Hi there,
I was wondering, how many good flute players you guys know of switched from a Pratten styled flute to a Rudall styled flute or vice versa? Is there a trend in this?
I read that Conal O’Grada used to play a Rudall but he plays a Hamilton Pratten styled flute now, so thats one for Rudall to Pratten.
Conal’s Rudall had a Fentum head for whatever that’s worth.
Molloy switched from Rudall to Pratten if I recall correctly. I hear he plays an Olwell now but I don’t know what style.
Cheers,
Aaron
I switched from Pratten to Rudall a few years ago “and I’m never going back.” Not that I’m in the same league as Molloy or O’Grada, of course, but just wanted to provide some balance.
You’re right about Molloy switching from Rudall to Pratten. Another “switcher” from Rudall to Pratten is Skip Healy, who switched a long time ago.
With due respect to my colleague from the north, Olwell’s large holed flutes are no more Pratten than they are Rudall. They are Olwell’s own design. They have large holes but the bore is more tapered than a Pratten. Matt Molloy plays an Olwell large-holed flute; it would be a mistake to say that Molloy plays a Pratten.
Hammy’s flutes are much closer to the Pratten design and have a larger bore. Patrick’s flutes have a more refined sound while Hammy’s have a bit more volume, though this is subjective. They are both wonderful makers. I have flutes from each and play and love them both, although there may be a few minutes of adjustment time going from one to the other. Patrick’s is very easy to play, although having said that I find the Hammy easy to play as well. I suspect there is greater variation flute-to-flute from Hammy’s workshop than from Patrick’s.
Right. There are so many hybrids or whatever-they-may-be
that it isn’t easy to name what one is
playing.
I’ve ordered a Rudall boxwood from Casey Burns,
which promises to be a real Rudall. This is supposed
to be more expressive, at least partly in
virtue of the embouchure hole; I was intrigued. Maybe
I’ll be able to say something about it one day.
I’m playing a couple of Dave Copley
flutes, one of them keyed, which I believe at least err on the
Pratten side of things, though they’re not
absolutely classical Prattens. Also a Seery,
which is pretty well a Pratten.
DC’s flute is louder, however.
Not, of course, that I’m a good player!
Hm, well actually I am now your colleague to the south, seeing as you’re in Ireland and considerably north of Montreal!
Second, I was referring to Molloy’s original switch, in the late 70s/early 80s, from the Rudall that he played on the first Bothy Band album to the Boosey’s Pratten Perfected that he played for many years after that until he switched again to an Olwell.