got 2 new clay flutes from Nash Tavewa at Stanford Pow Wow

one is a sub bass B

the other is a ultra high Bb

they are almost 2 octave apart

don't know if I'll ever own a flute lower or higher...I think I've hit the extremes

they are both fun in their own way.

the sub bass is very trance inducing

Wow, that is one low flute!!! That is so very cool, I can see where it would mesmerize you! High one is neat to but that low one is amazing!! Great additions to the flute family!!

Penni

Ditto what Nokeys said....oh Wow! I love that sub bass B.....I could feel the vibrations in my body and the hairs on my arms stood up. I would love to own one of those someday.

The High Bb is bright and lively...you play it well.

I like the sound of both flutes. The high flute is cheerful, clear, quite pleasant and I enjoyed it the most. The lower flute is powerful and moody. Does it take a lot of air to play the low flute? Just curious, too, how big is the low flute -- is it heavy, bulky, difficult to handle?

Hi

the large flute is 13 3/4"
the little one is 6 3/4"

the large flute does not take that much air. the sound becomes very breathy if you blow too hard. it actually sounds best when you ease up and relax. (note to self....ease up and relax)

it is not a lightweight flute. I don't have a scale in my house so I don't know how much it weighs.

the high flute seems to really like to be played fast. my fingers can't quite move as fast as it would like but I'll get there eventually. you probably heard my fingers tripping over each other in the recording. the finger holes are very close together as you would imagine for such a high pitched flute.

thanks

Mark ,

The big flute is actually an ocarina. I bought a large drone (low G#?) from Nash at Yosemite last year. Its really mesmerizing to play the big drone.

Somebody (was it Dave or Rex?) attended a class that Nash offerred. He said that when a person selects one of these ocarinas it is their's for life. No one else can play it. They take it with them everywhere and they are buried with it when they die.

Art

Oh beautiful! I love the way you played both of them! I think it's great to have these clay instruments that allow us to get those extremes. I would have never been able to reach a wooden flute that low and really enjoy the one I have. You're going to enjoy those a lot!

I goofed....they are almost 3 octaves apart

well, if you want to get picky....they are really both whistles. but that is another whole discussion.....I think a year or so back there was a big discussion here about what is a whistle and what is a flute.

cheers

Mark, they both sound great and you do a wonderful job playing them!

Art, it was probably Dave that took Nash's class, but I sure wouldn't mind having one of those tucked away for life!
Nash makes some of the coolest variety of things I've seen yet at a festival....Uber talented!

Nice! I stopped by Nash's booth on Sunday. Nothing really spoke to me, but I've already got a few of his creations. Maybe next time and I'll stop by at the beginning of the event rather than at the end.