Well I had an oh my god moment this mourning at about 7 oclock when I got and email from Jon C telling me that my mopane Pratten was ready and he just happened to send a picture along. I can`t figure out how to show it here but oh my god. I had to wait for 2 hours for the post office to open so I could send him a money order. Bet I get it before the weekend. Maybe Jon could slap a picture of it up here. And hey I only bought one flute while I was waiting for this one. Thats got to be an oh my god moment in itself.
For me it would have to be this lovely Firth and Pond flute in mint condition, owned by Grey Larsen. Not a single blemish, embouchure nice and sharp and unaltered, and a great player. Its rare to find something from the mid 19th century in such perfect condition. I think Grey is trying to find a new home for this and I am tempted by this instrument! Casey
The two flutes I play still continue to amaze and inspire me. They are a keyless blackwood Chris Wilkes, a beautifully made and complex instrument made in 2001 and ordered together with another flute by a lady in the New York area. Amazingly the lady sold the flute to the gentleman who was to later sell the flute to me in November/December 2003. I often wonder how they could have parted with such an instrument. The second flute, also a beautifully made and complex instrument was made by Dave Williams in 1982. I just had it lying around unused for nigh on 20 years, never learned to play it properly, or get a decent sound out of it until after I got the Wilkes. Two Oh my Buddah flutes indeed
I’ve been thinking about this question for a couple of days. Back in September I got a beautiful keyless Bryan Byrne flute. I just love playing this medium-holed flute! It has a rich, woody tone that I just adore. It’s not the loudest flute, but that’s what I asked for when he made it. I wanted nuance rather than great volume. Still, it IS capable of good volume. When I’m “on,” which isn’t always, the sound reminds me of a laser beam–focused and clear. I think this flute keeps me from being lazy! I just love it.
Byrne says NOT to oil his flutes. I haven’t, but I’m starting to get nervous now in the winter. I don’t want anything to happen to it!
I get to have these experiences all the time (I love my job).
I had a McGee Pratten with a rounded rectangle embouchure in Cooktown ironwood come through the store this year. It was only here about a day before somebody snapped it up. If it had been here a day and a half no one would have gotten it out of here for love or money.
I have daily delight in the two best flutes in the world…
my Casey Burns Rudall in boxwood and my Terry McGee GLP 2 semi-circle in mopane,
also my Reyburn low-D whistle but that’s another forum.
One experience was at a workshop where a few people had recently made plumwood flutes by pipemaker Andreas Rogge. These flutes did rock! They had a certain buzz and resonance and they weren’t like anything I had tried before. I would not be able to categorize them into the patterns we know (R&R vs. Pratten, etc.). They were dangerous animals anyway. Sorry, no pictures. I wonder what plumwood instruments will be like after years of playing re: shrinkage, cracks… Unfortunately, Andreas is not taking orders for flutes anymore for he’s so busy with his growing u-pipes waiting list.
The other experience was meeting Breton flute maker Pol Jezequel at various occasions across Europe. Pol had spent the last years investigating and trying various designs. Just like Andreas’ flutes, his flutes are quite different in terms of sound and playability. His embouchure design is very unique. Very rich sound, easy to fill, but it can also handle a strong blast of wind, showing its full potential when blown with focus and power. The opposite edge of the embouchure hole is almost v-shaped (or rather ^), maybe that’s what makes the difference. Pol’s craftmanship regarding keywork and finishing is on par with the top makers I’d say. And like many fine instrument makers, he’s not a computer geek, he does not have a webpage nor decent photos. He sent me a PDF showing a few blurred pics a few weeks ago of which I’m sure he would not mind me publish it here… It’ll give you an idea anyway. If he had only removed the plumpers tape before taking the photos
His waiting list is still short. So better be quick I’d love to get a flute of his, but that would mean I’d have to sell my wonderful Aebi, which would be a foolish thing to do. You’ll find Pol’s contact information on Brad Hurley’s site. And tell him, the tall weird-o from Germany sent ye… No, I’m not getting commission…unfortunately…
Oh, and Pol is also a very nice player, I had a few lovely sessions with him. I bet we’ll hear more about him and his flutes in the future.
Wow, that Firth and Pond is sharp looking. It looks practically brand new!
The greatest flutes I experienced this year (among the greatest I’ve ever experienced in 16 years of flute playing) were two copies of Chris Norman’s Rudall and Rose by Rod Cameron. One was an 8-keyed boxwood and the other a keyless blackwood. Both were impeccable in every regard.
Oh, maybe I was a bit unclear – the pics are from Pol Jezequel’s flutes, and the plumwood flutes were made by Andreas Rogge. I don’t have pics of the latter. Maybe the brownish flutes shown in Pol’s PDF are made of plumwood, too, but that would be quite a coincindence.
I played one of those at the Sweet’s place in July at the C&F Gathering I thought it was a great Flute and on my list of great Flutes that I have played once it would be second to a Schultz Flute which I also played that day. BTW The Sweet’s have that exact Flute on their site for sale under antique and used Flutes, I think they are listing it for $2700 it is an 8 keyer and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an 8 key Flute in a Rudall style.
Thanks a lot Barry. I was blissfully unaware that anyone was making bocote flutes, and I thought I would never order another flute. I got a pic of one of Jon’s bocote flutes, now I’m on his list. It’s SUCH gorgeous wood, very oily, too. I have no idea why more flutemakers don’t work with it. Flutemakers (Jon specifically) is it difficult to turn?
Tintin, the Rod Camoran flute is the same flute that Mary started this conversation with and the same flute by Johnny Gallagher pictured in a near by thread on the subject of Cocus. Gallagher worked in Rod’s shop in CA for 10 years or so, and I think, the same flute mentioned by someone else in this thread. The picture was posted by Jon C. It is a take off on Chris Norman’s boxwood R&R small hole job. Chris commssioned Rod to duplilcate it for insurance perposes. I have a restored Meyer that plays very similarly.
Cochran Blackwood Rudall and Rose, I am just now realizing how much this flute can bark. Its much louder than my M&E and a lot more fun to play. The hard low D is better than any flute I’ve ever played. Its grown with me over the year. Way to go Jon…now if you only had time to be a monk.
OMG music moment would have to be playing Cotes Corner by Brian Pickell (crazy accidentals) and Reel in Am by Tom McElvogue (another crazy accidental tune).
that is something i hadn’t done in the past but i am trying to train myself to do now mostly because of chronic shoulder/neck ache. boy old habits sure die hard even if they kill me. so that is my omg advice for this year.
my omg moment this year…i almost got a roll on ‘b’ to sound halfway decent. (almost is the key word).
my omg flute experience this year would be having the opportunity to play one of bryan byrne’s short ‘f’ flutes. what a blast. i could not put the thing down.
I was blissfully unaware that anyone was making bocote flutes, and I thought I would never order another flute. I got a pic of one of Jon’s bocote flutes, now I’m on his list. It’s SUCH gorgeous wood, very oily, too. I have no idea why more flutemakers don’t work with it. Flutemakers (Jon specifically) is it difficult to turn?
Just consider it my payment for your tip on bringing the flute to you!