The Gael Westport African Blackwood Simple System Irish Flute in D
A three piece Irish Wooden flute with brass tuning slide at the head joint Brass lined head joint for a clearer tone and easier blowing.
The Gael Westport model is a brilliant tunable flute just right for getting into and playing Irish Traditional Music. Basically the finger pattern is much the same as a large penny whistle, you can cross-finger or half-hole to get the accidentals, yes slightly less efficient than a keyed flute but has the advantages of being lighter and much less expensive. And importantly most traditional Irish tunes sit well on this style of simple system flute.
African Blackwood is recognized as one of the premier woods for the manufacture of flutes offering a much richer, more rounded tone than flutes made from other woods.
The Gael Westport is a fine example of an African Blackwood Flute that won’t break the bank. Brass lined head Joint with tuning slide, corked joints, Nickel Rings and full length foot joint are all features of this flute.
If you want to play regularly with other musicians, a tuning slide—the bit of metal tubing in the head joint that allows the flute's head to be pushed in or out—is recommended.
A tuning slide is a good idea because a flute that is in tune with other instruments at the beginning of a session will gradually become sharper as you play. (Here's why: when you start blowing warm air into a cold flute, the instrument's cool walls reduce the temperature of the air column inside it. But after playing for a few minutes, your breath starts to warm the flute, allowing the air column's temperature to approach that of your body. Because sound moves faster through warm air than cold, the flute becomes sharper in pitch as it warms up. Simply adjust the head joint to keep staying in tune. Thanks to Henrik Norbeck for this explanation.) Could not have said it better ourselves.
Many flutes that have been patterned after the great English Flute makers of days gone by incorporate, just like this Gael Westport African Blackwood Flute, a metal tube within the head joint. This lining of the head tends to produce a clearer tone especially in the upper octave.
And finally the rounded oval embouchure hole will tend to produce a darker and more focused tone.
Specification: Gael Westport African Black Wood Irish Flute
- Length: 26” - 660mm
- Case: Maple Wood Included in the price
Also available in less expensive tone woods. The Gael Cocus wood and the Gael Rose wood models.
