My new 8 key Flute |
20 January
2004 © Hans Bracker |
![]() The flute is made by Dominic Allan (see www.woodflutes.co.uk) It is his small-holed model in D made of blackwood with boxwood rings. Some short tunes played on this flute are here: Soundsamples |
The flute is very beautifully
made and of the highest standards of workmanship. Due to the smaller hole sizes (hole 5 is 9mm) and bore it plays very easily and requires less breath, and has a very fast snappy response. It can be played quietly and also quite loud. It has a good tone, perhaps a bit more focussed and crisp and less mellow than some R&R type flutes. The keys are easy to use and very well sprung. The bottom C is easy to play too. Intonation is very good over both octaves, and it is easy to play into the third octave too. |
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![]() Foot joint with Eb, C# and C keys of modern ergonomic design. To accomodate my large fingers Dominic shortened the C and C# touches a little, which gives me better space to work the Eb key. |
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![]() The head is partly lined. The slide is nickel-silver with the outer part silver (plus gold) plated. |
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![]() Bb, Cnat and G# keys. Dominic did a few modifications, like the bend Bb key, to accomodate my fingers better. The body is recessed at the Bb and short Fnat touches, so the keys open better and give a better tone. The touches have a little pad of felt to prevent noisy keywork. The springs have a metal plate recessed in the body to avoid wear on the wood. |
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![]() The Fnat combined keys and G# key-touch. Dominic put an extra spring in for the long Fnat lever, to prevent it from moving loosely. |
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