New Reviews

I have great news to report on a new CD from Ron Warren and a new flute from Dale Robertson.

The photo I have included here is of "Dusk Breathes" a low C branch flute from Dale Robertson. Dale contributes to a guild of sorts called Fallen Branch Tribe and their web site carries instruments that are mostly branch flutes made by 5 different flutemakers. Truly worth a look for some different ideas on NASF's.

This flute is made from Hazelnut wood, both bore and bird, and this is the only flute I have with a "round" sound hole. This hole is what the air passes over - just in front of the bird to resonate the notes we hear. This hole is really more oval shaped than round on this flute. The tone is a bit different from what I think of as a typical of a "rectangular" sound hole & it is very rich and beautiful. The most impressive thing about the flute beside its sound, in my opinion, is that Dale states that the only tools used are a knife and hand tools. This is #50 in what the flutemaker calls his Primitive Series. The flute has an easy reach for a low flute and is fun to play. As a bonus this flute also features a warble on the lowest or fundamental note.

I think my interest in branch flutes originates not just from their beauty but also from the traditional story of the flutes entrance into First Nation's culture. An example of this story is at
http://www.spottedeagle.com/flutes.htm
Douglas Spotted Eagle's website where he explains the power of a branch and of song...

I am not a music critic but I feel compelled to share my newest discovery. The great new CD in my player is titled Morning Star Evening Star by Ron Warren. Just released this summer on Blue Heron Music this is a two CD set featuring 35 tracks of flute, drums, and shakers in music that seems to be inspired by traditional rhythms and melody. Ron Warren was nominated for a NAMA award this year for his Dancing the Full Moon album which is also wonderful but this new work in Morning Star Evening Star will have you replaying tracks repeatedly as well as pondering how he makes the flute do some of the things it does here. Ron can make birds and animals emerge in your living room and the flute takes center stage while morphing sounds into what seems to be cello strings and even the human voice. The artist credits Colyn Petersen, Jim Gilliland, Ken Light, Geri Littlejohn, Jim Moorehouse, Brent Haines & Scott Loomis for the flutes featured on this album. They all sound wonderful and Ron's talents to compose and play really shine.

I love the rythmic drive of songs like Swinging on the Vines, and some of the very soothing songs on the second CD in the set. This music sounds great relaxing while going to bed and yet it sounds perfect in the car too while you are driving and need something auditory to focus on too. Nearly every track has me looking to grab a flute and try to play the embellishments and subtleties of Ron's musicianship. Very cool recording that takes you somewhere - check it out.
Ron Warren is also the host of the Potomac Flute Circle meetings most months and a teacher of music. Check out the Potomac Flute Circle at http://potomacflutecircle.net/
Ron's site is at http://www.ronwarren.net/ to order music or learn a great deal about flute playing.

That is it for today - have a great Labor Day next weekend and remember that WVNAF Circle meets Saturday, September 9th at the Community Arts Center from 1-3pm. We would love to see you there!

Other ventures into cyberspace

Pushing my limits in the web world (as a luddite seeking to get into this century) I have been using a few of the yahoo groups connected with the NAF and NASF. I have also successfully tried Paltalk at least once! Lets start with the yahoo groups.

Yahoo groups is pretty simple to use, even for someone who prefers to be outside playing music. Using your internet search engine you'll find the site and start the registration process. The task that may prove most difficult is finding a user name you can remember, as so many folks have already claimed the first several you think might sound good.

There really seems to be a number of very useful groups sharing sheet music that is in the common/public domain, techniques for flute making, and sharing their spiritual side of being involved in the flute. Anyone who would like a late night or Sunday discussion on the Native American Style Flute (NASF) will find something here. There is a great wealth of information.

The one bit of warning that I'll hand out which may not be obvious to all people but is on my mind of late is that not everyone feels the same way about the renaissance of this instrument called the Native American Flute. Some folks from the First Nations may be offended that other peoples are taking such great interest in their musical heritage and that non First Nations people may feel or assert any type of ownership of it. It is important to be sensitive to everyone's feelings and culture.

