What about any other music besides Irish music? I was also interested in the Native American type music. I love the way they hold notes for extended counts and how everything really flows. Does anyone have references to Native American music? Is this type of music appropriate to play on the whistle and is it difficult to play? I am a newbie and just interested in music that would be easier to play. Any suggestions? Thanks again in advance…
Raven, try signing onto http://www.mp3.com
There are a few active stations on Native Am music. I’m sure the keepers of those stations will have oodles of references for you!
Hi - growing up in the southwest, I’ve heard lots of Native American music - but I’ve never seen any sheet music for it. If you search for Navajo Times (the Navajo newspaper) on the internet there’s an interesting article about Native American music. There are artists/recordings mentioned in that article. One note from the article that I actually thought of before reading it: “The mixing of genres has left some traditionalists shaking their heads. Some Indian music is considered sacred, and sampling a chant, combining it with electronic sounds or even playing it on the radio is forbidden.” “It’s like playing with dynamite,” one artist told Bello. “You have to be real careful.”
I think the same holds true for what is written or taught to “outsiders.” I’ve heard Navajos play “flutes” (a larger, deeper-toned whistle) and it is beautiful. You would surely enjoy playing along with some recordings.
Susan
Susato sells some native american music. I have never heard it so I don’t have any opinion.
If you learn the pentatonic scales on the whistle, you can play some spontaneous and meditative, “flowing” as you put it, music. Learn “lead” scales that rock and blues guitarists use for improvising lead lines–many can be played on a diatonic whistle. I found that a low E whistle played in F# minor can be used to play along with many American Indian flute recordings. And as you were warned, be aware that some people don’t take dabbling in sacred music lightly. It sounds to me like you have the right intentions!
[ This Message was edited by: ysgwd on 2002-04-04 20:29 ]
I’ve known native Americans who played
flutes–the music I heard is pentatonic,
flowing, improvisational, and from the
heart. So I reckon it’s within reach
if one figures out the pentatonic scale,
as suggested above.
Thanks susnfx–I had no idea that NA music was thought of like that! I definitely respect Native Americans and their traditions just like all others so I don’t want to tread on territory that is not mine to tread on. I just really enjoy the music I’ve heard…its really spiritual and relaxing. Sounds to me like there is no sheet music for the music and you just have to try to play it by ear. I’ll continue to search and post any findings I might have. Thanks for all your replies guys. Best of luck!
You didn’t say whether you were looking for recordings. Off the top of my head, Carlos Nakai is a NA flute player with cd’s out. They’re authentic and sound very cool.
Tony
A Native American flute is a terrific addition to a WHOA afflicted person’s arsenal, although this type of music can be played on a whistle too ( especially a low whistle). With a pentatonic flute, nearly anything you play sounds nice, so even if you’re not playing a “real” song, it will sound soulful. Not being able to easily play Celtic tunes on such a flute is actually quite liberating since it encourages improvisation. Here is a website of a friend of mine who makes really nice flutes, at reasonable prices. I have no commercial interest, yadda, yadda,
http://geocities.com/whistleworld/
I’ve always enjoyed the ethereal quality of Native American music. I participated in a wedding last year where that was all that was played. I’ve never tried playing it myself though.
R. Carlos Nakai has a book out in which he describes a system for writing Native American flute music (he calls his system TABlature), and in which he includes a number of tunes from his earlier recordings. Once you learn tablature, you can find quite a few tunebooks at places like The Oregon Flute Store (I don’t have the url handy, but a Google search ought to get you there). Be warned that Nakai’s tablature system uses the fingerings from Ken Light’s “Amon Olorin” flutes, which have a slightly different fingering for a couple notes than many other flutes. However, it’s easy to learn, and the tunes are haunting and gorgeous. Since you can play entirely in pentatonic scales, you can easily improvise your own tunes as well; it’s just about impossible to play out of key. I think The Oregon Flute Store sells Nakai’s book and other resources for learning TABlature, so check them out (I have no affiliation with them, etc. etc.).
I play flutes by several makers, but find Butch Hall’s flutes (again, a Google search will get you there) to be of very high quality and gorgeous sound. They are also among the least expensive insturments out there, amazingly enough. Nakai plays them, along with his Amon Olorin flutes, so that’s a high recommendation. The tone on Butch Hall’s flutes is just lovely.
I’d suggest starting with a flute in F# minor (probably the most common, and most haunting, key), and then branching out. I now own flutes by several makers in most of the common keys; an affliction very like WhOA, I guess; and I’ve just started to play whistle, so I suppose I’ll soon end up with a big collection of these beauties, too.
Hope that helps,
Aaron