…have just begun: I just got off the phone with Patrick Olwell - my flute will be ready in 2 weeks.
(Drooling like Homer Simpson)
Oh, Sweet Cocus Pratten with the Silver lined headjoint and tuning slide, come to papa…Aaahhhhh (drool)
Loren
[ This Message was edited by: Loren on 2002-05-24 12:39 ]
Chris whispers hypnotically, “This is not the flute you’re looking for.”
Loren - “This is not the flute I’m looking for.”
Chris - “You want to give the flute to me.”
Loren - “I want to give the flute to you.”
Chris - “You also want to give me all your whistles.”
Loren - “I also want to give you all my whistles.”
Chris - “You are madly in love with Bob Sagat.”
Loren - “I am madly in love with Bob Sagat.”
Chris - “Good. Now move along.”
Way to go, Chris…keep up the pressure.
Hey Loren,
Is that building contractor 2 weeks or regular time two weeks?
“Yeah, wees can have that garage done real quick like”
“How quick is that?” I ask.
“Two weeks”
That was in March!
Mark V
Loren!
So you finally broke down and called him, huh? And you didn’t even ask about my low Bb? So much for teamwork. Adam Smith was right that Flute players act first and foremost in their own best interest.
Cocus? that is going to be fabulous.
Siiiggghhhh… reading this message board is going to run me into premature bankruptcy… hey that may be a way to get out of my student loans!
This is a little off the topic for this thread but why cocus? Not that I’m criticizing, I personally find instruments made of brown woods (cocus, mopane, cooktown ironwood, etc.) very attractive but are there any additional benefits to cocus? I realize that was the wood of choice before it started running out but, other than the colour, what difference does it have from blackwood?
Thanks,
Wes Hamlyn
Hey Wes:
Good question. I’ll bet there are a lot of opinions about this, but here’s my take. Mostly the material isn’t as important as the craftwork of the flute–a great flute in rosewood sounds much better than a reasonable flute in cocus…but
The allure of a near-extinct wood. Makes the flute more…upscale? more colectible? More special?
I’ve played 2 cocus wood flutes and my current Rudall & Rose is a dandy flute, but even after 150 years the wood is as dark as blackwood, but it does not carry across continents as well as my blackwood Olwell did (it swells and shrinks more noticibly). I tend to feel that blackwood is more dark in tone, where as the rosewoods, including cocus are a bit brighter.
Chris,
Give it up man, you’re pathetic! Wait your turn on the list like everyone else and be happy Patrick’s waiting list is so short…at least for keyless flutes.
Mark,
Let’s hope it’s not contractor weeks! Actually, I need some time to raise the money for the balance of what I owe on the flute anyway, so it’s just as well.
G.,
Puh-leeese (Rolling eyes) - you talk to Pat waaay more than I do. Like I’m going to have any sympathy for the likes of you, one of the chosen few who actually have Pat’s top secret e-mail address. Hmph. Pick up any good tea lately, hmmm?
Wes,
Why did I choose Cocus? Well, first (although not most important) I love the look of a good piece of Cocus - I have a Cocus whistle that is the most beautiful whistle I’ve ever seen, at least to my eyes. Blackwood seems rather boring to me, from a visual standpoint.
The more important reason I went with Cocus for my Olwell is that I’ve always wanted to try a Cocus flute, but have never had the opportunity. I really want to see what it sounds like.
A number of the top players like Egan, Crawford and Doorley choose Cocus for their flutes (and we’re not talking old R&R’s, we’re talking Olwells and Grinters), must be some reason for this, eh? I have an idea what the sound differences between Blackwood and Cocus may be, but I hate it when people say “I haven’t actually played item xyz, but I think…” so I’m not going to do that here, I’ll just keep my mouth shut until I actually get my hands on this Olwell. However, I will pass on the comments of others: Patrick Olwell described the sound of Cocus as being more “Glassy” when compared to Blackwood. I have heard from a reliable source that Kevin Crawford commented that he feels Cocus produces a smoother sound than Blackwood, and having switched to Cocus, he feels he could never go back to blackwood.
Ideally I’d play Blackwood and Cocus Olwells side by side before making a final choice, but that’s not really an option since I can’t afford a roundtrip plane ticket to visit Pat’s shop for a side by side comparison. So, I’m going to live on the edge and go for the Cocus while Patrick has some good quality pieces for me in stock - Cocus is hard to find these days, and instrument grade pieces (that meet Patrick’s High standards) are few and far between any more - availablilty is spotty at best.
I did, by the way, ask Patrick for Cocus at the time I placed my order a year ago, so I wouldn’t expect you could just call him up a couple of months or days before your flute is due and expect him to accomodate a change in your order from Blackwood to Cocus. In fact, when I first contacted him to place my order, Patrick told me he couldn’t promise he’d be able to make my flute from Cocus as all the Cocus he had on hand at that point was spoken for - Pat reserves the very best Cocus for keyed flutes.
