Opinions on a flute choice and a couple ??

Irish Flute
1

Hey all-

I’ve been playing flute and whistle for about 9 months now, taking lessons for about 6. I’m told that I’m good for the amount of time that I have taken lessons.

On the whistle, I can play several dance tunes at speed (Most notably kesh jig, kid on the mountain, christy barrys set), while on the flute (Boehm concert style) I can play them, but not quite at speed yet. (Fingers and figuring out where to @!!$@#$#@ breathe… :laughing:) I can also play a couple songs/airs (sie beag sie more, fields of athenry) with no problems on both.

I am going to play with my dance troupe in a couple of numbers as part of a dance drama, and also busk at the Renaissance faires that we perform at.

I think I have decided on getting a polymer flute, since my primary faire and session locale is Arizona, which means desert, dust and crapanola.

I am leaning towards the M&E Rudall/Rose pattern, since I have smaller hands. (It will be keyless for now)

My couple questions - since I am a relative beginner, how hard is the M&E to “fill”? Should I get a split embouchure? (I have no problem getting a decent tone out of low C on my concert flute, nor hitting high notes). What about the Seery? Basically comparable?

That’s about it…thanks all!

Aodhan

2

To me, the M&E is a very easy flute to fill, and has a hard-edged, bright tone.

The Seery is a little harder to fill, and has a growly, throaty tone. Its sound also cuts through a session a bit better than the M&E. On the flip side, it’s more tiring to play for a lengthy session.

This has been my own experience–yours may vary. If possible, the best thing to do is try one of each kind and see which one appeals to you the most.

Best wishes,

–James
http://www.flutesite.com

3

Most M&E’s I’ve played have had major tuning problems, almost as though the lower middle joint belonged to another flute. I also find them kind of ugly. The “split embouchure” does a lot to improve the tone of the flute, but it looks as though the maker took a penknife to the headjoint. Seery flutes seem to me to be in quite a different class – the overall level of craftsmanship is much higher, and they play and sound remarkably like good wooden flutes.

4

This has been my own experience–yours may vary. If possible, the best thing to do is try one of each kind and see which one appeals to you the most.

Heh…so, anyone got an M&E and a Seery that I can try? :smiley: :smiley:

Aodhan

5

On 2002-12-31 14:43, Aodhan wrote:

This has been my own experience–yours may vary. If possible, the best thing to do is try one of each kind and see which one appeals to you the most.

Heh…so, anyone got an M&E and a Seery that I can try? > :smiley: > > :smiley:

Aodhan

If you can get to Texarkana I do.

Best,

–James
http://www.flutesite.com

6

In defense of Michael Cronnoly, my experience doesn’t jive with Ro3b’s at all.

My Rudall M&E is perfectly finished, plays in tune, and looks great. I have seen at least two others that were equally nice.

Also, the Rudall style instrument doesn’t have the split embrochure feature.

Just my observation…

[ This Message was edited by: eskin on 2002-12-31 15:16 ]

7

Heh…so, anyone got an M&E and a Seery that I can try? > :smiley: > > :smiley:

Aodhan

There are acoupala m&e’s around here(southern CT.). Both kinds, orignal and RR style.
Where are you?
jb

8

On 2002-12-31 15:22, brownja wrote:

Heh…so, anyone got an M&E and a Seery that I can try? > :smiley: > > :smiley:

Aodhan

There are acoupala m&e’s around here(southern CT.). Both kinds, orignal and RR style.
Where are you?
jb

Heh…a bit far from CT. I live in Phoenix, Az. :cry:

Aodhan

[ This Message was edited by: Aodhan on 2002-12-31 16:16 ]

9

I second James opinion on the playability of M&E Rudalls and Seery’s. M&E Rudall appears to me as the easier flute to play for beginners. Seery’s on the other hand, can be harder to get a good tone out of when you’re starting out, but I feel it has an “older”, slightly drier sound to it when you get it going. (which can be months for a rank beginner!) The M&E Rudall is also capable of this but its more inclined to producing a hard, darker tone. They’re both, in my opinion, of the same standard tonewise and playability. The Seery is very much more aesthetic though, and practically looks indistinguishable from a blackwood flute if you’re not looking at it up close. Its also a lighter flute.

10

On 2002-12-31 23:55, Eldarion wrote:
I second James opinion on the playability of M&E Rudalls and Seery’s. M&E Rudall appears to me as the easier flute to play for beginners. Seery’s on the other hand, can be harder to get a good tone out of when you’re starting out, but I feel it has an “older”, slightly drier sound to it when you get it going. (which can be months for a rank beginner!) The M&E Rudall is also capable of this but its more inclined to producing a hard, darker tone. They’re both, in my opinion, of the same standard tonewise and playability. The Seery is very much more aesthetic though, and practically looks indistinguishable from a blackwood flute if you’re not looking at it up close. Its also a lighter flute.

How are the finger holes on the Seery?

Aodhan

11

I’d suggest going for a Dixon Polymer and using the rest of the money for a deposit on a woodenflute - the additional money spent on a Seery or M&E isn’t going to get you much bang for the buck, and most decent woodenflutes will sound better, in my opinion. I didn’t really like either the M&E or the Seery I had for a while.

Loren

12

P.S. I understand your concerns about a woodenflute not being as durable, but if you keep it in a good case, care for it properly, and use a humidifier, a good blackwood or Cooktown Ironwood flute should be fine (purchase from an Austrailian or US maker to avoid getting wood that has been seasoned to a humidity that is too high for your climate.)

My 2 cents.

