What can you guys tell me about Frank Claudy, especially as a whistle player and teacher?
I’m going to the Boxwood Winter Weekend in January, and as usual, i have to make some tough choices between sessions that happen at the same time. F.C. will be teaching “Beginning Irish Whistle” by himself, then sharing an “Advanced Irish Music Technique” session with Chris Norman. I’ll probably have to miss the first session and take the second instead, but what can you tell me about him? Should i miss one of the other sessions i really want to see and go see him instead for the Beginning Whistle?
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Edit: I just realized he posted at least one whistle review in the main site, so he’s probably a member here too… Sorry for the faux pas. I was going to delete the thread, but then i decided to leave it in, because somebody might still want to sing Frank’s praises.
Frank is an wonderful teacher as well as a great friend. My father danced at the ceilis and met frank when he first started flute and whistle and they became good friends. This was 25 years ago and now Frank has become one of the most respected flute and whistle players. Frank is a very understanding and patient teacher and help me greatly when i was struggling with flute. As for tin whistle, frank is equally as good. He perfers burke whistles, and has a large collection of whistle expensive and non-expensive and he let me play them all. if you do take franks class tell him andrew cassidy said hi
-Andrew Cassidy
Hey glauber could you tell me a little bit about the Boxwood Winter thing. My brother lives near you and I would like to let him know about it. He came over here for a visit last fall and realy liked my whistles and the music they made.
Boxwood (http://www.boxwood.org) is Chris Norman’s organization. Chris is a wonderful flute player. He plays an old Rudall & Rose 8-key flute (recently he retired his original flute and is playing a replica of the same, made by Rod Cameron, instead). He’s not considered a very traditional player, but in fact he’s one of these people who can cross over styles and play almost every kind of music. He can play very traditional if he wants too.
Anyway, Chris Norman’s album “The Man With the Wooden Flute” was one of the big influences on me, to pick up the wooden flute too.
Boxwood has had for a long time a summer festival in Lunenberg Nova Scotia, one of these places you can only get to by boat. It’s supposedly a life-changing event, but i really can’t afford it, so i need more money before my life can be changed this way.
But recently (since 2003) they started having a shorter, one-weekend festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. That’s what i was talking about. You can get all the details at http://www.boxwood.org. It’s a mix of Irish, Scottish and Baroque music, really the only thing that ties it all together is that it’s all wooden flute. I enjoyed the one i went to very much, so i’m going again. Being just a weekend it’s more affordable and also easier on my family life. I really hope i can make it to the longer festival one day.
Frank is a phenominal flute and whistle player. His playing and sound have and continue to influence me tremendously (even though I’m a piper still in the learning stages). We are very lucky to have him anchoring our local session here. Any chance you get to hear him live or learn from him is a treat. Oh and he is also an amazing resource as to the history behind the tune (although I don’t take advantage of that as much as I should). He may not be in a class by himself…but it sure don’t take long to call roll…
The Wooden Flute album is great. Still one of my favourites. However, I have, myself, driven to Lunenberg, Nova Scotia in my own little car. Maybe there’s an island off the coast? At any rate, here’s the info about Lunenberg from the Boxwood site.
I took a whistle and a flute class from Frank at Irish Arts Week two years ago. A great player and a hell of a nice guy. I’d jump at a chance to take more classes with him.
Frank Claudy, a nicer fellow you won’t find. He is a great person, great
player, and an excellent teacher. Also he ain’t bad as a dancer (well
maybe irrelevant - but it still makes me laugh, this one night in Erin’s
Melody a couple summers ago..).
I have not done any of his classes but he taught me things via email
(yes really). He knows how to break down information really well and
convey it to others. Try to get a copy of his cd, I listen to it a lot for
inspiration and tone. Its wonderful. That’s great news that he’ll be
teaching up at Boxwood.
Cheers, Lesl
I haven’t heard Frank Claudy yet,but he sounds quite intriguing.I should maybe track his album down.
I’m currently awaiting Chris Norman’s ‘Reel of Tulloch’ album- I find the prospect of Scottish/ Baroque fluting quite interesting.
