bahu | bansuri | boventoonfluiten | boventoonfluiten | hulusi | moseño
indianenfluiten | panfluit | shakuhachi | xaphoon | xiao

"HIGH SPIRITS" FLUTES

Each "High Spirits" Native American style flute is made from a solid piece of the finest cedar, walnut, birch, maple and other fine domestic plantation-grown woods or recycled lumber, finished with three coats of a non-toxic hardening oil for durablity and clarity of sound. Each Native American flute is precision-tuned so that it will blend perfectly with other instruments. Lovely crafted. All Cedar or Walnut wood flutes also available with turquoise inlayed.

Each "High Spirits" Native American style flute (except Pocket Flutes and Eagle Bone Flute) includes a FREE "Instructional DVD", instructional book and fingering charts. Made in US.

ACCESSORIES Flute bags, DVDs, books, ...

BUCKSKIN BAGS	Hand crafted from top grain hides. They have a shoulder strap making them comfortable to carry the flutes on hikes. The closure is an antler button. The small bag is designed for the smaller-sized such as Sparrow Hawk "A" flute, Whitetail Hawk "B" flute and the Merlin "C" flute. The large bag is just right for the "G," "F#" and "D" flutes.
SOFT BAGS	This Flute Bag is on the top of our list of protective cases. Its unique design includes complete lining with 1″ foam padding sewn into all sides. It has a center divider that provides the protection to carry two flutes in the case. The bag is made from plush suede cloth and uses an industrial quality zipper for secure closure. This case is light weight (less than 1 pound), insulates against heat & cold, is ideal for traveling and has a carrying strap. Unlike top opening cases the side zipper allows the fetish to stay in its proper position during the process of taking the flute in and out. Ideal for your valuable instruments. This come in two sizes: the medium size for flutes up to 57 cm long or the large size which fits flutes up to 72 cm long.
CLOTH BAGS	Available in three sizes, felted cloth flute bags are an economical protection for the instruments. They have cord ties that close the opening securing the flute in the bag. The small bag is 24" long and 4" wide, sized for Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrow Hawk and Whitetail Hawk flutes. The large bag is 30" long and 4.5" wide, sized for Golden Eagle and Redtail Hawk flutes. The extra large bag is 31" long and 5" wide: its extra width makes it ideal for our Condor Bass flutes.
FLUTE BAGS	This attractive Flute Bag is made with a double layer. For added protection the inside is padded quilting cloth and the outside is Suede Cloth. The shoulder strap makes it ideal to include the flute in outdoor activities and the horn button latches the flap securely.

DVD "HOW TO PLAY"	Beginning Flute DVD with Odell Borg Odell Borg's half-hour-plus DVD of beginning techniques. Even if you've never picked up a musical instrument before, this video will get you producing sweet sounds from your Native American flute.
DVD "INTERMEDIATE INSTRUCTION"	Advanced Flute DVD with Odell Borg - 70-minute-long We all get stuck playing the same flute phrase or song over & over again. In this Intermediate level DVD, Odell shows ways of varying the playing style and utilizing new techniques to enhance your flute experience. It is divided into chapters so you can easily jump to a particular lesson.
SONG BOOK	Odell Borg's Native Spirit Song Book with CD A collection of 21 songs written in Native Flute Tablature and Finger Tablature, so everyone will be able to play these songs. Twenty of the songs are Native American songs from various tribal backgrounds plus "Amazing Grace". Included is a "Play Along" CD for the songs. All the songs on the CD are played in the keys of "A", "G" and "F#". This book is easy to use and provides a great tool to vary one's playing style. The special LayFlat binding can be opened & pressed flat without damage to the binding.
CD	For CDs with NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTES, click here

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listen to the Bansuri

De Indische bamboefluit, ook bansuri genoemd, is een uit één stuk bamboe vervaardigde dwarsfluit. De bansuri telt 6 of 7 gaten. Alle halve noten, accidentals en microtones worden verkregen door een unieke vingertechniek. De bansuri is één van de oudste muziekinstrumenten. Er werd reeds van de bansuri melding gemaakt in de Vedas. De bansuri is geassocieerd met de god van dans en muziek: Krishna.

De bansuri - 'bans' betekent bamboe en 'swar, shruti, shri, suri' betekent toon - is een bas fluit gemaakt van bamboe met 6 of 7 open vingergaten. De bansuri is een eenvoudig wind instrument zonder kleppen, met een toon ongeveer een oktaaf lager dan de Europese klassieke fluit en ze is veel meer resonant en flexibel in" tonal quality". Ze heeft geen kleppen voor "b" of "#" maar de halve- en kwartnoten worden verkregen door voorzichtig slechts een deeltje van het gat met de vinger te openen.

