Birdsong at Night
 
This flute began life in South Wales at the foot of Offa’s Dyke. I was in my old camper van in a  beautiful field next to a river. The grass was the brightest green imaginable as the sun shone down from a magnificent sky of blue. My only neighbours here were a small flock of sheep content to endlessly graze at this magic carpet. Some flutes I create in one sitting without a break and this was true with this flute. My inspiration for her was the ever changing Earth around me as the afternoon went to dusk and finally to night. The colours were always incredible as the sun dipped lower in the sky and finally hid behind the mountains to the west. The night was still and for awhile there was only the sound of the nearby river whispering softly as she glided past with infinite grace. Then I noticed from some distance away the faintest song of a bird. Gradually the song grew. Not just in volume but also in its complexity and beauty. It seemed to be coming from all around me and as I continued to craft this flute I could feel the song within me as this miraculous melody became woven into the very heart of this flute. When I finished tuning her, we all played our first song together under a crystal clear, starlit sky. This song was traveling to the heavens as well as journeying deep within my soul. In celebration and gratitude to this most wonderful winged friend I have named this flute Birdsong at Night. The totem on this flute can be played in two positions. Facing within towards the player or facing outwards towards Mother Earth and the connected Universe. It is my intention for this flute to play with joy and beauty and love where ever her songs may travel. That is what I felt from the beautiful songbird.
 
She is in the key of G4 at 432Hz and is 51cm (20”). She is made of Spotted Bamboo and I use a combination of burning, sanding and polishing which gives each of these flutes a wonderful smooth finish and unique colour pattern. She has 6 finger holes and is tuned to a pentatonic minor scale.The Totem is made from Black Locust which has been collected in the forest by my father to make his own beautiful objects. The eyes are of Turquoise as is the setting on the body of the flute.The Totem is held in place with leather lace from North American Whitetail Deer hide. Finger hole #4 is also covered with the same lace. This can be slid up and down at any time to change this flute between a 5 hole and 6 hole configuration.The red and blue lashing is of waxed cotton whipping cord and the natural colour lashing at either end is artificial sinew.The feathers are tied on with leather cord and they are from Magpie. If you look carefully at them in the sunlight you can see many of the colours I saw that day and night this flute was a created. As always these feathers were found while I am walking with Mother Nature.
 
Find the music within yourself!