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03/23/2008: "New flute with Botswana connection"
Since completing that first flute with an utaguchi a few weeks ago I've been rather obsessed with the concept. Just finished two others: a six-hole A-minor alto and a seven-hole D major. The A alto has an acrylic utaguchi, but on the D major I tried something different:

Gemsbok1sm (67k image)

The utaguchi on this one is made of reportedly-sustainable gemsbok horn from a Botswana game park. Horn is one of the original materials used by the Japanese for shakuhachi utaguchi before the advent of synthetics, so it was fun to succeed in this first horn-utilizing attempt. Yep, it's an exceptional flute-- perhaps even the "best" D major I've ever made!

As for the seven holes, in addition to the typical six topside holes of a major-key flute this one has an added thumbhole for the minor seventh. It's a nice addition, and makes playing in the key of G major a snap, among other advantages. In fact it's long been my opinion that just about any simple (keyless) flute should have at least one thumbhole, which is just as advantageous on a major-key flute as it is on a minor.

So, anyone interested in checking this one out? --r.


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Replies: 4 Comments

Posted by Derek
Monday, March 24th

I'm game to check out perhaps the best D major you've ever made; although the six-hole A minor alto sounds quite interesting also. What do we do next?

Posted by rb
Monday, March 24th

Derek, shoot me an email if you haven't already... I can't get the link to your email address to work from where I am right now.

Posted by Mark Harnly
Wednesday, April 30th

Greetings,
Curious to find out if anyone has bought the D major yet. If you say it is the best, it must be fabulous!

Posted by Romy
Wednesday, April 30th

Mark, that flute escaped to Australia. I've been meaning to get to a couple more D majors, but it's always hard to force myself to make something so conventional.

[By "conventional," Romy means anything for which there's an actual demand. --sock puppet ed.]

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