Judging from the recent crop of quena topics on this and the flute forum, I’m not the only quena fan here. However, I’m not a fan of the thumbhole…I prefer whistle fingering.
So, who’s going to start making the Whistleplayer’s Quena?
Bamboo would be ideal, but PVC would be alright, too. How about offering them in low G, F, and D?
“Kits” could be fun too…receive a tube with properly placed tone holes, but carve your own notch.
Have you thought about sending your idea to Erik the Flutemaker? Very nice fellow and his flutes are amazing. I wouldn’t be surprised if he agreed to work on it.
One issue with a kit like that would be not only getting the notch the right shape, it would have to be the correct size to be in tune.
Rod
One issue with a kit like that would be not only getting the notch the right shape, it would have to be the correct size to be in tune.
True. The kit might appeal more to tweaker-types, realizing there’s an inherent risk.
Piper, Erik the Flutemaker was actually the first person who came to mind. He makes 7-hole quenas, and he makes 6 hole flutes…put them together, and the hybrid is born.
This website is interesting: http://www.fippless.org/Quena
(I hope people aren’t offended by a link to the anti-Chiff and Fipple, which celebrates the absence of fipples.)
Low D quenahachis are pretty fun and dead simple (for an OK one). Just make a notchy-type embouchure by holding the end of some 3/4 inch PVC against the sander (wear a dust mask!!!) and cut bits off the other end until it plays a D. Then cut toneholes according to Doug Tipple’s measurements.
This wil give you an instrument that plays almost 2 octaves, and if you’re good at undercutting toneholes, it might even be in tune.
I’ll take some pics, if anybody wants 'em.
I actually made a ‘quena-whistle’, and I found it very nice… but I never thought ther could be interest in such an instrument. If you’re interested, I’ll make them for you. (And I publish the DIY direction, of course.)