CONCERT BANSURI PREMIUM
The hallmarks of quality are the precision of tuning and the sound, resonance and durability of the bamboo. Our premium bansuris are carefully selected concert instruments for demanding musicians. They are made from precious himalaya bamboo, which gives them a unique combination of warmth, softness and clarity. They are tuned to a = 440 Hertz and have exact intonation in all octaves.
Our flute maker Anand Dhotre from Mumbai has learnt his art from his father and cooperates regularly with leading Indian bansuri masters. He is himself a musician and a personal student of master flutist Ronu Majumdar.

ARCHITECTURE & PLAYING TECHNIQUE
The bansuri is a hollow bamboo tube which is closed at the upper end. It has six to seven finger holes and one blow hole. Usually it has several tight thread bindings to prevent it from cracking. It is blown sideways like the Western flute. Fully closing or opening the finger holes produces a diatonic scale. Half opening of the finger holes produces the half notes in between, thus enabling bansuri performers to play any note combination derived from the chromatic scale. Instead of using the fingertips the finger joints are used to cover the holes. That way it is possible to grab even the long deep bansuris commonly used for classical solo performance. Smooth sliding of the fingers produces the glissando movements and microintervals so essential to Indian music. The tonic note Sa is produced by fully closing the first three finger holes. The lowest note is reached by closing all six fingerholes and is a fourth below the tonic Sa. India Instruments usually mentions both the tonic Sa and the lowest note in order to avoid any misunderstandings.

QUALITY
The hallmarks of quality are the precision of tuning and the sound, resonance and durability of the bamboo. India Instruments carries standard bansuris as well as professional ones (called premium) from India. The standard bansuris often have a beautiful tone and a bamboo of decent quality. However many of them are not tuned according to Western pitch and they are sometimes slightly out of tune in the second and third octave. Our premium bansuris are carefully selected instruments for professional musicians in any field. They are made of high quality bamboo from the foothills of the Himalayas, which produces a unique combination of clarity, warmth and smoothness in tone. Our bansuri maker has learnt his art from his father and works in close cooperation with leading Indian bansuri performers. The premium bansuris are hand-picked for us by an independant bansuri player, who checks each instrument for sound quality and intonation. If you are ever unsatisfied with the tuning of one of our premium bansuris we will adjust it individually according to your specifications without extra charge.

BANSURI MAINTENANCE
Bansuris (Indian bamboo flutes), unlike Western silver flutes, do not need any specific maintenance - as long as they are played regularly and kept in a relatively moist climate. E.g. it is unnecessary to wipe the inside after playing.
However, if the bamboo gets too dry, it might crack. Therefore never keep a bansuri in a hot dry place (e.g. a car) for any length of time. If that has happened by accident (and the instrument has yet survived it...) it is important to start playing the bansuri again very carefully - otherwise the inside might swell due to its sudden exposure to the moisture of the breath and thus cause the bamboo to crack.
Some people treat the inside of their bansuris with oil in order to smoothen the surface and thus create a slightly clearer sound. The oil has to be very fluid and free from resin. In India it is common to use mustard oil. Slightly warm the oil to approx. body temperature, apply it to the inside of the bansuri and let it soak for about 30 minutes. Afterwards wipe the bansuri clean again. This procedure can be repeated twice a week for two weeks in a row.

We usually have following bansuris in stock:

• deep D - length 86cm
• deep E - length 76cm
• F - length 70cm
• G - length 65cm
• A - length 59cm

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listen to the HuLuSi

The Hulusi is a free reed wind instrument from China. It is held vertically and has three bamboo pipes which pass through a decorated gourd or woorden mouth piece. The center pipe has finger holes and the outer one or two are typically drone pipes.

Quite often the reference note of an instrument in Asia is the note you get when the lowest three fingerholes are open.

Comes with carry case.

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listen to the Xiao

The Xiao, or Chinese shakuhachi, is made of bamboo and originated over 2000 years ago. It was some time during the Tang and Sung Dynasty when the vertically-played instruments were categorized as Xiao and those horizontally-played as Dizi. The Xiao is not only a unique solo instrument but is also used widely in ensembles and for accompanying purposes. Its mellow tone quality makes it most suitable for playing lyrical melodies.

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listen to the BaHu

This Chinese reed instrument looks like a normal side blown bamboo flute, but has a copper reed in the square mouth piece. Its shape is similar to that of the Xiao. The sound is somewhat between a flute and a harmonica. This is an instrument of south minority cultures, brought into use in 1960s. With only 9 tones, it produces mellow and charming sounds. The BaHu is popular among the Miao, the Hani, the Yi, the Tai and other minority groups in the Yunnan province of China.

