ONE flute to rule them all: Firth, Pond &... With Clips

Irish Flute
1

Folks, I just couldn’t resist. I’ve found my precious. Remember the Firth, Pond & Co. Left handed flute from the mid 1800’s that was up on e-bay a while ago? I said I didn’t want, nor could afford it.
I changed my mind… That flute haunted my dreams, so I contacted Hammy about it, and now it sits here, safely with me.
And what a flute it is. I’ve only just played it for about 10 minutes or so since I got it, but already I’m in love with it, what a nice player. It’s got a full, strong sound, rich bottom end, it’s very effortless to fill and it speaks easily with very snappy responce. I expected it to be on the quiet side, with the small bore and small holes and all, but it’s not. It’s at least as loud as the M&E R&R and the Seery Pratten. BTW, it hasn’t got all that small holes, I’ve not measured since I currently lack a caliper, but it’s almost as large holed as the M&E.
I was also surprised by the warm sort of sound it produces even with the silver lined embouchure.
I think this might be the one, I think it will be my main concert flute for the rest of my life. I’m not saying I won’t cheat on it, but I don’t think I’ll ever need another keyed D flute.
It’s so lovely to be able to play an antique flute as a lefty, an antique which is acctually well in tune and as good as any other flute I’ve played. I am so happy.

I might record some clips on it the weekend after this, but while you wait, here are some photos I just shot.

Here it is together with my M&E R&R and Seery Pratten. It comes out a bit more red than it is IRL in this pic.

And here’s a pic comparing hole size on the bottom hand section, not scientific, but anyway.

Terry McGee also has a page feathuring this flute, written before it was refurbished by Hammy, here it is:

UPDATE
Here are a few videos I recorded today. Don’t expect much, the sound quality is that of a built in laptop mic. I have also been battling a cold for a few days so I haven’t played properly since last weekend, and I still have a bit of a respiratory problem because of the cold so I found myself stuggling for breath on more than a few occations, so please bare with me. It might take a few weeks before I can record anything properly, so I decided to post them anyway, hopefully they’ll give you all an idea of the flutes capabilities at least.

Silver Spear/Rolling on the Rye Grass

Give me your Hand (first time I played this for probably a year today, but I thought it was nice to display the tone)

O’Mahoney’s Reel (lots of rythmic errors, but again, bare with me)

Now, this a flute instantly became more valuable to me than my whole collection of
whisky :boggle:

2

Wow, that’s a nice one. Congrats!

I too found my flute. I’m going to dive into making flutes soon, but I doubt that I’ll ever sell my little session cannon. :slight_smile:

3

Hey Henke - beautiful looking flute. The American flutes fascinate me - especially those of the Firth/Hall/Pond complex. Constantly, they’re referred to as in tune, smaller bore yet loud, and just nice instruments. They’re likely to be the only thing to get me to stray from my own M&E.

Eric

4

congrats on finding your flute!

5

Thanks folks.

That’s funny you say that Eric. I will keep my beloved M&E 5-key as a trusty backup, but I fear it will get little play in comparance.

Wow, finally friday, I’m of to have some
whisky
:party:

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I think I finally found “my” flute, too… Oddly enough, it’s a Grey Larsen Preferred by Terry McGee which is modeled on a Firth and Pond as well.

Pat

7

Glad you went for it, the flute was made for you! Lefty! :smiley: They are amazing flutes, smaller holed, but big tone. I am glad the flute found a new home. :party:

8

Way to go Henke! What an awesome flute. I’d love a listen if you get time to post. Your story kind of reminds me of when I was looking to replace my old BMW and couldn’t find a decent used replacement for it and I ended up being haunted by the (then new) Honda Element. I’d never bought a new car in my life, but kept coming back to it no matter how hard I tried to find something else. Never regretted it - suits me perfectly & I love it as much today as 4 years ago. Hope you continue to love your new flute.

Deisman

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Hey, congrats Henke on finding “your flute”, and a beauty too! Good luck with it-may the tunes flow like…um, dare I say, whiskey? :wink:

Have a blast (of flute)! :party:

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Congratulations, Henke!

Talk about an odd duck, all of my Boehm flutes include an Open G# key, which is relatively rare, especially of the past few decades, and more.

That said, I can appreciate your finding a keyed LH flute, and, even better, one you really like.

Again, congratulations!

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The one that got away!

I would have been all over that one except I already own a good keyed lefty. . . still, how cool is an antique lefty?

