what is this thing?

[gregwhistle]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... 0663502181

I can't make out the blowing end ... the photo looks like somebody morphed a flute blow hole, a whistle window, and a quena notch into one beastie

[Tim2723]

I don't know what it's called, but it kind of looks like a tourist souvenir to me.

[Kypfer]

Difficult to be sure without a bit more detail, but at a guess, it's a seven-hole whistle with a bit missing. It looks like there should be a cover over the windway, else there's a piece broken out exposing the windway

[MTGuru]

It looks like there should be a cover over the windway, else there's a piece broken out exposing the windway

Or perhaps the upper lip forms the top of the windway when playing.

It's obviously a floyera/floghera/φλογέρα - which is just the generic Greek designation for a folk flute. I wouldn't necessarily assume that the decoration makes it tourist fare. Or assume seven holes, when six holes is (I think) standard for floyeras.

One of our Chiffboard members living in Greece is very familiar with these instruments. Maybe I'll PM him and ask him to take a look at this thread.

[Kypfer]

Or assume seven holes

... the second picture on the eBay posting shows a thumb-hole ... doesn't it? ... or have I missed something (again

[MTGuru]

Or assume seven holes

... the second picture on the eBay posting shows a thumb-hole ... doesn't it? ... or have I missed something (again

You mean I'm supposed to look at all the pictures? Oops ...

[MTGuru]

One of our Chiffboard members living in Greece is very familiar with these instruments. Maybe I'll PM him and ask him to take a look at this thread.

My informant is having trouble logging in, which we'll fix shortly. Meanwhile, here is part of what he has to say about this instrument. I don't think he'll mind me sharing this:

The shepherds in the hills near here make whistle similar to this. I have never seen one painted although I have one or two with burned decorations. The decorations on the whistle in question don't look particularly Greek to me (or even Balkan). These instruments are made of quite fragile reed and break easily (the part of the reed covering the windway in the picture has broken off). The end is cut just below a joint, which acts as a choke. They are adiatonic and are usually played as a solitary instrument with the player alternating between playing the whistle and then singing a verse and so on. They are usually called φλογέρα (pipe, recorder). In this part of Greece where many people speak Pomak rather than Greek, they use the Slavic word pištelka. I have only seen a thumbhole very rarely.

I have only personally seen these shepherd whistles used in rural settings in Greece and Bulgaria and only once by a serious musician in Bugaria. The flute of choice in Greece and neighbouring countries is the kaval, as you know.

[gregwhistle]

Thanks guys - guess I won't be buying it

[MTGuru]

Well, I guess the fact that the windway has broken off, making the instrument unplayable, might tend to lower its attractiveness. Picky, picky.

[gregwhistle]

Kudos to the seller - I finally just messaged him and let him know.

He replies:

"THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INFO. I JUST END THIS ITEM.

- ppsarros"