This blog is dedicated to the sublime instruments called nose flutes and which produce the most divine sound ever. We have chosen to discard all the native models from S. Pacific and Asia, for they need fingering to be played. We'll concentrate on "buccal cavity driven" nose flutes : the well patented and trademarked metal or plastic ones, plus, by a condemnable indulgence, some wooden craft or home-made productions.

Mar 9, 2012

A Dutch silver jewel...

We already showed in this blog the silver nose flute made by the goldsmith Hendrik Komen, from Den Haag (NL), for the player Mr. Job te Pas.

Here is another silver specimen, a real jewel...

Mr. Maikel Mei is a musician and a teacher from Amsterdam, classically trained as a pianist and singer from the age of 8. From the age of 14, he taught himself how to play the nose flute, by playing along with LPs and songs on the radio. Songs that he plays now include: Cambacuna (Traditional Peruvian), The Badinerie (J.S. Bach), Machine Gun (Jimi Hendrix), Bijou (Queen), Exile (Enya), My One & Only Love (Chet Baker).

Maikel Mei kindly made for us a series of great pictures of his jewel : a beautiful Britannia silver nose flute.


Here is the notice he wrote :

This silver nose flute was built by Dutch flute player, teacher and builder Jelle Hogenhuis from Leeuwarden in April 1998.
It basically is a copy of the 'Swan logo' flute, as it evolves around its diameter of 5 centimetres. A few adjustments and improvements were made related to the labium and the cavity, to channel the air flow and to prevent any air from leaking. The instrument produces a very rich tone and a fine resonance due to its thick body of Britannia silver (95.84%).
The object remains 'untouched', carrying no trademark nor hallmark. It sits in a purpose-built hardwood case lined with black velvet, also created by Jelle Hogenhuis.


Now, let's enjoy and dream :




Mar 8, 2012

Gizmo : The Nose Flute PIMP !

An inevitable accessory for your nose flute : the PIMP! I could write an essay about it, but the best is simply to show you the presentation video :

Mar 7, 2012

Video : Auld Lang Syne

Ayano is a sweet young Japanese geekette! Here, she plays the Auld Lang Syne.

Mar 6, 2012

Home made : The Nasalette

I had some time to spend. So I decided to make a nose flute, on my (computer) desk, with simple tools and just with an long aluminium plate (40 mm wide/2 mm thick) and glue (very hard bi-component epoxy). I made no prior sketches. I just felt the need to make. So I did, without a clue of what it would be once completed. I called it the "Nasalette", in memory of William Carter.





I am quite satisfied with the result; the flute can go deep in the bass, and has a fine attack...
Be judge (not of my playing please :), here is a video :

Mar 4, 2012

Video : Herbstlied on the nose flute

A nice (and funny) interpretation of the Herbstlied (Felix Mendelssohn) by Anodslam, with 2 nose flutes. There is no video images, just a still funny collage to watch.