I received Sylvain’s permission to do this posting.
Unfortunately the group Bonhomme Setter has disbanded, but Sylvain still has a few copies of the CD available. If interested in acquiring a copy of the CD, please enquire to Sylvain at sylvain.l@sympatico.ca The Congress Reel is the most Fluty track on the CD, but all the tracks are quite good and all the band members are very talented!
Sylvain said he is currently working on recording some Celtic music, mostly Irish and music from Asturias, and will let me know when that project is finished.
I came across this CD quite by accident. Sylvain was selling a flute and offered to send a sound sample (which was the Congress Reel linked to above). Well I was so blown away by his playing that I agreed to purchase his flute on one condition... he had to add a copy of the CD!
The flute is a Pratten by Chris McNeilly. I had one of these before and thought it an excellent flute, but unfortunately sold it. Preferring to keep my Healy at the time (easier to play). Well my chops have continued to improve and I found the McNeilly easier to handle this time.
Here’s a picture of my old McNeilly Pratten:
There was confusion (at least on my part) over the basis of this McNeilly flute. Both of the previous owners of the McNeillys thought they were based upon Rudalls (likely due to the join between the hands). But the playability also raises questions. The McNeillys have the sweetest top-ends of any Prattens I’ve tried (not that many). I confirmed the basis of the design with Mr. McNeilly; he used Matt Malloy’s as his model!
Interesting rendition of Congress Reel by Bonhomme Setter. I like the second tune. Some fine fluting there. Do you know what the name of the tune is?
