Replies: 2 Comments
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Posted by Bryan Gall Monday, May 12th Dear Romy, interesting that you are looking at these PO flutes. I've been making bamboo flutes for less than two years, so still under 250 flutes to date. I've found in my research that among professional players and makers, and I can name a few, there are those that swear by PO flutes and those that swear by yours. I did meet P at an Irish flute workshop (and handled the one bamboo flute he had. And, I was given an Eb, by a Thomas Stream Ohrstrom, maker and player, who knew P during his Rennaisance Fair days, here in Maryland. I do believe he used long noded Florida bamboo, totally immersed and soaked in Almond oil. I'm currently working on my second Anasazi flute. I have a Michael Graham Allen 2005 model to study. I've never handled one of yours, but in time I will own one. Bryan |
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Posted by Romy Monday, May 12th Well, my flutes are fundamentally different from Olwell's. At least 95% of mine are in minor scales, and that's just for starters. I'll never, ever *convert* a significant percentage of Olwell devotees and have no intention of trying, since that would entail switching to mostly major keys-- plus about a decade of hard work and targeted marketing. I have only so many decades of hard work remaining, and more important fish to fry. I've also never intended to assert or imply that my flutes are somehow "better" than Olwell's-- it's too much of an apples/oranges comparison. However, there are many, many other bamboo flutemakers about whom I hold no such reservations! (Not any of the dudes you've actually heard of, of course.) /diplomacy. Each spring I tell myself that THIS is the year to start making more major-key flutes in order to broaden their market appeal... but it never quite seems to happen. However, a customer who owns numerous Olwell flutes recently volunteered to send his best examples for evaluation, so that may provide some motivation in one way or another. Full report presently! Anyway, thanks for the comment, Bryan. Much more coming eventually on that whole tradition vs. stubborn quirkiness thang. And by the way, eternal gratitude is due to those rare bamboo flutists who are willing to switch from major to minor at least part-time. |