introduction

Hello everyone,

This is more of a re-introduction since I've previously subscribed to the list but had left a few years ago. I'm back, and still involved in playing microtonal music, mostly of the traditional folk variety. I play fiddle, acoustic lap steel, slide and fretless guitars, hurdy gurdy, overtone flutes, jaw harp, also various 12 ET fretted instruments such as mandolin, bouzouki, 5 string banjo, etc...

I'm currently in the process of moving to a new house, and while sorting through things have come across an interchangeable fretboard system for guitar that I bought years ago and never used. I'm probably not going to ever get around to installing this, too many other projects, and my instrument building skills are pretty bad. If anyone is looking for such a thing let me know and I'll sell it.

I'm looking forward to reconnecting with any old friends who are still here and meeting new people as well.

Seth

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

Seth Austen wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> This is more of a re-introduction since I've previously subscribed to
> the list but had left a few years ago. I'm back, and still involved in
> playing microtonal music, mostly of the traditional folk variety. I
> play fiddle, acoustic lap steel, slide and fretless guitars, hurdy
> gurdy, overtone flutes, jaw harp, also various 12 ET fretted
> instruments such as mandolin, bouzouki, 5 string banjo, etc...
>
> I'm currently in the process of moving to a new house, and while
> sorting through things have come across an interchangeable fretboard
> system for guitar that I bought years ago and never used. I'm probably
> not going to ever get around to installing this, too many other
> projects, and my instrument building skills are pretty bad. If anyone
> is looking for such a thing let me know and I'll sell it.
>
> I'm looking forward to reconnecting with any old friends who are still
> here and meeting new people as well.
>
> Seth

Hi Seth,
Pleased to make your acquaintance!

That's a mighty fine collection of instruments you play! Care to tell me
something about overtone flutes - what they are, how they're made,
how they're played, what they're good for?

I'm not an instrument maker (except of the jam tin and spoon variety),
so won't have a use for your "interchangeable fretboard system for
guitar" :-) The only microtonal music I make frequently is vocal; the
rest is 12-edo on keyboards, simple flutes and guitars. Oh yes, and on
the PC!

Somehow I still haven't figured out how to get Scala to retune the MIDI
keyboard for me in a way in which composition in anything _but_ 12-EDO
becomes practical. But I'm going to have to do it soon, just so I can
enjoy some of the many different delectable-seeming tunings these guys
keep describing and inventing ...

Hope you enjoy your visit home!

Regards,
Yahya
------------------------------------------------
Yahya Abdal-Aziz
Yahya [at] MelbPC [dot] Org [dot] Au
Melbourne PC User Group
Melbourne VIC Australia
Convener, Graphics Interest Group
Convener, Music Interest Group
------------------------------------------------

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.7/70 - Release Date: 11/8/05

On Aug 14, 2005, at 9:35 AM, Yahya Abdal-Aziz wrote:

> Care to tell me
> something about overtone flutes - what they are, how they're made,
> how they're played, what they're good for?

Hello Yahya,

Overtone flutes exist in various cultures, I'm most familiar with the Scandinavian willow flute (salgflojt). I also have interest in the eastern European tilinka, but haven't made one of these yet. The willow flute was traditionally made of willow bark, but now usually made of PVC, the tilinka is made of copper tubing. There are no fingering holes on either type, you play it by overblowing and opening or closing the end, resulting in an octave plus of the natural overtone scale. It takes a lot of practice to get accurate, especially in its higher register.

I bought the ones I have from Lark in the Morning, <http://www.larkinthemorning.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_FLU038_A_Overtone+Flutes_E_>, these are Scandinavian style side blown flutes, made of PVC with a wooden fipple, available in two keys, D and F.

> The only microtonal music I make frequently is vocal; the
> rest is 12-edo on keyboards, simple flutes and guitars. Oh yes, and on
> the PC!

I use a Mac.

Good to meet you!

Seth

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

Seth Austen wrote:
> On Aug 14, 2005, at 9:35 AM, Yahya Abdal-Aziz wrote:
>
> > Care to tell me
> > something about overtone flutes - what they are, how they're made,
> > how they're played, what they're good for?
>
> Hello Yahya,
>
> Overtone flutes exist in various cultures, I'm most familiar with the
> Scandinavian willow flute (salgflojt). I also have interest in the
> eastern European tilinka, but haven't made one of these yet. The willow
> flute was traditionally made of willow bark, but now usually made of
> PVC, the tilinka is made of copper tubing. There are no fingering holes
> on either type, you play it by overblowing and opening or closing the
> end, resulting in an octave plus of the natural overtone scale. It
> takes a lot of practice to get accurate, especially in its higher
> register.
>
> I bought the ones I have from Lark in the Morning,
> <http://www.larkinthemorning.com/
> product.asp_Q_pn_E_FLU038_A_Overtone+Flutes_E_>, these are Scandinavian
> style side blown flutes, made of PVC with a wooden fipple, available in
> two keys, D and F.
...

Seth,

Thanks for the explanation and the link - from the pictures, it
seems I could probably make one myself quite easily. But maybe
it would take longer to learn to play it well. I find it quite challenging
to _reliably_ get the correct octave register on tin whistles and
recorders. The overtone flute could only be harder, I fear ...

I also noticed quite a bit of useful information on Wikipedia
about various endblown flutes.

Regards,
Yahya

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.10/73 - Release Date: 15/8/05

On Aug 16, 2005, at 1:22 AM, Yahya Abdal-Aziz wrote:

> Thanks for the explanation and the link - from the pictures, it
> seems I could probably make one myself quite easily.

They're simple to make. I think I've seen a description on a website, if I can find the link I'll post it.

> But maybe
> it would take longer to learn to play it well. I find it quite > challenging
> to _reliably_ get the correct octave register on tin whistles and
> recorders. The overtone flute could only be harder, I fear ...

Yes, developing consistent accuracy on overblowing to the correct register is tricky, but I'm getting it w/ practice.

> I also noticed quite a bit of useful information on Wikipedia
> about various endblown flutes.

I'll have to look that up.

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