German 6 key (close), M&E original, Hernon, Murray, German 8 key.
Last weekend I met up with Pär (Ojvoj) for a small informal session at a mutual friend’s party. It was also a great opportunity to try out Pär’s new Hernon flute and compare it with his Murray. This should not be regarded as a test or review as that would require a much more experienced player than me, and even if so it would still be down to one mans opinion.
I have been about to sell my old keyed flutes and buy a really good wooden keyless for some time and this was a good chance to test two of the main candidates before I decide what to get. I have always been a big fan of Murray flutes and if I hadn’t heard Pär raving about Marcus Hernon’s flutes it would probably be my first choice.
First I would like to say that both of these flutes are two very good and very well made flutes.
I have played Pär’s Murray a few times before and I have always been hoping that he would sell it one day, it’s fully lined and made in Blackwood. The Hernon is also a fully lined Blackwood flute with a lovely dark brown color. It will darken to black with age but I whish it would remain the way it is as it is truly beautiful color.
At first appearance they look very similar (except for the shape of the middle section). However, side by side the Hernon flute has a slightly shorter foot and the head is cut a little closer to the embouchure. I also believe that the Hernon flute has a slightly more conical bore than the Murray but I didn’t take any measures. Both have strict oval embouchures, angles seem similar but the blow hole on the Hernon flute is noticeably larger. The finger holes on the Hernon flute are slightly larger and the stretch is slightly less compared to the Murray. The weight is about the same and they are both very well balanced. The craftsmanship and general appearance of both these two flutes is excellent.
Playing the Hernon flute was an instructive experience. I had been playing my M&E and one of my old German flutes just before and the difference was striking. It is difficult to describe combined effects of sound characteristics, changes in tone and volume but my instant impression was that it felt so much more powerful. After playing the Hernon flute for a few tunes I switched to the Murray then back to the Hernon again and … so on.
Both these two flutes have a very nice dark projective tone but there are a few differences, some I think are related to the flutes and others to my own shortcomings as a player. The Murray is an easy player and it felt more forgiving than the Hernon flute and I felt more relaxed playing this flute. The Hernon felt like an easy player at first but when I tried to lean into it or to bring out something more than just playing along it felt much more demanding. I really had to concentrate on my lips and work hard to focus the air stream to get it going. As a result I had a tendency to run out of breath more easily when playing the Hernon compared to the Murray. On the other hand when I did get things right this flute really got some power and I can’t describe the joy I felt the few times I managed to get that hard “reedy” low D. And when it comes down to it, this is the difference between these to flute, in my opinion.
Both of these flutes have that dark colorful tone of what I would call a good session flute but the Hernon flute felt more powerful. If I would try to put words to the difference I would say that the Hernon flute has a dark “reedy” sound and the Murray a dark “hoovering” sound. Make any sence? I guess not.
(I will now try to elucidate on this, especially for you Cathy)
By a “reedy” low D I mean a vibrating tone with lots of harmonics and nonlinearities right on the edge of the flute limits, any thing more and the tone would be lost. “Hoovering” is similar and could also be regarded as a reed like sound in one sense but with more stable vibrations, not so close to collapse, like an oboe or bassoon. Hoovering feels more air bound, vibrating from a distance while “reedy” is more earthbound like a bagpipe or didge, vibrating from within.
did I make any sense?
So to summarize things I can say that in my opinion these are two very nice flutes and I’m certain you can’t go wrong with neither of these. When it comes down to sound characteristics these two flutes are quite similar, at least in comparison to my other flutes. But I guess it would be fair to say that the Hernon flute is definitely not a beginner’s flute.
On the other hand, starting on a very good but more demanding flute might make you a better flute player in the end.
I decided to get a Hernon flute but that was mainly based on the price difference and waiting time. Price differences aside, I might as well have chosen the Murray as it was so easy to play and would require less practice and more time for piping.
I heard Pär do some amazing stuff on his new flute and I hope he will put up some sound clips for the rest of you.
Cheers!
/MarcusR
