|
  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Stage and Studio Flutes
These flutes are designed for performance, be it live where a louder than normal flute is required, or for recording where a windless flute is often needed. The air flow and voicing system in the Stage flutes is such that they can be played relatively quietly, but are able to take as much breath through them as can be mustered, and still produce clear on-key notes across an octave plus range. Ideal for playing in the open air, at ceremonies, on stage or at gatherings around the tipi fire. For Studio flutes the emphasis is on clarity and controlled beathiness... there is a world of difference between a husky, breathy sounding flute and a windy one where note clarity is easily lost!
These flutes are usually made of hardwoods such as Walnut, Sycamore, Ash, Beech or Maple as these withstand travel and handling better than the softer cedars, but this is not a rule. That said, they can be voiced to sound like cedar flutes, or left with their own inimitable tonal qualities. Those that I do make of Western Red Cedar are voiced to give a strong traditional, rather breathy but harmonic rich sound (there is a sound clip on the Hear the Flutes page). Regardless of the volume in these flutes, they will still respond to a light breath, making it easy to produce 'falling' or 'die-away' notes; at the other end of the scale, they can be made to 'bark' and 'tu-k-tu-k' very impressively.
|
|
|
|
|
While the Studio flutes are specifically designed for recording, the Stage flutes are also good for miked work and have been developed in consultation with experienced performing musicians. The front 'nose' (the area of the nest floor in front of the sound hole) is deliberately long to accommodate a mini-microphone.
|
|
Virginian Flame Maple stage flute in Em with walnut Heron block; a beautiful 'heavy-duty' flute which will play very loudly and clearly, but also very quietly with a lovely sweet voice and the ability to 'bark' on command!
Top left: A Spalted Beech Gathering flute made for use at Druid Ceremonies. The custom 7-hole tuning gave a flute that would play the keys of Em, Dm, Emaj, Dmaj, Fmaj and Gmaj! |
 |
The blocks for these flutes are also specially designed. The Stage flutes have chimney fronted blocks to minimise air disturbances across the soundhole, while Studio flutes have specially designed blocks to help microphone placement and at the same time ensure 'clear-note' sound without stray wind problems.
 |
|
The above flute on stage.
Click on picture to enlarge, and on link below for more info.
Photo courtesy of RedRobin
(RedRobin Music) |
|
|
|
Please feel free to call or email if you would like any more details on the above flute range. And remember, this range can be customised to your own requirements.
|
|
 |
 |
The Owlhouse • Milford • Surrey • UK • dc@secondvoiceflutes.co.uk
|
© Second Voice Flutes 2018 |
|
