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I have a four hole pent minor flute that overblows it's octave easily with NO fifth or thumb hole. My question is why is there a thumb hole and were there early shakuhachi that had only four holes?-P. Riley
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pdqriley wrote:
I have a four hole pent minor flute that overblows it's octave easily with NO fifth or thumb hole. My question is why is there a thumb hole ...
Atari's and other grace-note-like embellishments come to my mind first.
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radi0gnome wrote:
pdqriley wrote:
I have a four hole pent minor flute that overblows it's octave easily with NO fifth or thumb hole. My question is why is there a thumb hole ...
Atari's and other grace-note-like embellishments come to my mind first.
Meh, way down on the list.
That fifth hole is a huge addition to the sound color capabilities of the instrument: Without it there'd be no"I", and all the other pitches that wrap
around that area. Quite a few added pitches, equivalent to pitches elsewhere on the flute, but with very different color.
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No Koro Koro either.
Pitch is the 'same' but tone and timbre and everything else about the sound differs, including the way it is blown, IME.
K.
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No Ha-(ra)-Ro.
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But it is very interesting that the fifth hole is there at all to double the octave (unnecessary melodically), while a couple of extra finger holes that would make some very difficult notes easier to play are missing, leaving a bunch of fingers out of work. The Japanese are weird people...
The Okuralo (in my avatar) is an excellent idea; too bad WWII got in the way of its continued manufacture
Toby
Last edited by Toby (2010-02-23 20:30:10)
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Toby wrote:
But it is very interesting that the fifth hole is there at all to double the octave (unnecessary melodically), while a couple of extra finger holes that would make some very difficult notes easier to play are missing, leaving a bunch of fingers out of work. The Japanese are weird people...
The Okuralo (in my avatar) is an excellent idea; too bad WWII got in the way of its continued manufacture
Toby
However, as edosan already said, the I and kan-Ro are quite different in terms of tone color. Japanese shakuhachi music would be far poorer and less interesting with only one of those options.
Same thing with the "missing holes."
7 and 8 hole shakuhachi might be more convenient, but essential tone colors are lost from the music.
I mean ... listen to THIS !!!!
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Toby wrote:
But it is very interesting that the fifth hole is there at all to double the octave (unnecessary melodically), while a couple of extra finger holes that would make some very difficult notes easier to play are missing, leaving a bunch of fingers out of work. The Japanese are weird people...
The Okuralo (in my avatar) is an excellent idea; too bad WWII got in the way of its continued manufacture
Toby
Or you could play slide whistle and get every interval without even having to use any fingerings.
Isn't a silver flute with one of Monty's headjoint adapters basically the same as an Okuralo?
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Toby, I'm shocked, SHOCKED!
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I visited Monty last year and we put the Okuralo head to head (so to speak) with a shakulute, and yes, they are basically the same instrument. I have some nice Ifugao nose flutes from the Philippines with only three holes, and they make their own brand of music, it must be said.
I'm not arguing for a more rational fingering system for the shakuhachi, I am merely pointing out that interesting choices were made at some point in its development. I wonder if the honkyoku is a result of the limitations of the flute, or vice versa...
And of course it must be said that what the shakuhachi lacks in holes, it more than makes up for in tonal expression. The recording of Rampal playing Japanese music on his gold Haynes would be laughable if it weren't so pitiful...
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I suggest Atari only, its enough i dont want to say anything over it.
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