New Butch Hall Rainmaker Flute
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:01 pm
OK, is there such a thing as FAS (Flute Aquisition Syndrome)? I've seen such a syndrome mentioned in regard to other instruments, and I think I may have contracted it.
Seriously, I've become quite entranced with Anasazi/Basketmaker flutes. You may have seen my glowing message about my new Geoffrey Ellis flute. I've fallen in love with this beautiful instrument.
I said at that time that this was the most difficult musical instrument I've ever tried to play. I must confess now that this is no longer true. The Butch Hall Rainmaker is even more challenging.
There are several differences between these two, but the main one is the mouthpiece, if you can call it that. Both are rim-blown flutes, modeled after instruments found in a cave in Northeastern Arizona in 1931, and dated to around 620 AD. The Rainmaker is touted as an exact replica, whereas Ellis has added some modern modifications. Laura Hall wrote me that "It was our pleasure to create this replica flute. It is so fun to hear the EXACT sounds/notes you would have heard from them 1200-1300 years ago!" So their intention was to exactly duplicate the original design.
As I said, the main difference is in the mouthpiece, or splitting edge. The original flutes from the cave had a rim all the way around.
I haven't seen a good image of the end, but you can mostly make out what I mean here and see the similarities.
The Geoffrey Ellis model basically makes the instrument easier to play, using elements from the Shakuhachi and Quena style flutes.
The main differences are that the rim is tilted down a bit toward the player to facilitate a better angle against the chin, and there's a sharpened notch on the other side which makes it easier to get a good tone.
Geoffrey Ellis also puts a thumb hole on his recent offerings, which apparently gives the player more power in the upper register. That's the supposition by Chris in another thread at least. Hopefully Geoffrey will chime in at some point and give us more insight.
All in all, I am extremely chuffed at my recent acquisitions and look forward to becoming more familiar with these amazing instruments. BTW, if you want one from Butch Hall, you'd better act fast. Laura told me they only have a few left and no plans to make another batch. Check it out today.
Seriously, I've become quite entranced with Anasazi/Basketmaker flutes. You may have seen my glowing message about my new Geoffrey Ellis flute. I've fallen in love with this beautiful instrument.
I said at that time that this was the most difficult musical instrument I've ever tried to play. I must confess now that this is no longer true. The Butch Hall Rainmaker is even more challenging.
There are several differences between these two, but the main one is the mouthpiece, if you can call it that. Both are rim-blown flutes, modeled after instruments found in a cave in Northeastern Arizona in 1931, and dated to around 620 AD. The Rainmaker is touted as an exact replica, whereas Ellis has added some modern modifications. Laura Hall wrote me that "It was our pleasure to create this replica flute. It is so fun to hear the EXACT sounds/notes you would have heard from them 1200-1300 years ago!" So their intention was to exactly duplicate the original design.
As I said, the main difference is in the mouthpiece, or splitting edge. The original flutes from the cave had a rim all the way around.
I haven't seen a good image of the end, but you can mostly make out what I mean here and see the similarities.
The Geoffrey Ellis model basically makes the instrument easier to play, using elements from the Shakuhachi and Quena style flutes.
The main differences are that the rim is tilted down a bit toward the player to facilitate a better angle against the chin, and there's a sharpened notch on the other side which makes it easier to get a good tone.
Geoffrey Ellis also puts a thumb hole on his recent offerings, which apparently gives the player more power in the upper register. That's the supposition by Chris in another thread at least. Hopefully Geoffrey will chime in at some point and give us more insight.
All in all, I am extremely chuffed at my recent acquisitions and look forward to becoming more familiar with these amazing instruments. BTW, if you want one from Butch Hall, you'd better act fast. Laura told me they only have a few left and no plans to make another batch. Check it out today.