Irish flute
Encyclopedia
The term Irish Flute refers to a conical-bore, simple-system wooden flute of the type favored by classical flautists of the early 19th century, or to a flute of modern manufacture derived from this design (often with modifications to optimize its use in Irish Traditional Music
or Scottish Traditional Music
). The vast majority of traditional Irish flute players use a wooden, simple-system flute.
, transverse
flute which plays a diatonic (Major) scale as the tone holes
are successively uncovered. Most flutes from the Classical
era, and some of modern manufacture include metal keys and additional tone holes to achieve partial or complete chromatic tonality. Due to its wooden construction, characteristic embouchure
and direct (keyless) fingering, the simple system flute has a distinctly different timbre
from the Western concert flute
. Most Irish flute players tend to strive for a dark and reedy tone in comparison to classical flautists. Though most commonly pitched in the key of D (not transposing instruments but playing a D diatonic scale), simple system flutes are available pitched in other keys, and are often heard in Irish music pitched in E flat, B flat and C.
transverse wooden flute as modified by English inventor and flautist
Charles Nicholson
.
Simple system flutes were not made with traditional folk musicians in mind, but were adapted by Irish and Scottish flautists as the simple wooden flutes were discarded by concert musicians during the advent of the modern, Boehm system
, Western concert flute
in the late 19th century. These "obsolete" flutes were picked up at low cost by traditional musicians.
From the latter part of the 19th century, there were two main styles of Nicholson flute made by two London based companies the Pratten and Rudall & Rose. The Pratten has wider bore dimensions and provides a louder sound, while the Rudall & Rose has a darker, pure tone and is slightly thinner than the Pratten style flute. Many of these original flutes had a footjoint that allowed the playing of both C# and C with the use of keys. Some modern makers forgo the addition of these keys, but maintain the longer footjoint with two holes where the keys would be, as it is thought to better emulate the pitching and tone of the 19th century originals.
and even metal - though wood is still by far the most popular material, and these modern Irish flutes can vary in the number of keys, or have no keys at all. Some of the best known modern flute makers include Michael Grinter, Marcus Hernon
, Patrick Olwell, Sam Murray
, Terry McGee, Martin Doyle and Hammy Hamilton.
Folk music of Ireland
The folk music of Ireland is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres in Ireland.-History:...
or Scottish Traditional Music
Music of Scotland
Scotland is internationally known for its traditional music, which has remained vibrant throughout the 20th century, when many traditional forms worldwide lost popularity to pop music...
). The vast majority of traditional Irish flute players use a wooden, simple-system flute.
Physical characteristics
The Irish flute is a simple systemSimple system flute
Simple system flute most commonly refers to the type of flute manufactured and favored by classical European musicians during the Classical era. This type of flute is the direct precursor of, and was made obsolete within the art music world by, the introduction of the Boehm System flute...
, transverse
Transverse flute
A transverse flute or side-blown flute is a flute which is held horizontally when played. The player blows "across" the embouchure hole, in a direction perpendicular to the flute's body length....
flute which plays a diatonic (Major) scale as the tone holes
Tone hole
A tone hole is an opening in the body of a wind instrument which, when covered by a key, alters the pitch of the sound produced.The resonant frequencies of the an air column in a pipe are inversely proportional to the pipe's effective length. For a pipe with no tone holes, the effective length is...
are successively uncovered. Most flutes from the Classical
Classical period (music)
The dates of the Classical Period in Western music are generally accepted as being between about 1750 and 1830. However, the term classical music is used colloquially to describe a variety of Western musical styles from the ninth century to the present, and especially from the sixteenth or...
era, and some of modern manufacture include metal keys and additional tone holes to achieve partial or complete chromatic tonality. Due to its wooden construction, characteristic embouchure
Embouchure
The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of woodwind instruments or the mouthpiece of the brass instruments.The word is of French origin and is related to the root bouche , 'mouth'....
and direct (keyless) fingering, the simple system flute has a distinctly different timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
from the Western concert flute
Western concert flute
The Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player....
. Most Irish flute players tend to strive for a dark and reedy tone in comparison to classical flautists. Though most commonly pitched in the key of D (not transposing instruments but playing a D diatonic scale), simple system flutes are available pitched in other keys, and are often heard in Irish music pitched in E flat, B flat and C.
History
Despite the implication of this commonly used name, the Irish or Scottish flute is not an instrument indigenous to Scotland or Ireland. It is in fact an EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
transverse wooden flute as modified by English inventor and flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
Charles Nicholson
Charles Nicholson (flautist)
Charles Nicholson , was a Liverpool-born flautist and composer, who performed regularly in London. He was soloist at many of the Philharmonic Society Concerts from 1816-1836, and first flautist with the principal theater orchestras. He toured extensively in Britain, but never on the Continent...
.
Simple system flutes were not made with traditional folk musicians in mind, but were adapted by Irish and Scottish flautists as the simple wooden flutes were discarded by concert musicians during the advent of the modern, Boehm system
Boehm System
The Boehm system is a system of keywork for the flute, created by inventor and flautist Theobald Boehm between 1831 and 1847.Prior to the development of the Boehm system, flutes were most commonly made of wood, with an inverse conical bore, eight keys, and tone holes that were small in size, and...
