Re: [tuning] fujara

on 11/26/00 10:06 PM, tuning@egroups.com at tuning@egroups.com wrote:

> Message: 16
> Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 14:01:30 -0600
> From: "David J. Finnamore" <daeron@bellsouth.net>
> Subject: Fujara
>
> Here's an interesting microtonal folk instrument. From the
> mountains of Eastern Europe, the fujara (pronounced fu-yah'-rah, I
> assume), seems to be a type of overtone flute about six feet long,
> with three tone holes. See and hear:
>
> http://bluyovo.misto.cz/_MAIL_/
>
> Be patient, the server is slow.
>
> The traditional style, judging by the seven Real Audio examples on
> this page, is for the player/singer to alternate solo flute and
> vocal. Since the flute is overblown to several harmonics, its
> intonation is clearly microtonal. But the vocals don't sound like
> they're in the same tuning. They sound simply diatonic. This is
> especially remarkable considering that the musician sings the same
> melody he just played on the flute.

I'll have to go check this URL out later when the phone line isn't being
used as a phone. One of my favorite folk flutes right now is a Swedish made
overtone flute that I'm learning to play. It's side blown, there are no
holes, between overblowing, and opening and closing the end, you end up with
a full octave (plus a few notes lower) of the lydian dominant overtone
scale. Of course, all the tones played on this flute are just intervals.
Some modern instruments have one hole added, which can give the player a
couple of extra notes. This instrument is used alot in Nordic music styles,
there is a petty substantial repertoire of traditional tunes written on
these instruments.

A similar instrument, but end blown, is used in eastern European music such
as Hungarian, Rumanian, etc. I've watched a player half open or close the
end for some interesting extra tones, most notably, the flatted second of
the altered phrygian mode used for so much klezmer and gypsy music. I need
to make one of these flutes too.

On a recent recording of the group Muzsikas playing their interpretation of
Bartok, and some of the original collected folksongs that he was inspired
by, there's a tune played on one of these flutes. The player is
simultaneously singing/humming almost buzzinbg/growling into it as he plays.
Like the recording you mentioned, not always singing the exact same pitch as
the flute. The effect is transformative.

Now that I think of it, there's also a similar overtone flute played on a
Huun-Huur-Tu CD of Tuvan instrumental and vocal music.

Seth

--
Seth Austen
please visit me on the web at http://www.sethausten.com
email; seth@sethausten.com

Download a song (mp3) at www.mp3.com/sethausten

--- In tuning@egroups.com, Seth Austen <acoustic@l...> wrote:
> One of my favorite folk flutes right now is a Swedish made
> overtone flute that I'm learning to play.

Does it have a common name, or is it simply called "Swedish overtone
flute"? I have a feeling I'm going to have to get one of those.

> you end up with
> a full octave (plus a few notes lower) of the lydian dominant
overtone
> scale.

What's lydian dominant? Does that mean it has a raised fourth degree
but a lowered seventh degree? I'd be very interested to see it
spelled out as ratios, if you happen to know. Otherwise, note names
will be close enough for now. And if you know how far up the series
it can be overblown, that would be helpful.

> A similar instrument, but end blown, is used in eastern European
music such
> as Hungarian, Rumanian, etc.

Where could a fellow find one of these for sale (without traveling to
Rumania)? End blown is more my style. Any web links to info on
either of these? Thanks.

David Finnamore

Justin White

DAVID JONES LIMITED ACN 000 074 573

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Re: fujara

Seth Austin wrote

>> A similar instrument, but end blown, is used in eastern European
music such
>> as Hungarian, Rumanian, etc.

David Finnamore wrote

>Where could a fellow find one of these for sale (without traveling to
>Rumania)? End blown is more my style. Any web links to info on
>either of these? Thanks.

I don't know where you could buy one but they are very easy to make.

I made one using a long piece of garden hose and a plastic recorder mouth
piece. It sounded fantastic.

My inspiration came from hearing Hukwe Zuwese [ a brilliant singer and
mbira player fromTanzania] play one on his release on the realworld label.

A good advantage of using a soft malleable tube is that you can pinch
various harmonics at the nodes of the waves.

I have thought about making the tube out of metal next time as plastic gets
very hot and the spit condensation has to be experienced to be believed.

Justin White

This email and any attachments are confidential and are intended solely for
the recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose
or use the information contained in it. If you have received this email in
error, please tell us immediately by return email and delete the document.

The contents and any attachments are the opinion of the sender and not
necessarily that of David Jones Limited.

Back to our fujara (overtone flute) discussion of a little while back. Check
out this URL, there's half a dozen sound clips of traditional Slovakian
players, along with a picture of this beautiful sounding 5.5 feet long
instrument <http://bluyovo.misto.cz/_MAIL_/>.

I really want to play one of these, Lark in the Morning has them, but they
are $1150 (ouch), I think I'm going to see if a PVC version can be
crafted...

This is a great e-list, I'm learning tons from all you wonderful scholars
out there, and thus, becoming more and more inspired in my own JI musings
and experiments. Happy holidays to all,

Seth

------
Seth Austen
http://www.sethausten.com
email; seth@sethausten.com

--
"To be nobody-but-myself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and
day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which
any human being can fight, and never stop fighting."
-- e.e. cummings

Ben Hume makes and plays fujara 212-831-9048 in New York. His work is
amazing.
Tell him I sent you.

Johnny Reinhard

For the past year I've been dating a Slovak and she's turned me on to
much interesting Czech and Slovak culture. One of those things, and
this one is distinctly Slovak, is the fujara--a sort of giant
overtone fipple flute. Here's a great site for anyone who's
interested:

http://www.fujara.sk/about_fujara.html

Really nice! Enjoyed the different audio samples on the pages also.

/Björn

----- Original Message -----
From: daniel_anthony_stearns
To: tuning@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 5:59 PM
Subject: [tuning] fujara

For the past year I've been dating a Slovak and she's turned me on to
much interesting Czech and Slovak culture. One of those things, and
this one is distinctly Slovak, is the fujara--a sort of giant
overtone fipple flute. Here's a great site for anyone who's
interested:

http://www.fujara.sk/about_fujara.html

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hi Dan,

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "daniel_anthony_stearns"
<daniel_anthony_stearns@y...> wrote:

> For the past year I've been dating a Slovak and she's turned
> me on to much interesting Czech and Slovak culture. One of
> those things, and this one is distinctly Slovak, is the
> fujara--a sort of giant overtone fipple flute. Here's a
> great site for anyone who's interested:
>
> http://www.fujara.sk/about_fujara.html

good to see you popping in on the list again!

yes, that is a very nice site.

(you've been on my mind lately too ... i just recently
finished a paper to be published in the next _Xenharmonikon_
which is an expansion of the "Tutorial on Ancient Greek
Tetrachord-Theory" which i originally wrote for you
way back when.)

-monz

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "daniel_anthony_stearns"
<daniel_anthony_stearns@y...> wrote:
> For the past year I've been dating a Slovak and she's turned me on to
> much interesting Czech and Slovak culture. One of those things, and
> this one is distinctly Slovak, is the fujara--a sort of giant
> overtone fipple flute. Here's a great site for anyone who's
> interested:
>
> http://www.fujara.sk/about_fujara.html

Ey, THAT's some instrument! Quite amazing.