What sort of flutes (whistles?) are played here?

[Buraqina]

Hi all,

Can anyone please help me to identify or at least hazard a guess at what kind of flutes are used in the music from one of my favourite video games "Okami"?

Some of it sounds like Irish Whistle, but since I'm not very familiar with how any flute other than the NAF sounds like, I'm guessing blindly here. Also since the game is set in Japan and is in a very traditional style I'd guess at Shakuhachi on some of the other tracks, but I really haven't a clue! I'd really like to know as I adore the music and would love to be able to play some of it

I can't direct link to the files as they aren't mine, but here are the links to them...at the top of each page is a "To begin downloading this file, click here" so you can download them or listen to them from there.

These ones are the Irish Whistle-y sounding ones.
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/34
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/48 (sorry this one's a bit cut off, it's just the second part of the song demonstrates the flute used much better than the first)
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/74
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/166
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/182

These ones are much more bamboo flute/Shakuhachi sounding.
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/111
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/159
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/169 (has both flutes on)
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/7104/173

Thanks very much for any help you can offer, it is much appreciated!

~ Laura

[dDave]

Howdy,

Sounds like some shino-bue, sometimes just called fue. Sideblown bamboo flute. The deeper flute almost sounds like some sort of Chinese flute, but it could be Shakuhachi.

Google any of those for more info.

Best,

Dave

[Yuri]

I hate sounding like a killjoy, but I personally think it's all electronic.
I also truly sincerelly hope I'm wrong.

[swizzlestick]

I hate sounding like a killjoy, but I personally think it's all electronic.
I also truly sincerelly hope I'm wrong.

I also would bet that it's electronic. That said, the samples I listened to would sound good on a whistle.

Probably better.

[Cron-Z]

*WOO, Okami Mention!!!... my g/f would be thrilled!*

It's Chinese or Japanese Flute. Most tracks were recorded with traditional chinese or japanese musicians with minimal sampling.

[Tim2723]

If I had to bet my money, I'd have bet they were synthetic. Very nice, but I'm not entirely convinced they aren't synthetic. Perhaps sampled from the real thing though.

[Cron-Z]

Me and my g/f saw the "making-of" of the game. Most instruments/tracks are with real musicians and real instruments. Clover wanted to have an authentic/traditional feel to the music.

[Buraqina]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts all. An interesting range of replies