Are you’all weirdos? What’s going
on here?
[ This Message was edited by: jim stone on 2002-12-31 00:04 ]
With folks like Conal O’Grada and Harry Bradley hanging out here, I’m not the best qualified to answer, but with that disclaimer, I’ll take a stab at it anyway:
When you are talking about “thrashing” the flute, you are talking using a lot of air, playing with an intentionally “dirty” (harsh or unmusical) sound, and using powerful blasts of air to accentuate the beats and other points of interest in the tune.
Not all flutes will respond equally well to this, although on most flutes you can do it to at least some degree.
That’s what it means to me, and when I refer to the Seery as a flute that can be “thrashed,” that’s what I’m talking about.
I’m hoping someone else will jump in and provide a better / more exact definition though.
Best,
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
[quote]
When you are talking about “thrashing” the flute, you are talking using a lot of air, playing with an intentionally “dirty” (harsh or unmusical) sound, and using powerful blasts of air to accentuate the beats and other points of interest in the tune.<<
I don’t know about unmusical (that deepends I suppose on your own ideas of musicality and your own musical sensibilities) but that’s about the size of it.
I think it’s a lot to do with not splitting the air-stream over the embouchure at the ‘sweetest’ possible spot. It’s good fun, but not appropriate for all occasions!
Regards, Harry.
Much relieved. I had visions of
whips and leathers. I’ll give it
a try. Thanks.
On 2002-12-31 08:14, peeplj wrote:
you are talking using a lot of air, playing with an intentionally “dirty” (harsh or unmusical) sound, and using powerful blasts of air to accentuate the beats and other points of interest in the tune.
I’m still not very sure what the term “dirty” playing refers to. What you get from very good contemporary flute players who like to pulse and stuff is a very focused, loud blast. Often its a very dry sound too, quite different from some of the older recordings of geezers, which is not a focus tone. (because of bad flutes, etc) That’s what I associate with “dirty” playing.
Using powerful blasts of air to accentuate beats and points of interest sounds like what I would call “rhythmic” playing. Its usually rhythmic players who thrash the flute but some so-called “piper” styled fluters do it too. (eg. Molloy, Egan) To my knowledge people who play with a stereotypical Galway flute style i.e. very “flowy” are usually not flute thrashers.
[ This Message was edited by: Eldarion on 2002-12-31 23:02 ]
In my opinion one of the real masters of the “well thrashed flute” is Fintan Vallely.
If you have the Woodenflute Obsession CDs listen to track 12 on CD2 (Vallely: Miss Chalmer’s Reel/Brian Gibson’s Rockforest Reel) …he starts off thrashing the flute pretty hard on the first reel, then settles down a bit for the rest of the set. In particular notice the wide contrast in sound between the first reel and the second, even ignoring the rhythmic pulsing there is quite a difference in sound.
Best,
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
James, I just happened to notice you wrote your last response to this 11 minutes after midnight, New Year’s Eve. With all due respect, and tongue firmly in cheek, please get a life! 
Now, regarding thrashing, I hear exactly what you mean, a kinda controlled sloppiness. In this case, it almost seems as if the recording was so nice toward the end there, that he didn’t bother to redo the beginning. But I’m sure that’s not it…
Galway playing does go more for a stately and slower-paced flow, without the “thrashing” approach we’re describing. Galway playing’s a regional style I tend to like best, personally, but, played well, a tune with a good on-the-edge dirty feel can really make you stand up and take notice!
(BTW, I barely made it to midnight, myself, managed to sit through “Hook” with my 6 year old son and then watched the ball drop. Pretty pathetic, really, living here in NYC where I can hear the actual fireworks in Times Square over the TV…)
Best,
Gordon
[ This Message was edited by: Gordon on 2003-01-01 15:32 ]