May you make great music for years!

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Hope you continue to love your flute, told Hammy myself that if it was still up for grabs come the new year that i’d buy it (cash flow) but glad it’s found a good home , take good care of it in case you ever change your mind i’d appreciate another chance but that sounds unlikely… happy tooting man.

13

Henke . Would you say it’s more in tune with Fnat opened when playing F#, old style fingering?

Kevin

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Good question Kevin. Just tried it against a tuner, and it does seem that the F# is slightly more in tune with the F key open, but it’s not noticably out of tune when it’s closed eighter. It seems like the G and the F# is very slightly flat when the flute is tuned to A. The B, E and D are spot on though (interestingly).

And with a voice like
whisky :slight_smile:

15

Hey Henke,

In honor of your new flute and closing line. :smiley: I could find the lyrics, but not the tune. I’ve got an old recording of this by the Clancy Brothers.


WHISKEY, YOU’RE THE DEVIL

Now brave boys, we’re on the march
off to Portugal and Spain
Drums are beating, banners flying
the Devil at home will come tonight
so it’s go, fare thee well
with a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
a too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
there’s whisky in the jar


Oh, whisky you’re the devil
you’re leading me astray
over hills and mountains
and to Amerikay
you’re sweetness from the Bleachner
and spunkier than tea
oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober


The French are fighting boldly
men are dying hot and coldly
give every man his flask of powder
his firelock on his shoulder
so its go, fare thee well
with a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
a too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
there’s whisky in the jar


Oh, whisky you’re the devil
you’re leading me astray
over hills and mountains
and to Amerikay
you’re sweetness from the Bleachner
and spunkier than tea
oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober


Says the old wan do not wrong me
don’t take me daughter from me
for if you do I will torment you
when I’m dead my ghost will haunt you
so its go, fare thee well
with a too da loo ra loo ra doo de da
a too ra loo ra loo ra doo de da
me rikes fall too ra laddie-o
there’s whisky in the jar


Oh, whisky you’re the devil
you’re leading me astray
over hills and mountains
and to Amerikay
you’re sweetness from the Bleachner
and spunkier than tea
oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober


Oh, whisky you’re the devil
you’re leading me astray
over hills and mountains
and to Amerikay
you’re sweetness from the Bleachner
and spunkier than tea
oh whisky you’re my darling drunk or sober

16

Hey, I love that song. Never heard it sung by the Clancy Brothers, I think my father has got a recording of The Dubliners with this song though. Lovely stuff. Although I do believe these fellows where a bit more into quantity rather than quality, hence the “devil” stuff :stuck_out_tongue:

Oh, and by the way:

Thanks, but no no, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m not drinking whiskey, I’m drinking
whisky :party:

17

Whisky = Scottish

Whiskey = Irish

They are both based upon Gaelic for “water”! :party:

18

Difference being one is moderately drinkable (as a chaser to some Guiness) and the other tastes like the water from washing up an ashtray! :smiling_imp: :laughing:
I’ll let you work out which is which! I’m off to drink Calva! :smiley: Well, not literally - I wish! Too early in the evening for that kind of thing…though there is a bottle in the drinks cupboard :wink: (And a barrel of proper Devon farm cider in the larder… :smiley: )

19

I’m guessing you’ve been nosing some young Islay whisky. Not all scots are like that mind you. The spectrum and diversity of Scotch whisky rivals that of wine. Have a sherried speysider or a mature lowland malt (often very reminicent of the Irish malts) the next time and you’ll quickly change your mind. Smoke is not for all, I don’t mind it at all though. But I’m a firm believer that I can teach anyone to like Scotch whisky, I’ve even converted my girlfriend, so I should be able to convert any of you… :slight_smile:

But hey, was this thread about an antique flute or was it really about
whisky :confused:

20

Yeah, nice flute, very. And the leftiness is remarkable!

But I doubt you’d convert me to whisky - I’ve tasted a few top-end ones and still don’t like. The fancier/rarer/more expensive they are the less I seem to like 'em, and that’s starting from not much liking any. My loss, I know. I’m not much different with French cognacs - the “better” they are, the more their taste reminds me of stewed prune juice, as in school dinners! Spanish brandies are OK, though. Although I’ve learnt to drink some beers, I’m really an apple man rather than a grain one. Even a cheap Calvados or eau de vie du cidre is preferable to any whisky or grape brandy to me, and a really good one is…heaven in a bottle.