Unknown keyed flute in Brazil (Help needed)

Irish Flute
1

Hullo all, folks.

I was browsing an auction site here in Brazil - which is affiliated with Ebay - when I found this http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-64224121-_JM .
The seller says it is a “Baroque English flute” but I’m positive he has no idea of what he is selling.
Is it one of those French 5-key flutes, which people nowadays use for Charanga music? It seems to be small-holed. So, if any of you is familiar with the flute design to properly identify it, I would appreciate.
Anyway, the “Buy Now” price is R$250, which converts to more or less US$125. A bargain for sure.

Thanks for the help.

2

Hi,
Defiantly a French flute, hard to say who made it. These flutes usually have a pretty good stretch on the upper notes. Probably has metal lined sockets.
With the short foot it should have pretty good volume, for the little tone holes. Can’t beat the price…
:party:

3

Bruno,

Buy it!

At that price its totally worth it.

Old french tend to be rather in tune.

I have a French that I brought back to life and I can really get a lot of sound out of it. They will play sweet but you how much “Irish” honk you get out of it depends on how you blow it.

If you end up not liking it you can sell it on eBay for much more than that or to Jem for about ten times that.


(waves at Jem ) :smiley: :wink: :slight_smile:

4

“Not waving but drowning”, Peri!!! :smiley:

Nice enough looking, definitely (defiantly, Jon?) French. I second most of the comments above, with one caveat: some French flutes like this are at a lower pitch, cA=435Hz. Most of them will play OK at A440, but if it is low pitch, you won’t be able to sharpen it enough. Given its apparently ready-to-play condition, it seems likely it will play at modern pitch, and small holes notwithstanding, these are not quiet flutes, but you will need to use vented key fingerings, especially for F#. Yes, it is the kind favoured for Charanga. As they’ve all said, it’s a good price.

5

Thanks, people.
Jem, what do you mean with vented fingerings? Like I HAVE TO let the Eb open in order for the E and F# to come in tune?

6

I don’t.

I cant do rolls on the lower hand if I do try to vent.

I doesn’t seem to make THAT much difference.

Of course there is some difference.

Personal preference.

I can blow it in tune close enough.

I imagine its dependent on the flute, though you’ll probably be fine not doing it.

Its nice having an Eb key.

Buy that flute!



I play silver flute too though and you do have to vent with your pinky.

So its not like I can’t do it. :wink:

7

Bruno, yes, that is more-or-less what I meant. More that you’ll almost certainly need to vent the F key for F#, which will be very flat. As
Aanvil says, it varies from flute to flute, and you can get away without it on fast passing notes and in ornaments, but anything sustained of emphasised and it will show. The E too may be flat and weak without venting (opening) the Eb key and other fingerings would normally have the Eb key held open much as on Boehm flute. Have a look at some C19th fingering charts - French ones would be a good idea! I think there may be something on Rick Wilson’s site www.oldflutes.com or here for specifically charanga fingerings, though as they move the stopper to facilitate altissimo sounds and possibly doctor the flutes in other ways, their fingerings may vary from what the French classical players of the same flutes would have advocated in some details.