Good youtube clips of various flute makes

Irish Flute
1

While trying to choose a new flute over the last couple of years I’ve searched youtube looking for examples of the capabilities of various flutes and found that resource to be quite useful. I thought a thread with good examples of the different makes would be helpful in helping folk decide what they want from a flute…

Here’s a few to start with…

Sam Murray played by Stephen Doherty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYF_HFwQ6Sw

Sam Murray played by Stephen Doherty (2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpEa3Hg09uY

Sam Murray played by Sean Gallacher
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ-9MSiEo0g

Giles Lehart played by Hatao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71_qLGCq40A

Eb Giles Lehart played by Stephen Doherty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EPMOiBVJBw

Giles Lehart played by Borja Baragano of the group DRD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D544we-_Y8o

Patrick Olwell played by Matt Molloy with John Carty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s3EU2b3g8E

Patrick Olwell played by Matt Molloy with Arty McGlynn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IWb3UIDSqg

Michael Grinter played by Mike McGoldrick with Dezi Donnelly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h_hnvJle2E

Michael Grinter played by Mike McGoldrick with Donal Lunny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAvIOvU_EKI

2

Now, do keep in mind that this tells you much more about the capabilities of the players than the capabilities of the flutes. And it says nothing about how suitable the flute would be to another player - unless perhaps you have found in the past that flutes that suit player X happen to suit you. Even then, I’d expect surprises.

Unfortunately, at this time we have no way of matching players and flutes without the player actually trying them. One day, maybe? Lip thickness divided by mouth-width squared minus number of teeth remaining times max breath pressure?

In the meantime, get out and about as much as possible and never pass up the opportunity to try any and every flute that passes you by. Fortunately, most flute players are sympathetic to this (and equally interested in trying whatever you are playing.)

I sometimes wonder if it’s a bit like in the Dog’s Festival (to the Lincolnshire Poacher tune. The singer traditionally raps on the guitar or other instrument to denote the unspeakable.)

Oh, the dogs once held a festival, they came from near and far,
Oh, some they came by aeroplane and some by motor car.
Before into the concert hall they were allowed to look,
Each dog had to take his (knock, knock-knock) and hang it on a hook.
Oh, each dog had to take his (knock, knock-knock) and hang it on a hook.

Oh, hardly were they seated there, each mother, son and sire,
When a dirty little yeller dog began to holler, “Fire!”
Out they rushed in panic – they didn’t stop to look –
Each dog he grabbed a (knock, knock-knock) from off the nearest hook.
Each dog he grabbed a (knock, knock-knock) from off the nearest hook.

And that’s the reason why you see, on walking down the street,
Each dog will stop and swap a smell with every dog he meets.
And that’s the reason why a dog will leave a good fat bone
To go and smell a (knock, knock-knock) in hope to find his own.
To go and smell a (knock, knock-knock) in hope to find his own.

Terry

3

I more had in mind demonstrations of what individual makers flutes are capable off rather that suiting particular flutes of individuals. It would be rather splendid to pick up a flute and make it sound like a favourite player but nothing is that simple :slight_smile: Do you think there’s any point in this thread Terry? It’s certainly true that many flutes are murdered on youtube!!

4

Heh heh, I wonder if any makers have thought, having seen their flute murdered (and identified) on YouTube “I should really offer to buy that back!”.

I image the list of performances you are assembled should be among the best on YouTube. That might be a good enough reason to compile it!

Terry

5

Of course, one could always, say, maybe, pick up one of them there ol’ compilation CDs of, say, 120 different flute players playing lots of them there ol’ flutes. Many of those flutes which, no doubt, are identified on that there ol’ website.

6

Do you mean the Wooden Flute Obsession CD’s Kkrell? Nice plug if so :wink:. I’ve heard of these but have never heard them - are they good CD’s worth getting? A brief look tells me there are great players on there. And what is the website?

I think with youtube it really helps to understand what you’re listening to. What I do like about youtube as apposed to studio recordings (and I do buy a fair amount of recordings) is that generally you can watch the player in action, you know there are no production alterations. I’m sure it can be a minefield for someone new to traditional music as youtube is full of vanity recordings that should never see past the bedroom but I’ve personally found it very useful for all sorts of reasons.

7

You’re kidding, right? Since the website is in my message signature above, and my profile. As to whether they’re worth getting, perhaps I’m not the one to ask. The 1st 2 volumes did win a LiveIreland award, and some reviews are here: http://worldtrad.org/WFO_CD_reviews.htm

True, some of the Wooden Flute Obsession tracks have varying production quality, some quite studio-enhanced, and many (particularly the Sligo players in volume 2 & Belfast players in volume 3) basically a flute player in a room in one take (although usually a touch of reverb).

