CHRISTIANFLUTE

MY INSTRUMENTS

Some time ago the Lord laid on my heart a vision to bring traditional instruments to worship. For over 30 years all I ever played was the flute and piccolo. When I received this vision I started to pick up and play instruments that I was not able to play before. When God gives you a heart for something He wants you to do always remember that He also equips you for His purposes in you.

If you would like to help me to bring more instruments to worship I have a list of instruments I would like to use. You can help in the purchase of these by going to the "Traditional Instruments" page.

Needless to say I currently have a sizable "bag" of instruments I use and carry with me (it makes going through airports always an interesting experience). People are always interested in the instruments I use so on this page I will show my "current" bag and hopefully give details on each which I hope you find interesting.

CONCERT FLUTE & HEADJOINTS

HEADJOINTS

With my Miyazawa I play a number of headjoints. The headjoints are:

Harry Gosse All Wood headjoint - this is my favourite headjoint which I use as my standard head. The All Wood is a fantastic head which has a wide range of colours (which is rare for a wood headjoint).

The next headjoint is a one off Chinese Dizi style headjoint I created to use with the Concert Flute. You can see from the photo the "Dimo" on the head which produces the characteristic oriental flute sound.

For more information on any of these products go to Miyazawa (www.miyazawa.com) and Harry Gosse (www.harrygosse.com).

ALTO FLUTE

The Alto flute is one of my favourite instruments to play. It has a wonderful silky tone and blends so well with so many instruments and voices. This is my own alto made to my specifications. I prefer the straight head on an alto as I have long arms and the reach is not an issue for me. I use two headjoints, a solid silver headjoint and a headjoint with solid silver lipplate. Both have slightly different characteristics due mainly to the different cuts on each headjoint.

I only took up the alto flute seriously after 30 years of playing the concert flute. I initially thought it would be a difficult instrument to get a good sound on. It is not and I have actually found that playing the alto flute has helped my concert flute playing. To play the alto you really have to relax and focus the tone. Personally I found it has enriched my flute playing. Often concert flute players are frightened of the alto and try piccolo. I suggest you have an go with an alto flute. It does produce a wonderfully rich sound and the sound of the alto flute touches the heart in a very gentle way.

NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN FLUTES

I play a Native American Indian Flute made by Chris Ti Coom. With six holes on top and no thumb hole this Native American Indian Flute is a wonderful instrument to play although the fingering combinations are different from traditional 6 hole instruments. Remembering the fingering combinations is all part of the challenge. To play, you simply blow into the blow hole at the top of the flute. There is no embouchure to form. The speed of air that you put into the flute changes the pitch of the notes which means you can bend notes easily. Great fun.

This flute is handmade from Walnut and has a wonderful sound that is very unique. For more information on Native American Indian Flutes go to the following website www.christicoom.com.

INDIAN BANSURI

In August 2008, I had the honour of visiting India. I travelled with the Kairos Trust. We were visiting projects in India that Fisherwick Presbyterian Church support and also to run a four day conference for Pastors and Church Staff in the Vellore Diocese. I had a wonderful time and the hospitality of the Indian people is very humbling. While I was there I met a gentleman called Charles who introduced me to the India Bansuri. These simple bamboo flutes have a wonderful rich deep tone. Charles gave me one of his flutes (the orange banded flute) and I gave him one of my favourite Irish Whistles and a Chinese Dizi. I had an opportunity to visit a music shop and after about 20 minutes selected the Bansuri in the picture. Wonderful instruments from a wonderful people.

MIDDLE EASTERN FOREST FLUTE

Sometimes when you are researching flutes you come across wonderful makers who are quietly making facinating flutes. They deserve a wider audience and one of those makers is Thomas Richardson (www.thomasrichardsonmusic.com).  I now own a unique one off design Middle Eastern Forest flute from Thomas' wide range. These are not expensive instruments but are made with the highest care and quality. This is a four holed flute with thumb hole and has a great scale. Thomas made this flute with an eagle on it as one of my favourite verses in the Bible is "God lasts. He's Creator of all you see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles; they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind." ISAIAH Chapter 40 verses 28 to 31. Translation "The Message".

MICHAEL BURKE IRISH WHISTLES

Michael Burke makes wonderful Irish Whistles in every key you will ever need. I am always adding his whistles to my "bag" and currently have a Low D Viper in Aluminium, a Low F in Aluminium, a High Bb in Brass, a High C in Brass and High D in Brass. Each whistle is handmade and signed my Michael who personally makes sure each whistle is made to the highest standards. These are my first choice of Irish Whistle. For more information go to www.burkewhistles.com. For an independent view on this whistles go to Dale Wisely's "all things whistle" site which carries reviews and interviews at the following links - www.chiffandfipple.com/burkereview and www.chiffandfipple.com/michaelburke.

CHINESE DIZI

Chinese Dizi are the most natural progression for a flautist to ethnic instruments as they use the same basic embouchure principles as the modern western concert flute. The biggest issue with Dizi is finding high quality instruments in concert pitch as there are hundreds of poor quality examples of this fine instrument. I spent many years testing various makers and eventually found a great maker who makes the highest quality instruments.

The Dizi that I use are made by one of the most famous Dizi and Xiao makers in China, Master Dong Xue Hua. These are the preferred Dizis of professional Dizi players in China and represent the best quality Dizis to come from China. They can be purchased through an excellent supplier, Eason Enterprises in Singapore and although these are professional Dizi they range in price from only US$94.99 to $124.99. For a history of Dizi go to the "Resources" page on www.eason.com.sg. The Dizi themselves are on the "Products" page.

I currently play Dizi in Low G, Bb, C, D and High G, A and Bb.

QUENA & QUENACHO

The Quena and Quenacho are the traditional flutes of the Andes. The most challenging of instruments to play they make a wonderful breathy and airy tone. The Quenacho (the instrument on top) is in the key of D and the Quena, below, is in the key of G.

To play both instruments you have to place your bottom lip and chin to cover about half the open hole on the top of the instrument and then blow a thin air stream towards the notch at the top. Tony Hinnigan, a renowned expert on indigenous wind instruments, who has worked on major Holywood film soundtracks has some great video tutorials on how to play these instruments at the following link www.tonyhinnigan.com. These instruments are available from a wide range of sources on the web. The two models I play were finely hand tuned by myself.

ENGLISH & GERMAN RECORDERS

Probably like the majority of wind players across the world the instrument I first played at school was the humble recorder prior to learning to play the flute. Today I play Moeck wood recorders and a Yamaha Tenor. On the right is my Moeck Descant (bottom). I have owned a number of Moeck recorders and prefer the Descant with the plastic head and wood body as I have found the wood heads in the Descant tend to clogg easily. In the middle is my Moeck Alto Tuju, which is extremely rare now and on top is the Yamaha Tenor which is a great sounding instrument. Great instruments for all ages. Of the three the Tuju is the recorder I use the most as it has a very full unique character to the sound. Tuju's are not made anymore but if you find a good one, buy it, as they are rare. More information on Moeck recorders is available at www.moeck.com and Yamaha recorders at www.yamaha.com.

Please visit back every month as I am constantly researching and adding instrument to my "bag". If you would like any information on any of the above instruments or advice then please email me at raarobinson@talk21.com.

Thanks

God Bless

Raymond

"Soli Deo Gloria"