Bnat Flute

[djm]

Oh. Hadn't heard of them (not a whistle freak). Probably cost more than my Generations. Well, syns you put it that way ... maybe when things slow down in the summer. Its a long drive for a Friday night. We'll see.

djm

[talasiga]

djm,
why don't you check out
http://www.buckinghammusic.com/bansuri/bansuri.html
for a professional quality US made bamboo flute in Bnat
You can also get one with a low Bb pinkie.


All in current concert pitch.

[djm]

Tal, there is very little information here about the characteristics of the bansuri vs. the type of wooden flute used for ITM. Are they exactly the same, or is the bansuri so full of hidden quirks that it becomes a totally different instrument? (read - I don't need any more complexity in my life).

Thx,

djm

[NicoMoreno]

djm: Cost of Syn: $30 for head, $5 per body, $5 shipping. (Unfortunately, all are in USD) I got everything but a C# from E down to A for $70 total. $40 isn't bad for a good quality B whistle! But ask Peter Laban about them, because he didn't really like his... I think I may be a bit biased.

[djm]

Nico, thanks, but the Susato Bnat whistle is okay for the little that I play whistle. I was looking for a keyless, tunable Bnat flute for under $800 USD.

I probably shouldn't ask this here, but is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the Susato whistles require a significant increase in pressure to play the upper hand in the second octave? I find this for both the Susato B and D whistles, but not for Generation or Oak whistles.

djm

[talasiga]

Tal, there is very little information here about the characteristics of the bansuri vs. the type of wooden flute used for ITM. Are they exactly the same, or is the bansuri so full of hidden quirks that it becomes a totally different instrument? (read - I don't need any more complexity in my life).

Thx,

djm

No fundamental difference.
A Bnat key bansuri will be described as an E tonic bansuri
because that classical tradition likes the three finger starting point.
The Bnat bansuri note progression will be just like any other Bnat
simple system flute

XXX XXX B
XXX XXO C#
XXX XOO D#
XXX OOO E
XXO OOO F#
XOO OOO G#
OOO XXX A#

also OXX OOO for the crossfingered A

The bansuri has larger tone holes
making it more amenable to half holing
which is essential in indian music.

The so-called "unique" fingering system so hyped up
about in the bansuri tradition
is just a fingering system for playing the flute in a classical indian way
which prefers a three finger tonic for all its scales.
That means that if they are playing an E natural minor piece (Asavari Thaat raag/Aeolian Mode)
they would use a Bnat flute for the 3 finger E tonic
and have to half hole with
the 2nd finger
the 6th finger
the 5th finger.

Whereas you (ITM) and I (folk indian/western, rather than classical indian)
would just use a D key flute or a G flute to do E natural minor
without all the half holing.

I regularly play Darbari raag in D (D natural minor piece) with
an F bansuri from the 1 finger position with an esraaj and a sitar player
whereas some classical indian trained (and quite expert) bansuri
players that I know baulk at the thought of it and refuse to do it
because they are stymied by the challenge of doing it from the 3 finger position.

Why not get yourself a cheap $10 (or so) light bamboo (cane) flute
in Bnat and try it out?

[djm]

Gee, I don't know. Is there really a bamboo bansuri in my future? What does my horrorscope say? (Don't worry. I'm just raagging you.)

They are cheap enough to give them a try without losing too much. I think I will look for a small holed, tunable, easy to blow flute for smokers, though.

Thx,

djm

[talasiga]

Gee, I don't know. Is there really a bamboo bansuri in my future? What does my horrorscope say? (Don't worry. I'm just raagging you.)
.....

"bamboo bansuri" is a tautology
and your astrology says your astrologer
can be quite pedantic