Chiff and Fipple Forums

Even gets a original era case for it, just finished the red velvet interior.

Wow. I hope whichever relative Hank decides to bestow this on appreciates vintage flutes. You've done great work.

s1m0n wrote:Wow. I hope whichever relative Hank decides to bestow this on appreciates vintage flutes. You've done great work.

I'm going to take a few lessons so I can learn which hole to blow into and maybe do a simple Christmas tune before I commit to where it might go next. It really looks good, doesn't it. My mandolins will be jealous.

It looks great. IMO, God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen sounds really good on the flute, when you're starting out. It's at core a dance tune*, so it's still interesting without words, and it has a cast-iron, 1000 year old melody that fits well on a flute or whistle without awkward accidentals.

Simple system (6 hole) flutes and whistles play best in D, G, & A - 1 to 3 sharps. With a 4 key flute, you have more options, but it's usual to learn to play the holes before you learn to play the keys.

*A carol from the days when carol meant a round dance.

Congratulations and accolades, as usual, for Jon's work. They always look like new when he is finished with them.

kmag wrote: ... accolades, as usual, for Jon's work. They always look like new when he is finished with them.

He also did some nice work on the Klemm and Brothers Boxwood that Sillydill has for sale in another thread.

Best wishes.

Steve

Be patient with yourself on the Flute. Do not be disappointed if you can't make any sound for the first xxx number of weeks. It comes around, eventually. There is some physicality involved (breath, posture & finger strength), but it is the embouchure that takes time.

I came to flute from whistle, so I had the tunes and the fingering fairly solid. Still, my flute journey took six months before I could make decent quality notes, and another six before I gained some consistency.

I had personal embouchure instruction at two critical points (6 & 12 months) to correct and encourage proper tonal quality. For that a classical flute teacher is just fine.

Yeah. A lot of embouchure is muscle tone, and there's simply no rushing it. No amount of knowledge is going to shorten the process. It's one of the reasons why I recommended getting a whistle. The techniques transfer directly, and it'll bring you to pleasant music way faster.
The knowledge that you're banking tunes and technique that you'll be able to apply to your flute as soon as your embouchure comes round can keep you going through the frustrating months.

Wow. Flute and new old case arrived today via Priority Mail. Well packed and in good shape. The flute is great. Everything is polished. I can't find the old crack. New adjustable end cap. New pads. New thread on the tenons. The case is perfect. Nice size, even has the original key. Very appropriate case for a 170 year old flute that looks not a day over 39.

I put it together and wonder of wonders, was able to get actual semi-musical notes. Played a scale. I may need to work a bit on expanding my repertoire. I am really surprised that I got some nice sounding notes despite my never having played a flute before. It must be a nice flute to be that forgiving.

Some photos:






Thank you to all you folks who watched and recommended Jon Cornia to do the work.

Special thanks to Jon for such a nice job and careful craftsmanship.

edit: I just looked at the 'before' pictures and see that there were two cracks to be repaired. I can't find either one of them even though I know exactly where they were.