Overtone flutes

OF Nina Waldkauz Bass Oberton Floete
OF Nina Waldkauz Bass Oberton Floete OF Nina Waldkauz Bass Oberton Floete
side blown overtone flutes, sälgflojt
side blown overtone flutes, sälgflojt side blown overtone flutes, sälgflojt
OF Fabienne Kirschke von Brisinga Obertonflöte
OF Fabienne Kirschke von Brisinga Obertonflöte OF Fabienne Kirschke von Brisinga Obertonflöte
collapsible low overtone flute in D
collapsible low overtone flute in D collapsible low overtone flute in D
spiral shell inlay
spiral shell inlay spiral shell inlay
OF kellyovertoneflute
OF kellyovertoneflute OF kellyovertoneflute
Elder and its surfaces
Elder and its surfaces Elder and its surfaces
Amethyst inlay in elderflute
Amethyst inlay in elderflute Amethyst inlay in elderflute
OFTino Jüttner
OFTino Jüttner OFTino Jüttner
Flower Carving in Elder Flute
Flower Carving in Elder Flute Flower Carving in Elder Flute
varieties of overtone flutes
varieties of overtone flutes varieties of overtone flutes
OFanna-maria hefele
OFanna-maria hefele OFanna-maria hefele
varieties of overtone flutes
hazel blocks on overtone flutes hazel blocks on overtone flutes
OF die Schwestern Obertonflöte
OF die Schwestern Obertonflöte OF die Schwestern Obertonflöte
walking stick flute, elderwood
walking stick flute, elderwood walking stick flute, elderwood
various stones and inlays in flutes
various stones and inlays in flutes various stones and inlays in flutes
OF lunahovertoneblackfor
OF lunahovertoneblackfor OF lunahovertoneblackfor
hematite shell and carving
hematite shell and carving hematite shell and carving
OF KellyOvertoneFlute1
OF KellyOvertoneFlute1 OF KellyOvertoneFlute1
Flutes in the Valle Genal
Flutes in the Valle Genal Flutes in the Valle Genal
Overtone Flutes
Overtone Flutes Overtone Flutes

An overtone flute is one of the oldest sorts of flute. It consists of a simple tube without any finger-holes that is blown on the top end. It is easy for anyone to learn because of its simplicity and the beauty of the natural harmonics of the overtone scale. By opening and closing the end-hole and varying the amount and strength of air blown through it, the archaic and other-worldly overtone scale is easily produced.

I make flutes of varying lengths and inside diameters, all of which produce different sorts of sound in various pitches and registers. The overtone flute is available in two forms; as a fipple flute with a carefully crafted mouthpiece like a recorder, or as an open-ended notched flute similar to the S.American 'Quena'. ( check out: how to play overtone flute )

History:

To this day the traditional overtone flute is still played in Scandinavia where it is known as the 'Seljefløyte' ('willow flute' or 'sallow flute'). It can also be found further afield in the Balkans and eastern Europe. It is also known in Italy as a traditional folk-instrument often used to play the 'Tarantella'.
A woodcut from the sixteenth century book 'Cosmographie' by Sebastian Münster illustrating the section on the Black Forest shows an overtone flute-player and a bagpiper. It would appear then that -just as with the bagpipes with a single reed in the chanter- in the Balkans are the last vestiges of traditions once common throughout Central Europe.

(More at www.obertonfloete.de)

The medium and small sized flutes have various types of mouthpiece.

The straight mouthpiece is the simplest and more convenient one.

The beak-like form is familiar to many people from the recorder. I also make a special narrower version for the double-flutes.

The side-blown type is common in Italy and Scandinavia. Bear in mind that the sound is produced very close to the ear.

Somewhat harder to play is the aforementioned 'Quena' (or 'Kena') type, which produces a wider variety of tonal qualities.

{In the pictures from left to right: Double-flute with beak-form; with straight mouthpiece; side-blown; Quena type.}

All the overtone flutes can be made with a side-hole for semitones if so desired. ( Here a variety of playing techniques can be seen Link )

The collapsible version of the overtone-flute, made of maple wood, stained in red or green.

It can be made with the Fujara finger-holes, to be played as Fujara and overtone flute.

Small: Between the pitches of A(400mm) to F(500mm) these are made with an inside diameter of 12mm. Crisp and fast to play, giving a high, whistley sound. In Italian folk music it has often been used to play the 'Tarantella'.
Medium: The standard sizes are pitched from E(520mm) to A(850mm). Larger inside diameters produce a richer tone on the deeper notes, whilst smaller ones are easier to over-blow and sound somewhat more windy and whistley. The Scandinavian 'Seljefløyte' have a rather narrow inside diameter, I match it to the length to achieve the desired tonal qualities.
Large: The pitches from A(850mm) to C(1280mm) are so long that a different set-up is necessary to reach the end of the flute. On the shorter ones the blow-hole is set further back, but from the pitch of F onwards there is an auxiliary head-joint section set accordingly to arm's length. (See pictures).
A double flute version is also available. Two flutes are played simultaneously producing a fascinating sound effect.

other tunings on request

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on the right a recording of an Overtoneflute in G (ca. 880mm long)
recorded in Mirepoix, France

on the left an overtone flute in D (570mm) played by Fiona Rüggeberg
'Nahtegal' on the Album 'Buch der Balladen'