It should also be noted that, as G. mentioned, Cocus is said to be somewhat less stable than Blackwood - I hear it is more likely to crack early on if not cared for properly. I’ve decided that, for me at least, it’s worth the risk, now let’s just hope I’m not allergic to Cocus…
Loren
[ This Message was edited by: Loren on 2002-05-27 09:48 ]
G and Loren:
Thanks for the input! I hate to say it but an Olwell, be it cocus or blackwood, is just the little bit above my price range that would force me back on the instant mac 'n cheese diet (see student loan comment in my previous post). Trust me, nobody wants that.
I did see Conal O’Grada playing what was allegedly a Hamilton flute in cocus… very impressive. I realize that about 99% of the sound was probably Conal but what a beautiful looking instrument!
Thanks again for the input and be sure to let us know when the Olwell arrives… like you need to be reminded! 
Wes
Wes,
Wow, you can actually afford Macaroni and Cheese?!? You’re living the high life! I’m living on stone soup and fighting my dog for the bones he’s scavenged from the neighborhood garbage cans…but hey, I want that Cocus Olwell REALLY bad, and let me tell you, the dog is getting scared…
Loren
\
“The truth knocks on the door, and you say, ‘Go away, I’m looking for the truth,’ and so it goes away. Puzzling.” --Robert M. Pirsig, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”
[ This Message was edited by: Loren on 2002-05-27 17:48 ]
Loren,
… and here I was all this time thinking that I was the only one with their priorities straight! The only other person that came remotely close was this piper I met who was living in his car. The only place he could find to practice was a WWI gun battery! Darndest thing I ever saw, out for a nice little hike, I hear this godawful “noise” (keep in mind I’m enjoying a peaceful hike by the ocean), I round a bend and here’s this guy sitting on a cement block playing the pipes…
He ALMOST had his priorities straight, he did after all own a car! Last I heard he was heading to France because he liked the women…
Wes
Loren you punk! Pat called me today. My flute will be at my door in the few days. 
Wes,
Ahh, the women in France…perhaps I’ll stow away on a ship after my Olwell arrives
Chris,
Who you calling punk, punk? Sure you’ll have your Olwell before me, but that’s only because Patrick is sending you the one I turned down! Ha!
Loren
Chris and Loren:
Pat hand-carried my flute over to China today. Loren, since you’re my pal…I asked him not to forget your flute and he said" oh man! I forgot that was for him and sent it to a guy named Chris…guess Loren can wait a few more months while I rough out the Cocus."
Loren - In all truth, you’re probably right. No cocus for me, and no split sections, but that’s allright. Pat was telling me he’s worried about your flute because it turns out the cocus has a big knot in it. No, just joking. Anyways, we’re both getting our Olwells. It’s awesome. I’m psyched. You’re psyched. Someday, when we actually get to meet I’ll give that cocus flute of yours a go and see just have good it is. You’re a fortunate man to be getting that thing and I most certainly do not hold it against you one bit!
Let me know when you get it, and maybe we can swap some tunes over the phone.
Your pal,
Chris
One last note. If anyone is in the Nellysford, VA area the weekend of the 15th, it is Patrick Olwell’s 50th birthday and his son Matthew’s 21st birthday. They are having a big music party that night, and I believe it is open invitation. Give him a call for details. I’ll probably be there for the latter part of it
Best,
Chris
Chris/ Loren/ Wes
Wes was correct when he said I played a Hammilton Cocus…its span new and I am really delira with it. I have always played cocus flutes (even my old R&R is made from cocus) so maybe its a nostalgia thing for me that I got Hammy to make the new flute from cocus. I find that cocus is that bit more responsive in that you can get subtle tonal variations with minimum effort. It also looks great when new…a lovely rusty color.
Good luck with the Olwells lads. I met Pat in April and played a selection of his flutes, each better than the next. The one that really took my fancy was a Ruddal model made from boxwood…an out and out beauty!
Beir Bua
Conal
http://www.scoiltrad.com
..the virtual music school
G/ Chris/ Loren/ & Conal,
I just sent a deposit to Hammy Hamilton for one of his keyless flutes in, you guessed it, cocus (at this stage in my life I couldn’t justify the extra cost of an Olwell, maybe in a few years when I’m looking for a keyed flute). I already know a couple of people with Hammy’s flutes in blackwood, very impressive instruments both in sound and workmanship, and I imagine that a cocus instrument would be no less pleasing to the eyes or ears.
Conal, I think you hit my curiousity with cocus right on the nose when you mentioned “nostalgia”. The fact that many of the 19th century concert flutes were made of cocus adds more than a little to its attraction, it’s kind of like being in touch with the past or keeping a tradition going. I’m not sure how to really put it in words, but then knowing the folks who frequent this forum I probably don’t have to.
I already have one flute that I’m only so-so pleased with (a few pics at http://www.angelfire.com/nf/weston), I figure why not go all the way this time? Thanks for all the input, only six months and counting…
Wes
Good choice, Wes. I’m sure you’ll have a great flute there. Play it for us when it arrives!
Conal,
I keep hearing about that Boxwood Olwell (not from Patrick), everyone says it’s to die for! I don’t suppose anyone has a picture of this beast?
Hey Chris, you’re going to Pat’s Birthday party, take a few pictures for us will ya? Although I doubt the Boxwood flute would be there, it would be cool to see some pictures from the bash. Wish I could be there 
Loren