There goes such a beautiful story. Two young Hanis fell in love with each other. One day a demon grabbed the girl, cut off her tongue, then threw her into the deep mountains. Following a bird's advice that bamboo can talk, she made an instrument with that stuff, pouring out her misfortune through it. On hearing her sad voice, the villagers came to kill the demon and relieved the girl. Since then the bawu has became a talking instrument. Its dimensions vary and so do the designs.

 
Here is a beautiful song "The Greeting",
composed and played by my good friend Steve on BaHu

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TRADITIONAL SHAKUHACHI

The shakuhachi is a testament to the elegance of traditional Japanese culture. Made from the root of the bamboo, its aesthetic is organic and simple. Hidden inside this rustic form, however, is a bore that is carefully crafted with the utmost precision. This instrument produces a sound that is said to replicate the full range of natural life on earth.

The shakuhachi is an end-blown flute tuned to a pentatonic (5-note) scale. By various fingerings -- half- and quarter-holings -- and by controlling the angle of mouthpiece against the lip, all twelve tones of the western chromatic scale can be produced. The mouthpiece consists of an oblique blowing edge whose design is unique in that it enables the player to control the pitch produced by changing the angle at which the flute is being blown. This, in turn, produces a delicate change of intonation -- a swelling or bending of notes characteristic of the traditional music. Alterations in embouchure, intensity of blowing and cross fingerings allow the player to create a wide variety of subtle and incredible sounds. The timbre of the instrument is mellow in its low tones, although it is equally capable of producing loud, penetrating and breathy tones in its middle and upper registers. Little can be said of the sound of the shakuhachi without first hearing its hauntingly beautiful ring. With this in mind, noted ethnomusicologist Fumio Koizumi concluded: "Because of the religious origin of its music, the sound of the bamboo flute leads the mind directly into spiritual thought. Thus a single tone of the shakuhachi can sometimes bring one to the world of Nirvana."

The origin of the shakuhachi, according to one theory, has been traced back as far as ancient Egypt and is presumed to have migrated through India and China before entering Japan in the Sixth Century. Its popularity, however, was short-lived and it wasn't until the Thirteenth Century that it was revived by the Fuke sect of Buddhism which sought to replace sutra chanting with sui zen or "blowing zen." Not until the Edo Period (1603-1867) did this instrument reach its final and most decisive phase of development. During this era, marked by the disintegration of feudal Japan, the shakuhachi was favored by swelling numbers of uprooted samurai warriors (ronin) who joined the ranks of itinerant preachers known as komuso ("Priests of Emptiness and Nothingness"). The komuso wore large baskets (tengai) over their heads to symbolize their detachment from the world. Violent clan struggles which marked the late Sixteenth Century forced some of the komuso to organize themselves into a society for self-protection.

SHAKUHACHI YUU

'Yuu' - At Ease, Calm, Serene, Composed, Victorious and Eternal

The shakuhachi flute is an ancient instrument; known and appreciated for its mystical sound and expressiveness. Originally, the shakuhachi was used as a spiritual tool to relax the mind and body. Today, the shakuhachi is used for this same meditative purpose and for playing a wide variety of modern music as well. Designed by a world famous Japanese musician in 1976, the 1.8 size Shakuhachi Yuu is a quality, well tuned instrument, available at an affordable price for anyone who wants to play shakuhachi. With its precision bore design, the Shakuhachi Yuu plays easily, with a clear, bright and confident tone. The Yuu has good sound quality, accurate musical intervals, and excellent tonal balance throughout the entire musical scale.

The Shakuhachi Yuu is a perfect student shakuhachi for beginning players who want to experience the shakuhachi without spending a lot of money. There are also many advanced shakuhachi players and teachers around the world who enjoy having a Yuu in their collection as well.

One of the best things about the ABS Resin Shakuhachi Yuu is that it does not require maintenance like bamboo! You can take this flute with you wherever you go—traveling to foreign countries, hiking, backpacking, to the beach or desert—all without the slightest fear of the instrument being damaged. The Shakuhachi Yuu will withstand any weather conditions, you can even play it in your bath or in a hot tub under the stars! The Shakuhachi Yuu feels very similar to professional bamboo instruments in terms of its size, shape, and weight. It is extremely rugged in its construction and disassembles easily for travel. Please do not let the fact that the Shakuhachi Yuu is made from ABS plastic resin fool you or turn you away from owning one. The Shakuhachi Yuu is an excellent instrument, endorsed by numerous teachers and players, and the Yuu performs as well as some of the more expensive professional bamboo shakuhachi!

For those who may be interested, the production of the Shakuhachi Yuu is a collaboration between the engineer of the ABS Resin construction and a professional bamboo shakuhachi tuner. After the first stages of production, the Shakuhachi Yuu is cut to size and the utaguchi or blowing edge is crafted. And finally, the insides of the five holes on the Yuu are crafted and fine tuned.