I claim no First Nations ancestry and do not claim anyone else's culture as my own. I do feel a great appreciation for this instrument called the NAF and the NASF and I love to play music on them. I feel very strongly that I found something very special that sounds good to me and makes me feel great. I have also seen first hand a sort of "magic" that draws people to this instrument and allows them an opportunity to express themselves in a good way. I play a number of modern flutes that are all Native American Style Flutes and from a number of makers, most of them not made by registered tribal members. All of these flute makers are very respectful of Native or First Nations culture and do not claim to be anything they are not.

I feel a big sense of gratitude and thankfulness to those out there who work with very pure intentions to see that more people share and learn about First Nations culture and history and to share this instrument with the larger world. Many folks are out on the web spreading the word in a good way and not claiming any kind of credit but giving thanks to the people who first brought us this instrument and respecting indigenous heritage. I have also seen folks do good things for the didge, its music and the people who brought us this instrument as well. They are giving back too and folks taking an interest in this type of music should on all levels keep this value set in mind.

So there are a number good groups to consider at Yahoo and I'll share the links here because I do not think it is terribly easy to navigate to them from elsewhere on your own. Another flutie shared them with me. (Thanks Sharon)

Basic NAF making group
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/basic_naf_making/
Spiritual side of flutes
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flutespirits2/
Mary Youngblood Group
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/MaryYoungblood/?yguid=192557703
Healing & NAF
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NAFhealingandhealth/
NAF music sharing
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/NAFMusic/?yguid=192557703
NAF music sharing also good
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeamericanflutemusicsheet/?yguid=192557703
The BIG, NAF style woodworking site run by a great guy and lots of posts
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeflutewoodworking/?yguid=192557703
Flute players group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nativeamericanfluteplayers/
Flute cirlce networking group
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/NAFcirclenetworking/?yguid=192557703

That is the short list - you'll spend an afternoon reading all of what you like in those sites. Several ask that you register with the administrator and that simply keeps their space uncluttered with spam.

My Paltalk experience offers mixed results. The product works most of the time - whenit does it is really fun. Sound streaming is very fast and I did not pay for the video upgrade due to the fact that it is about music, right?

So the basic flutemaking "chat room" is open Saturdays at 10am EDT and last week saw better than a dozen folks logging in and out for most of the hour. The easiest way to describe the Saturday morning experience is like a radio show or podcast about your favorite subject (assuming that is NAF) and complete with some playing and sharing of music. Very fun.

The difference is that along with listening you can and will type and talk (sort of like passing notes in class, or talking to your TV program) to participate in the program and ask questions or say hello to folks you recognize. Busy at first and I am not a brilliant typist either but I was successful in interacting with this national type, conference call on flutemaking. Overall I say "give it a try, pretty amazing stuff" for my none-to-professional review of the service.

You may choose to contact Keith at Cherrry Cows Flutes to get more involved with this Saturday project. Last week they talked about woods, wood care, flute finish, and had a Native history lesson among other topics. Very well done I think. A number of very knowledgeable contributors volunteering their time. Additionally, three moderators volunteer to facilitate a Monday version 8pm eastern time - worth the visit!

Next time some new flute & music commentary.
Next WVNAF Circle meeting is Saturday September 9th from 1-3pm at RCCAC (see first post for details)

August Meeting highlight

A short update on flute circle meeting this weekend.

Lots of great music and singing in City Park with perfect weather in Elkins for the Augusta Festival. The weather did not hurt the turnout at all. Did I mention that the morning low temperature was 58 degrees? While the "dog-days-of summer" are not my favorite time of year we have a climate here that is as good as it gets for the Appalachians.

The corn dog vendor was not there at the Augusta Festival, and I was a bit disappointed but that was my only thing to rant about this weekend.

We had a surprise guest at the circle meeting, Brad Young the flute maker behind 4 Winds Flutes. He and his wife drove over from the Shenandoah Valley to take in the festival and that gave me a chance to catch up with Brad and see some of the awesome new instruments he is working on. He would have played flute more if I were not peppering him with questions about all of his new projects. It was a very fun afternoon of playing and we finished late only to return to the city park and then take in a backyard barb-e-que. Great Day. In the future I hope we can get Brad back for a concert or trunk show for those looking for a great instrument - he makes them.

