Regarding the end blown nature of the Anaszai flutes, and my query about the exact design, which seems to be notchless on the artefacts, Mr michealpthompson and others relate the high degree of difficulty learning to play this type of tube initially. So I came across this writing about the discovery from Earl Morris the archaeologist, reprinted on flutopedia:
Quote:
The body was that of an old man, surely once a priest or chief. Beside the usual offerings of beads, baskets, and sandals, there lay above his buckskin wrapping a flute, one end beneath the chin, the other between the thighs. …
Along the left side was a mass of wooden objects, all readily perishable, hence extremely rare in perfect condition. Conspicuous among them were bone-tipped flint flakers with whch knives and projectile points were made, several spears, four handsomely wrought spear throwers, and three more flutes.
I picked up one of the flutes, shook the dust and mouse dung out of it, and placed it to my lips. The rich, quavering tones which rewarded even my unskilled touch seemed to electrify the atmosphere. In the distance Navajo workmen paused with shovels poised, seeking the source of the sound. A horse raised its head and neighed from an adjacent hillside and two crows flapped out from a crevice overhead.
Our little group was motionless for a dozen heartbeats, which seemed as many minutes. In the weird silence it was as if time had been halted in its flight — nay turned back — for in swift array there crowded through my consciousness the scenes of grief and mourning, of savage pomp and ceremonial, amid which the tones of that instrument had last echoed from the selfsame cliff that now glistened under the rays of the setting sun, which for a brief moment had broken through the dark clouds masking the November sky.
I have to say that it seems highly improbable that an archaeologist could just pick up one of these and start playing, and produce the tone described. Isn't this just completely fictitious romantic writing, perhaps typical of the period? Sometimes this sort of stuff was published in newspapers. Was Morris known as an expert in native American flutes and playing?
Well, I suppose these wonderful instruments are about dreaming, and the spirit, and are more than simply tone generators. But the report strikes me as imaginary, although wonderfully evocative.
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