Saturday, October 9, 2010

Anasazi style flutes

Anasazi flutes are notch flutes similar to the shakuchi and quena. The mouthpiece is slightly bevelled and there are six finger holes. The original Anasazi flutes were found in a cave in Arizona and have been carbon dated as being over thirteen centuries old. I made my Anasazi style flutes according to descriptions of the original instruments. The models I created probably resemble shakuhachi/quena hybrids rather than actual Anasazi flutes but that did not matter to much to me.

Here is a PVC flute made in the Anasazi style:

Here's a bamboo version. I made this one with finger holes placed according to how my hands fit on the instrument. Note this flute is made from bamboo I found lying on the ground. In other words, I made this instrument from scratch.

 Here's an Anasazi style flute made according to descriptions of the original instruments. I was unable to play my first attempt properly because I had taken the descriptions literally. Then I considered the possibility the original craftsman/player made his flutes according to how his hands fit on the instruments and I followed suit.

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