Loren

13

On 2003-01-02 18:25, Loren wrote:
P.S. I understand your concerns about a woodenflute not being as durable, but if you keep it in a good case, care for it properly, and use a humidifier,

How would a wooden flute hold up to playing (literally) in the desert? When I am at faire, I am in the arizona desert, from Friday night through Sunday night. Unpaved dirt for the pathways through the village, tent at night (With attendant temperature changes), for 8 weekends in a row.

How much would that affect a wooden flute?

And, I reiterate my question, how are the finger holes on a Seery compared to the M&E?

Aodhan

14

And, I reiterate my question, how are the finger holes on a Seery compared to the M&E?

Aodhan

Seery has substantially larger tone holes than the M&E (either model).

The left hand reach is very similar, but the right hand reach is slightly longer on the Seery (the right hand tone holes are further apart).

On the M&E flute the top of the tone hole is very slightly bevelled; on the Seery the tope of the tone hole is slightly smoothed but still pretty sharp.

The embouchure hole is approximately the same size and shape on both flutes.

I hope this helps.

Best,

–James
http://www.flutesite.com

15

Standing in the sun is not a good idea (for you, either), but otherwise a wooden flute can and will hold up under most conditions that you can. It is being humidified when played and, if you continue that humidity level as Loren advised in the case, a wooden flute will do fine. The case will also prevent the up/down temperature changes. Warm it up slowly if it’s cold before blasting away.
Blackwood and several other similar woods are nowhere near as fragile as people seem to feel, and it’s a shame to give up on wooden flutes for fear of a little extra care. Common sense is key, of course, but then, that’s always true. I’d advise asking flute players around your area how they fare, and what they play, before you give up on wood.

16

I’ll second Loren’s Dixon 3 piece recommendation. It plays well and in-tune, and it sounds good. The finger spread is very manageable, and the tone holes are comfortably small. I think this flute has excellent bang for the buck.
Micah

I’ve written more detailed impressions of this flute…you can find the posts by doing a search.

17

Aodan,

I’d like to add my agreement to Loren and Micah’s advice.

I’ve had my Dixon for a little over a year. In that time I’ve had opportunity to play both seery and M&E. Neither impressed me enough to warrant the additional costs over my Dixon.

The seery was a little easier to play, but I prefer the tone of the Dixon. The Dixon has more of the overtones and folk timbre that I find so appealing in Irish Wood flutes; whereas, the Seery was clearer and sounded more like a silver flute. I also like the bulk and durability of the Dixon, it will never cause me to worry. I’ve played it with temperatures in the 30’s to the 90’s, humidity from 0 to 99 percent, in clean presentation halls of polished granite and in the deep mountain woods. Tone and performance have been consistent, even when my playing wasn’t.

I’ve also been around folk playing the better made wood flutes (Grinters, Olwells) in just slightly more moderate conditions. They only required a moderate amount of care to perform just fine. Last year, in two months of heat and dryness in Texas, none of the folks I played with there had problems with their wood flutes.

I plan on getting an Olwell flute in a year or two; but, even then, I plan to keep the Dixon. I’ll keep it in part because I heard Pat Olwell play it and know how it can sound in the hands of an accomplished player. I’ll keep in part for its weather worthiness; but also because, I can take it anywhere, anytime. The dixons durability and lower cost means, I won’t have to worry if I drop it or fall on it. Mountains, ren-faires, city streets, I know the Dixon can handle. My only worry will be that it might be lost at the bottom of some lake, cliff, or storm drain.

If you can find one to try before you buy; then, you may find the dixon and a deposit on a good wood flute is a better investment.

This is just the opinion of a beginner, who’s always short on funds and long on desire. Ultimately, Seery, M&E, or Dixon, its boils down to you finding which will best inable You to …

Enjoy Your Music,

Lee Marsh

[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2003-01-03 00:38 ]

18

I’m quit enthralled with my new Seery Pratten. Looks, sounds, feels just great.
Then again, the M&E Rudall MP3 of Kiss the Maid sounds absolutely fantastic.

Anybody have tunes recorded with the Dixon polymer they could post? We’ve heard what the other two poly’s sound like.

IMO, sell your soul, buy all three polymers AND get on Olwell’s list. That way, all the bases are covered, as it were;-)

G

Lee, check your PM’s

[ This Message was edited by: Garth on 2003-01-03 07:04 ]

19

Hi Folks,
there’s a clip from Kevin M on Clips & Snips, Beginners, playing Boolavogue on a Dixon Polymer.

Cheers, Mac

20

Aodhan,

My experiences with my M&E (original bore, non split emboucher, optional CD changer, heated seats…) have been, from a playing perspective, extremely positive. Aesthetically there were a couple of little things that I took issue with at first (such as some visible glue around the joint rings and a couple of other things, check out http://www.angelfire.com/nf/weston for some pics and my thoughts) but they don’t seem to effect the playability of the flute noticibly.

It is a bit on the heavy side but that doesn’t take long to get used to… especially if you aren’t jumping from a wooden flute to an M & E. Intonation wise it’s just about dead on and the construction is extremely solid (joints are snug but not tight, joint rings aren’t coming off, and a little beeswax/vaseline mixture on the tuning slide keeps it nicely in place).

I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about Seery’s, intonation wise especially. My experience is that the M & E is an “easy” flute to start with (as if such a thing exists). You won’t get lost in a session but you won’t be roaring on above the other instruments either. It doesn’t have quite the bark that you can get from a Seery but if you feel like pushing it hard you will still get a lovely reedy sound. Just my 2-cents.

Just an afterthough, I’ll be looking to sell my M & E in a couple of months as I have a Hamilton somewhere in the works. If you’re still in the market and interested look me up.

All the best,
Wes