Since the tunes & tracks were usually selected and approved by the player themselves, the sound is likely close to how they wished to represent themselves. Regardless, plenty of variety in repertoire, regional and individual style, timbre, breathing (and breath noises), articulation, etc. that tend to show off what both the flute (maker) and player are capable of.

Kevin Krell

8

“You’re kidding, right?”

No, I’m not kidding. You said in your first post “Many of those flutes which, no doubt, are identified on that there ol’ website”. I had a look on your signature link but seeing no flute identifications I assumed you meant another site…

9

Michael Grinter played by Steph Geremia with the Alan Kelly Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeaLcMoJ2MU

Michael Grinter played by Steph Geremia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZJr85OzBVU

Michael Grinter played by Kevin Crawford
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcLa758Aexc

Hammy Hamilton played by Conal O Grada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS0QJekk3fM

Hammy Hamilton played by Paul McGrattan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdfcrLNoYvs

10

Ah… perhaps more precise directions required.

  1. Go to http://www.worldtrad.org
  2. Click on “Track Details & MP3” for volume 1, 2, or 3. Essentially, these take you to the separate WFO1, WFO2 & WFO3 detail pages. Direct access (skipping #1 above) is:

http://www.worldtrad.org/WFO1_CD.htm
http://www.worldtrad.org/WFO2_CD.htm
http://www.worldtrad.org/WFO3_CD.htm
no details published for WFO4

  1. Scroll down on each page. The 1st section has the track list in order of appearance on the CDs. Scroll down further, and there is “ALPHABETICAL ORDER - Artist & Track Details” appearing on the CD, along with approx. 30 second MP3 sound samples, accompanist info, and composers, where known.

For instance, on WFO1, there are flutes by modern makers David Williams, Giles Lehart, Patrick Olwell, Desi Seery, Hammy Hamilton, Skip Healy, Sam Murray, Bryan Byrne, Eugene Lambe, Brendan McMahon, Chris Wilkes, as well as antique instruments by Rudall & Rose, Hawkes, Blackman, Simpson, Besson & Co., Miller & Wicks, Chappell. On WFO2, some of the same, along with Michael Grinter, Rudall Carte, Martin Doyle, John Leukhardt, Wylde, Boosey & Co., Ingram. WFO3 introduces flutes by Willis, Thomas Prowse, Geoff Woof, Eamonn Cotter, Norman Holmes & Bill McNaughton, Alexander Liddle, George and Manby, Tom Aebi, and Terry McGee. Still, a number of players did not identify the flutes they were playing for some of the tracks.

Your post did remind me to check the listings on Amazon.com, which used to have all the sound samples easily streamed, but I’ve noticed they’ve disappeared, so I’ve contacted vendor support about that.

11

Ah, I’m with you now. Many thanks for that Kevin, excellent!

12

Nuala Kennedy playing her Wilkes 8 key blackwood flute
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EgJNPGHeRyg

Nial Keegan playing his Dave Williams 8 key blackwood flute
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zRLIvKS1aoM

Jon Cochran playing a Fentum fr.o.m. 1850
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=toshxQPnrHY

Zac Leger playing a Rudall & Rose 8 key
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rSf5xDwyBWc

Catherine McEvoy playing her Rudall & Rose I think
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=j-UQuRKtXVU#/watch?feature=related&v=j-UQuRKtXVU

13

Entry level flutes…

Doug Tipple PVC played by Ben Jaber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvAPt6V3GDY

Casey Burns Folk Flute played by Hatao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmjt8Nha-BQ

14

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mAkMHkqkxNQ
John Gallagher Rudall

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YTj-h6eCKd8
John Gallagher Pratten

15

Hammy Hamilton played by Conor Byrne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9oBDSf9gR4

16

Nice clips but how do you know the flute? I thought Conor Byrne played a Wilkes, of course that could be a Hammy but can you really tell?

17

I don’t know whether he has a Wilkes or not, but he was playing a Hammy when I met him a few months ago, and he told me it was his main flute. I had a go. I couldn’t play it, but he was producing wonderful sounds out of it.

18

It says in the clip info that the flute is a Hamilton.

19

Ok fair enough

It says in the clip info that the flute is a Hamilton.

Oh dear I must be going blind or bananas I couldn’t see that - could you tell me where the clip info is?

20

Just below the clip details there’s a wee ‘show more’ button.