Overtone flute
Encyclopedia
Overtone flute refers to a type of a flute which lacks playing holes, and so can only produce notes from a natural scale
. Lacking holes, the tube of such a flute has much higher resonance Q factor
than a tube of standard flutes, and so can produce dozens of upper harmonics (rather than 2–3 for recorder
, or five for kaval
), making it possible to play simple melodies (see resonance
for explanation of the effect).
Harmonic series (music)
Pitched musical instruments are often based on an approximate harmonic oscillator such as a string or a column of air, which oscillates at numerous frequencies simultaneously. At these resonant frequencies, waves travel in both directions along the string or air column, reinforcing and canceling...
. Lacking holes, the tube of such a flute has much higher resonance Q factor
Q factor
In physics and engineering the quality factor or Q factor is a dimensionless parameter that describes how under-damped an oscillator or resonator is, or equivalently, characterizes a resonator's bandwidth relative to its center frequency....
than a tube of standard flutes, and so can produce dozens of upper harmonics (rather than 2–3 for recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
, or five for kaval
Kaval
The kaval is a chromatic end-blown flute traditionally played throughout Azerbaijan, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, southern Serbia , northern Greece , Romania , and Armenia...
), making it possible to play simple melodies (see resonance
Resonance
In physics, resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate at a greater amplitude at some frequencies than at others. These are known as the system's resonant frequencies...
for explanation of the effect).
Types of overtone flutes
- KalyukaKalyukaKalyuka is a Russian and Ukrainian overtone flute, lacking playing holes. Traditionally, Kalyukas were made form hollow plants stems, such as Motherwort, or Angelica...
- RussianRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and UkrainianUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
overtone flute - Willow fluteWillow fluteThe willow flute, also known as sallow flute , is a Scandinavian folk flute, or whistle, consisting of a simple tube with a transverse fipple mouthpiece and no finger holes...
- ScandinavianScandinaviansScandinavians are a group of Germanic peoples, inhabiting Scandinavia and to a lesser extent countries associated with Scandinavia, and speaking Scandinavian languages. The group includes Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, and additionally the descendants of Scandinavian settlers such as the Icelandic...
flute - FujaraFujaraThe fujara originated in central Slovakia as a large sophisticated folk shepherd's fipple flute of unique design. It is technically a contrabass instrument in the tabor pipe class....
- a Slovakian flute - KoncovkaKoncovkaKoncovka is a Slovak duct-blown overtone fipple flute without finger holes, traditionally played by shepherds. The koncovka flute is played by closing and opening the bottom hole of the flute. By increasing the air speed, two different harmonic series of notes can be played with the end either open...
- another Slovakian flute
External Links
- overtone-flute.com - pictures, sounds and information
- Kalyuka - russian overtone flute - videos, sounds and information