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.

Jun 14, 2014

International Nose Flute Day - NFHoF nomination

Today is the 3rd INFD - International Nose Flute Day! The 14th of June was chosen as an anniversary of the registration of William Carter's Nasalette patent, the first urban nose flute. Have you planned something specific? Are you going to celebrate this day?

---

Cornelius Degen (1956-2014)

Cornelius Degen was a German storyteller and musician using nose flutes in his performances. But more than that, he was a fine craftsman - notably making wooden "magic" boxes - and an inventive nose flute builder. Cornelius built beautifully designed Nasenflöten, finely crafted, and invented a sliding air duct cover allowing one to set the global tuning of the flute, from medium to sharp. We had previously written a post about him and his work.



We just learned that Cornelius Degen passed away last February, after a long disease. We are very sad, and the nose flute world lost an active advocate of the little wind instrument. Noseflute.org has decided to nominate him as member of the Nose Flute Hall of Fame, in the "Producers" section.



The Nosy Diva, who knew him personally, wrote this little message :

I met Cornelius Degen at the Kulturelle Landpartie in the Wendland two years ago. There were always lots of people looking at the fascinating things he had made and the stories he told about them. There was a litle butterfly magically moving his wings, a little golden ball that made fairylike sound and this tall, gentle man speaking like a storyteller of the ancient times. I was so fascinated that I did not see at once he had nose flutes also, very fine, beautifully crafted instruments with interesting details.
I remember him well and I am very sad that he left us at such young age. He was a great inventor, craftsman, storyteller and a beautiful person.
Danke Cornelius to have reminded us of the magic of life and little things! For your creativity and research and craftsmanship, you absolutely deserve a place in the Nose Flute Hall of Fame!


Noseflute.org, very lately aware of the sad news, sends its whole sympathy to the family and friends.