Post by xindi on Aug 5, 2011 23:14:12 GMT
Well I don't know how many threads we have on cracked wooden flutes....mould on flutes ....etc particularly with outdoor playing or where there is high humidity and temperature differences in the environment and player's breath.
Over the past year, I've been wondering about modern polymers and plastics. So happened, I bumped into a guy called Francois de Villiers on another forum. Here's his website:
sites.google.com/site/modernethnicflutes/home
Francois makes Irish whistles; recorders, xiao, quenas (Southern American); shakuhachis (Japanese) all from modern polymers and PVC materials. I was pretty surprised to receive these in the post for review:
This is a copper orange quenacho in the key of D (for the chinese system, this would be the same as a low G key flute I think).
![]()
farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5919454627_e1a96c5cee_b.jpg[/img]
The white flutes on either side, are a xiao type flute and a shakuhachi flute:
The shakuhachi has a very subtle embouchure/notch:
![]()
farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5920016644_99662655fb_b.jpg [/img]
These are all modern plastic flutes - so they're perfect for playing outdoors. I must confess I have neglected to play my xiao flutes for some months before these arrived, so I'll have to start up again.
What struck me ...was that these are one piece flutes with exceptional tuning accuracy across the octaves - I check with my chromatic tuners and I'm very impressed. I was rather surprised to find myself reaching 5.. (two dots above) - 7.. (two dots above) with these flutes first go.
Generally xiao playing is much more challenging for dizi players, whistle players, or standard flute players. I wouldn't recommend a xiao as a first wind instrument to a 8 year old kid, but if you have some flute skills, this is a fascinating instrument at a great price to get started with practising on - without the fear of cracking it within a week, or developing mould and other problems.
I'll post a review up when my microphone finally arrives so that i can try and upload some sound clips!
Over the past year, I've been wondering about modern polymers and plastics. So happened, I bumped into a guy called Francois de Villiers on another forum. Here's his website:
sites.google.com/site/modernethnicflutes/home
Francois makes Irish whistles; recorders, xiao, quenas (Southern American); shakuhachis (Japanese) all from modern polymers and PVC materials. I was pretty surprised to receive these in the post for review:
This is a copper orange quenacho in the key of D (for the chinese system, this would be the same as a low G key flute I think).
The white flutes on either side, are a xiao type flute and a shakuhachi flute:
The shakuhachi has a very subtle embouchure/notch:
These are all modern plastic flutes - so they're perfect for playing outdoors. I must confess I have neglected to play my xiao flutes for some months before these arrived, so I'll have to start up again.
What struck me ...was that these are one piece flutes with exceptional tuning accuracy across the octaves - I check with my chromatic tuners and I'm very impressed. I was rather surprised to find myself reaching 5.. (two dots above) - 7.. (two dots above) with these flutes first go.
Generally xiao playing is much more challenging for dizi players, whistle players, or standard flute players. I wouldn't recommend a xiao as a first wind instrument to a 8 year old kid, but if you have some flute skills, this is a fascinating instrument at a great price to get started with practising on - without the fear of cracking it within a week, or developing mould and other problems.
I'll post a review up when my microphone finally arrives so that i can try and upload some sound clips!