I'll try to attach an image to this report of a new flute Brad had done. While melody flutes are not new to Brad this styling is new. The Mid E flute is red cedar and yellowheart with beautiful grain patterns and a handcarved turtle on the fetish block. The button you see on the high side is removable and this gives the player a fantastic "warble" in the harmonics if they choose to have one. Very fun flute to play though it takes me some mental adjustment to play with both hands. I guess I need to learn more about walking and chewing gum at the same time.

Several bits of news to share about the flute circle:
Paltalk is a good resource for flute-ites that I have been looking into lately and Brad Young actually plays flute there so it is a chance to hear his music. Keith Stanford is someone who is starting to teach flute making classes there as well. Keith has published the Ki-e-ta Manual for the Making of the Native American Style Flute. From what I understand folks have been meeting virtually one evening a week for instruction and tip sharing. I am going to try to make the meeting this week and I'll share how that goes. Interesting way to meet new flute folks from all over the place.

A member of our circle would like to share that the Anniversary Celebration of their Medicine Wheel as well as the dedication of a new Peace Garden on August 26th and all are welcome.

Another great event is this Wednesday at the RCCAC - the facility where we meet. August 16 Rita Brockway and John Vaughan will be performing. Rita and John perform on Flute and guitar respectively and are not to be missed.

Our next meeting will be Saturday September 9th from 1-3 pm at the Randolph County Community Arts Center in Elkins. We should be back in the Great Hall for September and I hope to see you there.

Call to flute folks

Well I was living vicariously and surfing the web to see how INAFA went this year on the west coast... I read a call to arms that went up from the Northen California Flute Circle about Blogging. The claim was that it was easy to do and simpler than maintaining a web page for your flute circle.
Well since I could not fly out to California, I guess I have time to talk about our circle.

We are brand new this year and based in Elkins, West Virginia. We have had as many as 9 folks at a meeting including woodworkers, never evers and accomplished players so it is an exciting time to be in Elkins.
We meet the second Saturday of every month and I started this endeavor because one year of passionately pursing the flute has given me so much that I had to find a way to give back...
Leonard McGann told me to practice 10 minutes every day and those of you who know Leonard will appreciate - that this is where the trouble started (grin)
Leonard does not do web stuff much but his "flute fall inn" which is this year 10/20, 21, 22/06 is where I was first welcomed with open arms by the flute community and told "you CAN do this!" thanks folks - contact Leonard through the great directory at the bearded wolf website
http://www.beardedwolf.com/flutelinx.html#addresses

We (WVNAF Circle) meet at the Randolph County Community Arts Center - a great facility
http://www.randolpharts.org/
They are VERY supportive and the acoustics in this building are out of this world!
We also participate in a number of other sister circles that without their efforts we would not be here and so passionate about the music:
Potomac Flute Circle at www.potomacflutecircle.net
Maryland Flute Circle at www.beardedwolf.com/mdflutecircle.html
Northern Virginia Flute Circle LAKOTASPIRIT50@ADELPHIA.NET
International Native American Flute Association at www.worldflutes.org

The August meeting will be next weekend on Saturday the 12th and coincides with one of our cities favorite events, the Augusta Heritage Festival. The festival is the culmination of 5 weeks of adult education centered around folk and world music, dance and crafts. City park and the adjacent college campus will be a buzz of activity with concerts, dances, juried craft fair and of course corn dogs and home made ice cream as just a start. Don't miss the food booth just because you were listening to music!
http://www.augustaheritage.com/

We hope to have a few "traditional" instrument players drop in on our little circle to see what we are up to (grin) and we are always looking to make new friends. One of the hardest things to explain to someone about a flute circle is that you need not have a flute or play one to be there having fun.

Note to members that we will be meeting upstairs at the art center whenever the great hall is booked as it is this weekend.
Next week - details of this months meeting and maybe some more sharing of cool sites in the flute world.