, Western concert flute
Western concert flute
The Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player....
in the late 19th century. These "obsolete" flutes were picked up at low cost by traditional musicians.
From the latter part of the 19th century, there were two main styles of Nicholson flute made by two London based companies the Pratten and Rudall & Rose. The Pratten has wider bore dimensions and provides a louder sound, while the Rudall & Rose has a darker, pure tone and is slightly thinner than the Pratten style flute. Many of these original flutes had a footjoint that allowed the playing of both C# and C with the use of keys. Some modern makers forgo the addition of these keys, but maintain the longer footjoint with two holes where the keys would be, as it is thought to better emulate the pitching and tone of the 19th century originals.
Modern variations
Today, transverse flutes are being made for the playing of a variety of traditional musical styles mostly in the Irish tradition. They are now not only made from wood, but also Delrin, PVCPVC
Polyvinyl chloride is a plastic.PVC may also refer to:*Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor*Peripheral venous catheter, a small, flexible tube placed into a peripheral vein in order to administer medication or fluids...
and even metal - though wood is still by far the most popular material, and these modern Irish flutes can vary in the number of keys, or have no keys at all. Some of the best known modern flute makers include Michael Grinter, Marcus Hernon
Marcus Hernon
Marcus Hernon is a flute player and also a flute maker. He has won two Senior All-Ireland Fleadhs, he has also won a few Junior All-Irelands and a senior Duet with Maeve Donnelly...
, Patrick Olwell, Sam Murray
Sam Murray
Sam Murray is a traditional flute maker from Galway City, Ireland. He has been making traditional Irish flutes for over 30 years now. Born in Belfast where he worked for many years up until the early 2000s when he moved to Galway City. His instruments are popular among Irish musicians and abroad.-...
, Terry McGee, Martin Doyle and Hammy Hamilton.
Playing technique
The modern playing technique within the Irish/Scottish Traditional Music has much in common with tin whistle technique.Influential players of traditional Irish flute music
- Matt MolloyMatt MolloyMatt Molloy is an Irish musician, from a region known for producing talented flautists. As a child, he began playing the flute and won the All-Ireland Flute Championship at only seventeen years old...
- Frankie KennedyFrankie KennedyFrankie Kennedy was a flute and tin whistle player born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was also the co-founder of the band Altan, formed with his wife Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh...
- Kevin CrawfordKevin CrawfordKevin Crawford is a flute, tin whistle and bodhrán player. Born on 6 December 1967 in Birmingham, Englandto Irish parents who emigrated from Miltown Malbay, County Clare...
- Brian FinneganBrian FinneganBrian Finnegan is a tin whistle and flute player from Armagh, Northern Ireland.Finnegan first came to public attention with the Irish group Upstairs in a Tent, and then in 1993 he made a solo album "When the Party's Over", which was recorded at Redesdale Studios. From 1995 he played with Flook, ....
- Mike McGoldrick
- Seamus EganSéamus EganSéamus Egan is an Irish musician.-Early days:Séamus Egan was born in Hatboro, Pennsylvania to Irish émigrés Jack and Ann Egan. At the age of three his parents moved the family back home to County Mayo, Ireland....
- Harry BradleyHarry BradleyHarry Bradley may refer to* Harry Lynde Bradley, co-founder of the Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation* Harry C. Bradley, American pinup painter* Harry Oliver Bradley, Canadian teacher and politician-See also:...
- Vincent BroderickVincent BroderickVincent Broderick was an English cricketer who played for Northamptonshire and briefly for the MCC. Considered an All-rounder, Broderick is notable for having the third best bowling figures in a single innings in Northamptonshire history. This career best of 9-35 came in 1948 against Sussex at...
- Séamus TanseySeamus TanseySeamus Tansey, also spelled Séamus Tansey, is an Irish flute player born in Sligo, Ireland in 1943. He won the All-Ireland flute title in 1965.- Discography :This may not yet be a complete discography....
- Michael TubridyMichael TubridyMichael "Mick" Tubridy is an Irish musician and structural engineer.- Career :In 1962, he was a founder member of the traditional Irish music group, The Chieftains, with whom he played the tin whistle, Irish flute, and concertina. Michael remained a member of the group until 1979.He worked as a...
- Packie DuignanPackie DuignanPatrick "Packie" Duignan was an Irish flute player, very well known by music lovers in his time. He was born at Collier Road, Arigna, in the Iron Mountains of County Roscommon, Ireland, and worked as a miner all his life....
- Micho RussellMicho RussellMicho Russell was an Irish musician and author best known for his expert tin whistle performance. He also played the simple-system flute and was a collector of traditional music and folklore.-Biography:...
- Josie McDermottJosie McDermottJosie McDermott was a traditional Irish musician: a flute and tin whistle player, composer and singer.- Background :McDermott was born, and lived all of his life, in the townland of Coolmeen, County Sligo, just outside Ballyfarnon, County Roscommon. His mother sang and played concertina...
- Francis O'NeillFrancis O'NeillFrancis O'Neill was an Irish-born American police officer and collector of Irish traditional music.O'Neill was born in Tralibane, near Bantry, County Cork. At an early age he heard the music of local musicians, among them Peter Hagarty, Cormac Murphy and Timothy Dowling. At the age of 16, he...