet. I know this, I would rather be here then down in the real world. Way to many war mongers and fear down there.
Hey Jim, hows it going. Are you still busking?
Well got to go vote;
I was out a couple of weeks ago, then my wife’s birthday
intervened and we’re off to a conference this Saturday.
Also it’s getting cold. Maybe I’ll get out again, though.
Practicing Christmas carols. Made 50 bucks last time.
Stay in touch, OK?
Hi Tom, my barn has 2 Belgin-size (double) stalls with a poured concret wall back in the mountain. Two years ago it was dry. Up to last month they have been mud holes because there was a spring just behind the wall in wet weather. Anyhow, I just finished french-draining and they are dry as an unused flute. I was looking forward to you bringing your team to WV to winter in my nice dry barn. You could haul logs off my mountain, cut and split and sell fire wood.
Before Christmas, I will get an 8 key cocobolo R&R made by Johnny Gallagher, with two heads (Johnny Gallagher does not have two heads). One head is tunible lined. The other is a non-tunable unlined job.
If I really want to make money busking, I get my Scottish GHB, sun glasses, a long white can, raged tweeds, a tin cup and go to Washington DC and play songs for the Radical Religious Right. Like “Rock of Ages”. Piss on’um. I’m not playing for them any more. I got to do something about the Religious Right so I am starting a URL <patriotcrier.com> that will be on line soon. I’ll tell about Noah giving a contract to the Inca to bring a pair of alpaca and lama over for his ark. All Inca got drown in the flood, so that is why we never hear do the deal.
Sorry I couldnt make it this winter Nelson, sounds like a nice set up. WV, that is one of those red states isnt it. I think it will be a cold day in hell before I head back down to the lower 48. Fashisum(cant even spell it correctly it freaks me out so much) is not my cup of tea. At least up here there is enough wilderness to get lost in when georgie and his boys get nasty. Cant wait to check out your new website. Sounds like a winner. I came very close to ordering a Gallagher back in May. I just couldnt part with that much money. What an artest he is. Are you getting the six key or what? I was having a flash back this mourning to the words of a tourist this summer. She was saying what gentle giants my team was. It reminded me of the time Major, a 25 hundred pound Belgian I was training last year blewup on me and drug me through a 10 foot high mountain of horse dung, not once but 3 times, before he was satisfied. We never did see eye to eye and he sure as hell wasnt going to cotton to harness and farm work. I liked him though and he was ok with the saddle on his back so he is now a very big saddle horse in Idaho somewhere. Well anyway, I`m looking forward to hearing about your new flute. Take care, and keep your head down.
and a ton of guilt in that I can`t get around to them all. My go to flute is still Mr. Dixons hunk of rosewood. In fact I took it with me a couple of weeks ago when I went south to pick up some of my stuff in Washington and found the most amazing bathroom ot play in. Holy smokes my ears are still ringing from that little session. But I have a few that need a better home so I will be going through my batch to see which ones I can live without.
I don’t know how I’d survive the months/years it takes to get some maker’s flutes.