F# Contrabass (Long Ago, Deep Within) - Native American Flute in a Tunnel, 2 (2 of 4)

(2008-9-7) Look out - it's the low, low laminated birch & black walnut F# contrabass flute from High Spirits filling the tunnel space with its deep, mellow, and resonant sounds. This is the first of two slow improvisations I did today. Hope it does something good for you!

This tune is now called "Long Ago, Deep Within." It's included on my new CD, "Under Watchful Skies." Find it here:

My website: http://www.allenbruceray.com

High Spirits flutes:
http://www.highspirits.com

The flute itself is made of laminated birch, and the mouthpiece, block, and decorative foot end ring are black walnut. Here are the dimensions:

Length: 36" exactly
Inner bore diameter: 2"
Mouthpiece to back of SAC exit hole: 5-1/8"
SAC exit hole dimensions: 5/8" square
Mouthpiece to wall (back of TSH): 6-9/16"
TSH: 5/16" front-to-back, 11/16" side-to-side

Hole diameters, top to bottom (north to south):
#1: 9/16"
#2: 9/16"
#3: 7/16"
#4: 7/16"
#5: 3/8"
#6: 5/16"

Hole spacing from wall (back of TSH) to center of each hole:

#1: 8-13/16"
#2: 10-11/32"
#3: 11-25/32"
#4: 13-11/16"
#5: 15-3/16"
#6: 16-5/8"

Mouthpiece hole diameter: 9/16"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Native
• American
• flute
• High
• Spirits
• Odell
• Borg
• contra
• bass
• F#
• laminated
• birch
• walnut
• Dong-myeon
• tunnel
• Chuncheon
• Korea
• Allen
• Bruce
• Ray

[DesertSmeagle]

is there a name for this style of flute? id realalllyy like to learn how to play one.

[piriajeoshi]

@DesertSmeagle It's a Native American-style flute, thogh this one is a bit non-standard, to say the least! Most commonly, they're much smaller and play pitches that occupy mid-range keys of F#, G, and A. They're actually not difficult to play at all, though this particular giant can be something of a bear to get your hands around. I encourage you to look around for one that suits you. I don't recommend starting with one of these behemoths, though! Baby steps....

[hipepleful]

is it bigger than an oboe?

[piriajeoshi]

@hipepleful Yes, it is. In fact, it is much, much bigger.

[coyotecrow4]

How's the stretch on that? I.E. do you need bigger hands? Probably takes quite a bit of air too, huh?

[piriajeoshi]

@coyotecrow4 Yes on all counts. It's 36" long, & the outside diameter is over 2", so even though I have fairly large hands, they start to cramp up after 5 minutes. To deal with the bigger air requirement, simply plan the phrases a few seconds in advance so that you can breathe more frequently. These flutes are not meant to be played fast. The point is to allow each note its own space to sound long & clear. That's the best way to capture the overall sonority that they provide.

[piriajeoshi]

@MrChinesespecial Um, no. Definitely for real. Nothing at all FAKE about it.

[djhogan65]

Stunningly beautiful. Haunting and soulful. I am definately going to get one of these flutes. Thank you for sharing your beautiful hobby with us.

[themeleed]

You should play the last of the Mohicans theme on it.

[lazzzy]

This huge flute reminds me of a book I read for an Anthropology class called The Forest People by Colin Turnbull and the had a dance with something that conjures the image of this flute called the molimo. You should read it, great book.

[Royalmerc]

Great stuff ! :)

[zebanon5]

@hipepleful I play oboe and native flute, and I just held up my G flute to my oboe and it is shorter than my oboe with the reed in. The inside diameter is a little bigger than the inside diameter of the joint for the bell of the oboe.

Jon Romer is a professor of music in Minnesota and has done a lot to keep the tradition alive on reservations and other native communities too. If you youtube him you should find some vids of a G size flute.

[JasonKelly4]

Vibrations our souls yearn for, very peaceful, makes me think of how negative I feel when listening to mainstream music

[Uvisir]

just wow

[86Alofur]

@DesertSmeagle The name of american fute is SIYOTANKA

(SIYO-VOICE and TANKA-SPIRIT); so Voice of spirit.

They are so spiritual people and they had a spiritual thoughts with spiritual events also the sound of lakotah language.

[RedEyedDragoon]

I dont know why, but the sound of that flute its so beautiful that it made me cry