Flutes in Space

[Mr.Gumby]

Irish Times : Molloy's Flute to help Irish music breach the final frontier



Journalist being clueless, mostly when providing caption for pic.

[MTGuru]

Neato. But that photo can't be right, can it?

[benhall.1]

I wonder where on earth (pun not intended) that story came from? Reading between the lines, I would surmise that:

* Matt Molloy didn't give her his flute
* That isn't Matt Molloy's flute
* She's holding it weird. Can she actually play?

The whole thing is a bit weird to me.

[Mr.Gumby]

The story is all over the news. Bucks of Oranmore soundclip in the nine O'clock news (on radio) and all. Despite the impression the photo gives, it's the e-flat flute from the black album that's going up.

[MTGuru]

I suppose Ireland can use a "feel good" story right about now ...

[benhall.1]

Was it Molloy's agent, do you think, who had the idea? I'm finding the story as reported hard to believe. Mind you, that could be because of that dreadful picture. It's kind of coloured it for me.

[Cathy Wilde]

Wild. I'll be curious to see what zero gravity does to wood. I think I would've given her a Delrin one, myself. But I'm not as generous.

BTW, as to her position -- she could have been either putting the flute up to her lip or taking it down. Nice Boehm flute, that. And what an interesting story! I can hear the news report bump now:
"In space, no one can hear you scream. Or can they? That's what NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman's about to find out."

[benhall.1]

Interesting following the same thread over on the session.org. Some differences, as one might expect, but some of the themes are the same ...

[chas]

* She's holding it weird. Can she actually play?

Here's a better pic:

[jemtheflute]

Well, I read the article. It seems to me to explain adequately, save about what flute is pictured. She clearly does know what she's at, and as Cat says, is holding the flute quite normally and correctly with her hands, just not up in playing position against her face, though perhaps the camera angle makes it look a little unnatural - photographer probably asked her to move it off her face for the shot. Why the fuss?

[Denny]

Why the fuss?

new here?

that's what we do

[eskin]

So, what's the Oxygen/Nitrogen composition on the space station and how will it effect the intonation of the instrument?

[benhall.1]

So, what's the Oxygen/Nitrogen composition on the space station and how will it effect the intonation of the instrument?

I think they should take you up with them so that you can report back to us, Michael.

[LorenzoFlute]

It's crazy to bring a famous and old wooden flute in space...

[Denny]

you have never been confined to a small area for a long time