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Easy-to-play flutes. They have only one hole which allows the player through overblowing, like with a Slovakian Fujara, to reach a series of overtones up to 6 octaves. You can make a third base tone through closing the big opening at the end of the flute, creating a lively and virtuous sound.

The overtone flute is an old scandinavian instrument that has influenced the folk music in many places by its special sound and scale. You can also find this flute in other countries like Hungary. You can regulate the tone height in two different ways. the first possibility - which gave name to the flute - is to vary the blowing intensity in a weak or strong manner. If you blow softly, you will receive a very low tone which is the fundamental tone of the flute, when you blow more intensively, higher tones will spring up in the rising scale and a so called overtone or natural tone scale will result. The position of the tones in the scale depends on the length of the flute. To make it easier to hit the desired note, begin blowing with a little ”t”- sound.

Another possibility of tone variation is to alternately close and open the orifice. When you cover the orifice, you will find that the tone rises or sinks to a position in the above mentioned scale between two tones. This will happen without taking into consideration the momentary position of the tone. Thereby the number of tones can be doubled. The same quantity of tones can be received again by putting a finger into the orifice of the flute. Then the tone rises up against half a tonestep, related to the above described interface tone on condition that the orifice is well covered.

The tones can also be "stretched" by gradually opening and closing the hole. The fact that the melodies are made by varying the blowing intensity has a unique healing effect on the breathing functions and by that on the whole human being.

Overtone flutes in bamboo
Our overtone flutes made of bamboo are easy to play.
These harmonic flutes have a warm to breathy sound.
They are available in several keynote variants.

Overtone flutes in copper
This is a bended copper overtone flute with a mouthpiece made of beech, in which a labium is included. It is played horizontally, but it is blown like a recorder. It has no finger holes. The pitch is fixed by the power of the breath and the opening and closing of the ending. Sounds very close to a Slovakian Fujara.

listen to the copper overtoneflute

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the Bolivian Moseño

Our Moseño flutes are handmade in Portugal using bamboo grown and processed in Europe. Our master instrument maker learned the art of Andean flute making in Bolivia. His great love of our manufacturer for this flute is reflected in the absolutely high-quality workmanship and the clean tuning, down to the smallest detail. This Moseño is tuned diatonically and ranges slightly over two octaves. Like the South American originals, each instrument is unique in form and colour. Their light, meditative sound seems to carry the weight of life and relaxes the soul.

For the Aymara Peoples, the traditional spiritual value of the Moseño extends in an unbroken line from past to present. The recent cross-cultural exchange of Indigenous instruments has the potential to spark new traditions amongst new groups of people. For example, understanding that the sound of the Moseño is linked to nuptial rites, a music-loving couple might decide to arrange to have this flute played at their wedding.

This Moseño is made of polished, flamed bamboo. It comes with a simple fabric bag as shown on the image.

Tuning: C major diatonic
Origin: Portugal
Material: Bamboo
Length approx. 66.0 cm (26.0")
Diameter approx. 4.0 cm (1.6")

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Maui Xaphoon

Classic Xaphoon

Xaphoon manual,
comes with each instrument

Xaphoon de Catalunya - almond wood

Xaphoon de Catalunya - oak wood

listen to the Maui Xaphoon

listen to the Maui Xaphoon "C" (taken from the CD "Indigo", by Kristalan)

listen to the Maui Xaphoon "C" (taken from a soundjourney by myself and Mieke Polfliet back in 2008)

Introducing the Maui Xaphoon (pronounced “za foon”), a "Bamboo Sax" for everyone who appreciates awesome sound but doesn’t want to schlep around a bulky instrument. The Xaphoon’s sound falls somewhere between a saxophone and a clarinet – a much richer sound than its size would suggest -- and was born to be played wherever and whenever the mood strikes. The experienced player will find the Xaphoon capable of all the subtle shadings and vibrant power of a saxophone. The beginner will find it fun and easy, and good practice for other reed instruments.

The Xaphoons are hand-made of Bamboo, cut from the rain forests of East Maui by the instrument's creator. A tenor saxophone reed, affixed to a built-in mouthpiece, is responsible for the instrument's unique sound. They are available in the keys of C and Bb, with recently added D, Es & G, possess a 2-octave, fully chromatic scale. The Xaphoon could become one of your most treasured belongings.

Imagine being able to create a sense of community wherever you are - at a bus stop, in a cave, waiting in line, even a parking garage! The Xaphoon is about two octaves lower than conventional flutes of the same length. Play it in an acoustic space and it will sound like a full-sized saxophone. Make friends while making spiritual music!

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