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The Unusual, the Strange, the Weird

© Karen Stafford

So you think that a flute is silver, held horizontally, with the air produced by the mouth? Ok, so maybe some strange folks add an extra low B to their footjoint or have holes in their keys. And some really strange folks have Bo-Peps that they use to help relieve hand position. Well, guess what? These folks aren't so strange. There are some really fun, but unusual flutes out there. Give 'em a try!

The biggest flute most of us have ever encountered is probably an alto flute, or maybe a bass flute. Want to try a contrabass flute? This link leads to some photographs of some REALLY big flutes, including a contrabass flute and a octobass flute (this is a new one to me!)

Then there are those flutes made of, well, quite unusual materials (unusual for instruments, that is). Something that is becoming quite popular around the flute crowd is the ownership of a crystal flute. I have one myself. They're beautiful, with a nice, clear sound. Hall Crystal Flutes come in a variety of sizes and pitches, not to mention designs!

Another flute with a uniqueconstruction is the Aquarian Survival Flute. These flutes are hand-crafted from a recycled and specially molded high-impact polypropylene, (which is very durable), then individually hand fired. This gives them the appearance of a wooden finish.

Now, I don't mean to gross some of you out, but imagine playing a flute with your nose. Well, I don't think you can logistically play a "normal" flute with your nose without wearing out your arms and shoulders, but there is such an animal as a noseflute. If you check out this page, you'll find an audio clip of a noseflute being performed. Noseflutes are traditional in Hawaii, as the Hawaiian . Music Page shows.

The well-respected flute teacher and performer Trevor Wye has a description of his "FLUTES FANTASTAIC" recital on his homepage., This recital is performed on 50 different unusual fltues, including a 750 year old ocarina.

Speaking of ocarinas, just what are they? This page has a good description of ocarinas and their history.

The best place to see many, many flutes, both common and unusual, would be at the Dayton C. Miller Collection at the United States Library of Congress. But, if you can't go to Washington, D.C., you can still see some pictures of what Miller had collected over the years. The previous link leads to a photograph of a green glass flute given to Lafayette. Kristin Ohlin, on her visit to the collection, took several photographs, which are featured on her site. These pictures include the following: