LEONARDO GARCIA FUENZALIDA
Regularly I propose a discovery of the flute as a poly-cultural instrument prototype.
Indeed, the flute is one of the few musical instruments present in almost all human cultures. The flute is also one of the oldest sounding tools used by Man. Indeed, we can even refer to the archeological objects that probably correspond to flutes that have been found in Prehistoric sites as the Izturitz cave, in southwestern France.
Despite their diversity, the acoustic principle of the flute remains unique: the contact between a jet of air and a bevel, inducing the oscillation of a wave reflected and amplified inside a resonator. The variety of flutes largely depends on how the air is directed towards the bevel; if it is conducted through a piece making part of the instrument (Ex. recorder...) or if sent directly by the musician's lips (Ex. Western traverse flute).
The resonator has an important acoustical role on the flute. In general terms we observe tubular and globular resonators. Tubular resonators can be single (traverse flute, recorder) or multiple (Panpipes), presenting holes or not and basically related to the acoustic principles of tubes. The globular resonator induces an almost pure tone with very few harmonic components.
Finally, the crafting materials can vary significantly from one instrument to another. If wood, reed and bamboo, metal, and plastic seem to be today the most prevalent, flutes can be also crafted in bone, clay, plant stem (Umbelliferae), bark and even stone...
Finally remains to be elucidated the most complex, the human factor in performing, and thus, the music itself. The enormous variety of techniques of breath (emission) and skill (melodic treatment) mean that we can rarely determine a priori the tone and music played by a flute in the absence of the flutist. This association seems to be the only way to discover the sound culture to which the instrument belongs.
My set of World flutes: Order by geographical area.
Europe
- Duduk duct flute - Bulgaria (wood)
If its name is the same than that of the famous Caucasian oboe, here we are referring to a duct flute where the bevel is placed on the posterior surface of the pipe. This location allows a specific playing technique on the low register.
- Dvoyanka double duct flute - Bulgaria (wood)
It is a pastoral double flute composed by a melodic tube, presenting fingering holes and a pipe drone. Its musical principle that relates to bagpipe technique and bagpipe players usually use it as a practice instrument.
- Dvonijce double duct flute - Serbia (wood)
Different from the previous, this flute is composed by two melodic pipes (with finger holes). Its music often relates to a two voice polyphony.
- Boehm traverse flute - Europe and the world (various metals)
Although currently associated to Western classical music, this instrument has managed to break cultural boundaries. It is today played worldwide in many different contexts and with the most amazing techniques.
- Kaval, end rim blown flute - Bulgaria (wood and horn) - Greece (bronze)
The kaval is played from Turkey to Albania and from Serbia to Greece. Of pastoral origin, this flute in three parts became Bulgaria "national instrument" since the 1950’s. In Greece, as in Albania, it is crafted in metal, sometimes by the same smiths who provide the bells and other specific tools to shepherds.
- Tilincã, end rim blown overtone hole less flute - Romania and Ukraine (plastic)
This model in PVC mimics the seasonal flute plant stem that is played with one finger by closing and opening the open end. The playing technique can be very impressive, despite the apparent simplicity of the instrument.
- Ocarina globular flute navi-form, Italy (clay)
If the name ocarina is of Italian origin, it refers today to a large family of flutes having a "globular" resonator. Ocarinas are present in most of the human cultures and its principle relates even to that of the “hand flute”.
Americas
- Kena, notched flute - Chile (reed, wood)
Notched flutes also exist in different sizes and registers. The kena is used in ritual music among rural Andean communities as well as in urban popular genres.
- Archaeological Kena, notched flute - Peru (bone)
It is a copy of a pre-Hispanic kena of the Nasca culture in Southern Peru before the Inca Empire. Its regular presence in archeological sites reflects the importance of notched flutes in ancient Andean cultures.
- Archaeological Ocarina - Chile (round pottery)
It is a copy of a pre-Hispanic Diaguita culture of Northwestern Argentina and the North of Chile. Even today the Diaguitas are reputed by their craftsmanship in the work of pottery.
- Siku, panpipes - Bolivia (Reed)
The instrument is composed by two rows of tubes dividing the music scale into two complementary parts. The usual playing technique concerns at least two musicians playing in an alternating hoquet. Large ensembles and repertoire of different registers of siku and percussions are called sikuriadas. In its urban version, both rows of siku can be assembled and played by a single musician.
- Rondador, panpipes - Ecuador (Reed)
Unlike the siku, the rondador is essentially a soloist instrument probably dating from the colonial period. The playing technique features the simultaneous blow on two or more tubes creating a parallel voicing and harmony effect.
- Tarka, rectangular duct flute - Bolivia (wood)
The tone and the volume of this ritual summer flute are particularly impressive. As the siku, Tarkas are also normally played in large ensembles called tarkeadas, almost always alongside with drums and cymbals.
North Africa and Middle East
- Caval, duct flute - Turkey (wood, horn)
The wooden flute is related to the pastoral world of Anatolia. As the Bulgarian duduk, the Turkish caval presents the bevel at the backside of the tube, allowing the player to obtain a powerful tone in the low register.
- Gasba, end rim blown flute - Algeria and Morocco (Reed)
Instrument largely used by religious brotherhoods as also in popular music, the gasbah is usually played with the technique of circular breathing. Unlikely to other flutes of the region, the tone is extremely strong with a great amount of breath, particularly in the low register.
- Ney, end rim blown flute - Turkey (reed and horn)
The Turkish ney is one of the sacred instrument of the Sufi Whirling Dervishes Mevlevi, disciples of Mevlana. It is also used in classical Ottoman music and today is a global instrument used even in World Music and Jazz.
- Ney, end rim blown flute - Iran (reed, metal)
The Persian ney has a specific playing technique, compared to the two instruments described just before. The musician introduces the mouthpiece between his teeth and directs the air flow using also his tongue. If this flute is exclusively used in classical Persian repertoire, similar types of “dental” flutes are common across Central Asia and Siberia.
Asia and Oceania
- Bansuri, traverse flute - North India (Reed)
Originally a popular instrument, the bansuri was introduced to Hindustani classical music during the 20th Century. In spite of the apparent simplicity of the instrument, the bansuri requires a high level technique. If achieved, a good musician can play an extended panoply of raga by covering partially one or more fingering holes.
- Xiao, notched flute - China (bamboo)
The xiao is linked to both classical and popular Chinese traditions. The morphology of the flute is amazing, presenting several “harmony holes" at the distal end as an inner beveled notch, unlike to the Andean kena.
- Dizi, traverse flute in doggerel, China (bamboo)
Flutes in doggerel characterize by a vibrant membrane "altering" tone placed between the mouthpiece and te fingering holes. This type of flute is very specific to Far Eastern music cultures. Okinawan hanso and Korean taegum belong to this same category.
- Xun, globular flute - China (ovoid pottery)
The use of this flute is related to ancient court music, even if today it is increasingly used in school music education as in new folk music. The xun can be related to the Korean hun.
- Shakuachi, notched flute - Japan (bamboo)
Linked for centuries to Zen Buddhism, this flute has an outstanding tone pallet. The shakuhachi has become nowadays a global instrument, integrating to contemporary music, World projects and Jazz. Nevertheless its usual musical context associates to solo repertoire and small chamber trio, with shamisen lute and koto frame zither.
- Suling, banded duct flute - Indonesia (reed)
The suling is as a prototype flute of the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia that, through different forms, is present in classic music practice (Gamelan) as in local music (Toraja ritual music of Sulawesi). Versatile instrument, the suling can be played through different techniques, including the combination of multiple registers as circular breathing.
- Languages: English, French and Spanish.
- Public: A maximum of 40 guests.
- Duration:
Short Form - 20 min. + time for questions and dialogue with the auditory.
Long Form - 50 min. + time for questions and dialogue with the auditory.
