Went to a recent Boys of the Lough concert and Cathal played a strange looking flute. It looked like it was brass with red stripes and had white on the ends. The embrochure was also almost half way down the instrument.
Anyone have a clue as to what it is?
Just curious.
Mike
When he’s not working he plays an average everyday sort of flute. When I see him anyway.
did it look like this?
if so, it was a Dizi, a Chinese transverse flute.
Maybe the red was tape! Seems like I read somewhere he plays an older Rudall flute that’s held together with tape. True?
Ah…sooo…that’s what it is then.
Thanks.
Err, does Chinese dizi tonguing involve licking the instrument???!
Gack.
Err, does Chinese dizi tonguing involve licking the instrument???!
I’ve actually known several “classical” flutists, including two that were absolutely remarkable, whose tongue was actually visible between their lips when they would articulate.
Still, I’ve never really known anybody who licked the flute. 
They do sometimes train little kids to find their embouchure placement by the “kiss and roll down” method, though. 
–James
yes, cathal plays a rudall/rose original
as he’s left-handed, he uses rubber bands to hold the keys down and reaches across with his fingers to activate the accidentals. It’s quite unique.
Don’t ask the serial numbers, as I don’t know. I’ve not had the time to inquire with him.
dm
Yeah, it’s not a psychadelic toad or anything. 