flute clips

hans · Post by **hans** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:11 am

Well, after encouraging more posting of musical clips I thought I better follow my own advice. Results see links in my signature.

I invite comments and advice.

Listening to the clips I am most appalled by the sound of breathing coming through. I need to learn to breathe quietly. I have been told this a year or more ago and have apparently not made any progress.

I understand if anyone is disinclined to post any musical audio clips.
It is not an easy thing to do. The result may not be as you wish, most likely sounds less good than you wish. and the prospect of posting it to some space where you can't edit or remove the clip may be off-putting. It is for me, but I can upload to my own webspace. Don't know if I have the courage though in future. Depends on your reaction.

The jig Michael Gorman's Fancy I found in a German tunebook of Irish music. I have not heard it play by anyone. The other tune is a French valse.

Code: Select all

T:Michael Gorman's Fancy
R:jig
M:6/8
K:Em
c|"Em"BGE EFE|EFE E2B|"D"AFD DED|DFA d^cd|
"Em"BGE EDE|BAB "D"d2e|fdB AGF|1 "Em"GED E2:|2 "Em"GED E3||
"Em"eBe gfe|bge efe|"D"dAd fdf|afd def|
"Em"eBe gfe|bge efe|"G"B2B "D"AGF|"Em"GED E3|
"Em"eBe gfe|bge efe|"D"dAd fdf|afd def|
"G"g2g "D"aga|"Em"bag "D"f/g/af|gfe dBA|"Em"BGE E2||

Code: Select all

T:Valse à Gwenfol
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:Em
|: GF | E2 EF GE | B4 AB | cB Ae dc | Bc BA GF |
E2 EF GE | B4 AB | cB Ac BA | F4  :|
|: ef | gB Bg Bg | c4 ef | ge ag fe | ^d4 ef |
gB Bg Bg | c4 ef | ge ag f^d | e4 :|

rh · Post by rh » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:42 am

sounds quite nice. the second tune is the original source of Solas' "Crested Hens"?

maracirac · Post by **maracirac** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:49 am

hi hans , just for your information -french waltz is almost indentical with tune crested hens ( expecially second part), recorded by solas on one of their first albums( second?) i think that they said it is spanish tune. marin

hans · Post by **hans** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:06 am

I think I got Valse à Gwenfol from here:
http://termen.free.fr/danses/valses/index.html

hans · Post by **hans** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:31 am

Thanks for the info! Here is an abc version of Crested Hens:

Code: Select all

T:Poulles Houppees
T:Crested Hens
C:Gilles Chabenat
M:3/8
L:1/8
R:bouree
K:Edor
E3 | GFE | B3- | B Bc | dcB | edc | dcB | AGF |
E3 | GFE | B3- | B Bc | dcB | AGA |1 B3 | GFD :|2 B3- | B ef |:
K:Emin
gBB | ggB | c3- | c ef | gfa | gfe | ^d2 e- | e f2 |
gBB | ggB | c3- | c ef | gfa | gfd |1 e3 | eef :|2 e3 | GFA |]

Its attributed to French composer Gilles Chabenat,
and its a bouree in 3/8, not a valse.
Also the first part is in Edor, not Emin, making the C's sharp.

Great, I will play with this!

Tchie · Post by **Tchie** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:39 am

the valse in question is played by some artists.

I think you put too much flapping of fingers of ornamentation and your way to take a breath (quite too long) disturb the propre rhythm to danse for my taste.

it maybe played as an air but I think as a waltz is more beautiful.

I think it can be interesting to improve these things since you have already got quite nice sound.

Guinness · Post by **Guinness** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:56 am

I like it! In the first tune, avoid substituting rolls to accent the E note in the EFE triplet as this is difficult to execute and deleterious to the rhythm. Concentrate on the making the tune groove more like a jig. Yes the second tune sounds very much like Crested Hens.

hans · Post by **hans** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:25 am

Guinness wrote:I like it! In the first tune, avoid substituting rolls to accent the E note in the EFE triplet as this is difficult to execute and deleterious to the rhythm. Concentrate on the making the tune groove more like a jig.

Thanks! I don't think I used rolls, but cuts and tonguing. I will try using one or the other and not mix them, to make it smoother. Still I think some ornamentation or tonguing needs to be used to separate the low E's:
| BGE EFE | EFE E2B | and subsequent low D's AFD DED | DFA.

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:18 pm

Hi Hans,

I liked the clips, and especially your tone-very nice. What flute are you blowing into to make these lovely tones?

It might not be a hard Irish tone, but I like it!

PS There's nothing wrong with your deep breaths as heard on the clips-that's very normal-it shows you're alive, and actually adds to the tune being played!

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:37 pm

rh wrote:Hear my lousy fluting

http://jabinet.net/audio/knoco1a.mp3

Sounds pretty good to me Rob! That's definitely an Irish tone-good job!

Is that on your Burns?

rh · Post by rh » Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:01 pm

greenspiderweb wrote: Sounds pretty good to me Rob! That's definitely an Irish tone-good job!

Is that on your Burns?

that's it! the boxwood pratten. perfect flute for the lazy -- it does half the work for me. very forgiving.

thanks for the comment, i appreciate it. i think i need to tighten the lip a bit, i've been laying off for a couple of weeks... i hear all the fluffs pretty acutely.

roj · Post by **roj** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:23 pm

Valse a Gwenfol...what an enchanting tune. Now, I'm trying to figure out how to count in 3/8 time. yikes! Even with the clip I can't do it.

p.s. are you obtaining that D# by means of a key?.

hans · Post by **hans** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:46 am

Thanks for all your replies!
I play a eight key flute made by the English flute and bagpipe maker Dominic Allan.
Some pics are here: My Dominic Allan flute
His website: http://www.woodflutes.co.uk/

I absolutely love the ergonomic keywork he custom makes.
So yes, I use the Eb/D# key on Valse à Gwenfol.
I notice that the original "Poulles Houppees" (Crested Hens) has got only one D# note in the B part, not two as the Gwenfol version I play. roj, I just count 1-2-3, as for a waltz.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:25 am

hans,
nice playing - I love Crested Hens, and your waltz is equally nice...your tone is fine, sweet and full - I like it. I would suggest you to work a bit on your timing, i.e. by using a metronome.

rh,
nice playing, too - your flute has a nice buzz.

I also took a recording and added it to my signature. I'm happy to read your comments

I have to work on ornamentation timing quite a lot, but my metronome is lost and I can't afford a new one at the moment. Does anybody know a free metronome software for windows?
I also breathe too often for my liking. Need to tighten the embouchure.

Best,
G.

hans · Post by **hans** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:04 am

Free Metronome:
check out the Weird Metronome
Simple, free, uses midi sounds, programmable, great for any rhythmns.

Gabriel:
Great sound! I notice you speed up considerably in the B part of the flute piece. I don't think you breathe too much.

rh:
I like the sound you make on your flute too, great buzz!

Barry:
"It might not be a hard Irish tone, but I like it!" - Thanks!
Of course it is not the flute which gives the tone, but rather the player.
For more of an Irish sound listen to my friend Rory playing on my flute the air Death of Staker Wallace