Time and again somebody posts about the “Ressikan Flute” from the Star Trek episode “Inner Light” asking who made it, etc., etc. On Paramount’s Star Trek site they presently have some video shorts re: various props including the Ressikan Flute. Quoting their blurb: “Penny Juday has worked as the Star Trek Art Department Coordinator for many years. She is currently their Archivist, which means she is responsible for cataloging and storing hundreds of props from various Star Trek series. In this interview, she talks about how the Ressikan Flute from “The Inner Light” was made and used.” Thought some folks here might have a mild interest in more about this non-playing prop.
Thanks for the info David! That was always one of my favourite melodies in Star Trek: TNG (note: HUGE Trekkie here) and I had transcribed it ages ago and played it on recorder (vaguely) for a time. When I got my first pennywhistle, this was the first thing I ever played on it. I just had to play it on the “right” instrument!
I had no idea it wasn’t playable. I figured Patrick Stewart didn’t play it (though they did teach him SOME of the right fingerings for the melody), but I didn’t know the instrument wasn’t actually functioning.
Which brings to mind the next question…so what pennywhistle DID they use for the soundtrack? lol
One more comment on Oak whistles, and I’ll leave ya alone.
Of all my “cheapy” whistles (i.e. < $15.00 USD), my Oak is one that really shines. Tone is pure but with some bite, nice chiff popping in between notes, easy high notes, decent volume without being overpowering, well in tune, just a really great whistle.
The catch is that you have to play it till it gets warmed up…say, five minutes, before the 2nd octave really gets pure and lovely. Until it’s warmed up, if you push the 2nd octave too hard, it will buzzsaw and vibrate your teeth.
Also the more you play it, the more dried gunge (i.e. spit) accumulates in the fipple and bore, the better it plays.
Of all the whistles I’ve tried (even a couple more expensive models), the Oak has still been on the top as my favourite. But I have noticed that it’s one of the ones that really needs to get warmed up. At first, the low notes just sound kinda groggy and the upper octave does definitely buzz (and forget the high D…OUCH). But once it does, it has a beautiful tone and I haven’t found one better in my price range yet!
Another whistle appears on Star Trek: DS 9 in the episode “Playing God”. It is offered to Chief O’Brien as a “secret weapon” against cardassian voles, rat-like creatures that are plaguing the station and gnawing through all sorts of important technology. It looks like an Overton clone - aluminum, cylindrical, square head. Size approximately a C or Bb, but it has 7 holes on the front (the back isn’t shown at all, so it might even have a thumb hole). 7th hole not offset. It has a very nice case, but isn’t played at all. Unfortunately I don’t have the equipment to capture a still image from the DVD.
Seems to be the common problem of all metal-bodied whistles. My Oak, my Generations, my Syn, and most especially my Serpent F all need a while to warm up. Sweetones seem to suffer a lot less here.
But polymer whistles like the Dixon suffer less - it happens, but I’ve played the Dixon outdoors in sub-freezing weather for half an hour. As long as I shook it out after every couple of tunes it was OK. My Serpent Brassy Polly is weird - it just won’t clog, even when enough condensation is dripping out the end that I need to play it over a towel (an experiment to see if it could clog).
You could trace the image from the TV into drafting paper, then use a square grid to reduce it to a more manageable size. Then color it (watercolors are nice) and scan.
