A few months ago I received my first flute. It is a Windward African Olivewood keyless flute. I can’t begin to describe what a joy it is to play this incredible instrument! It is not only rich and woody sounding but it is also just as beautiful to look at and feel. It is made out of a single contiguous piece of wood, where all the remarkable grains line up from the head joint to the foot.
I cannot begin to also describe how well Forbes and Yola Christie, the owners take care of their customers either. They are there for what ever you might need.
I have always felt that fine musical instruments are a good investment and this incredible flute is certainly nothing short of that. I was a little concerned about getting a less that “standard” type wood, but anyone that may be looking at purchasing something other than African Blackwood or Mopane should seriously consider this wood.
If you got your first flute just a few months ago, then I doubt you can judge it well enough, sorry…
How many other flutes have you tried? Did a more experienced flute player try your flute for more than one minute?
Not trying to be rude, please don’t get offended
The clips in my sig are on my Windward African Blackwood. They are not all that recent and I’m not the greatest player, but the clips are free of effects (i.e no reverb, etc.). I like mine enormously - the only future flute purchase plan that I currently have is a keyed body for the one I’ve got!..
The flute really benefits from lots of wind being pushed through it - my McGee GLP is much easier to play lazily but the tone can break down when I push it too hard. The Windward just gets louder and richer. One can play it lazily too, but why would you want to? (Don’t get me wrong, I like the GLP a lot too - especially when I’m feeling lazy, and/or it is a small, intimate gathering of musicians. And its got keys…)
Anyone who wanders out of their way to Hamburg can get in touch and maybe we can arrange a chance to try it out?
I have no serious problem with the first post, as the poster is forthright
that s/he is starting out. The reader has the info to put the review
in some perspective.
But I do think we should say something about ourselves and our background.
Not academic. In the past I’ve been influenced by reviews that turned
out to have little to do with the flute that I bought. E.G. the
Seth Gallagher flute was described as a ‘balls to the wall’ Pratten.
It isn’t. It’s more of a Nicholson, not a big powerful honker.
Played it for a couiple of years. 7 years in.
Windward flutes may indeed be great, but it helps if
rave reviews are introduced with a bit of context.
I can’t get any of the windward pages to load. Is anyone else having trouble?
Edited:
Ah, perhaps that’s it. Windward’s web designer appears to have opted to use mandatory Flash to cut down on traffic and disqualify potential customers. How, um, brilliant!
I tried out a few of Forbes Christie’s flutes when he was up at the CIAW last year, or was it the year before? Anyway, he makes a nice flute. Which is as far into a review as I’ll go. Of course, I’d say the same about Patrick Olwell or the anonymous employee(s) at the Rudall and Rose factory who made the flutes I own and play.
We want: a full biography (back at least two generations); a detailed analysis of yer first musical encounter, with a running dialog of any subsequent influences; a detailed list of all musical instruments that you have ever touched, further notes on those you attempted to sound, etc.; current photos; and clips of at least 3 (5 would be better) different types of Irish tunes.
On the up side, it matters not how horrid yer playing!
We should grant a waiver until two weeks after yer exams.
I’ll put in a word for ya! (it will not help)
( jesting , Forbes, just jesting )
