Bryce Canyon Hoodoos

During July I spent some time in Bryce Canyon, UT.

Bryce Canyon is at the top of the Grand Staircase. A line of cliffs that start at the North Rim of Grand Canyon and rise past the Vermilion Cliffs, the White Cliffs (Zion Nat'l Park) and end in the Pink Cliffs which form

the amphitheatres of Bryce Canyon.

Here I am performing a Loomis Flute at Sunset Point. As always, my Apple PowerBook is by my side.

Magellan

Magellan
Feb 23rd, 1989 - Aug 11th, 2003

I know that for many people this is completely lame but I thought I would post some photos to remember him by:

Resting... what dogs love.


With his niece, Rachel.


Taking a break from playing Frisbee.

More

Moon over Sagurao

Took this outside of Oro Valley, AZ. You can read more about it on the Cedar Mesa Music blog pages.

Road Trip

Part of being a musician is being on the road. Playing the Native American flute means that I traveled through the Southwest a lot. Yesterday I did an appearance at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and between sets got to take a tour of the largest ruin on the site, or “Big House”, for which the monument is named.


This very large structure is from the Hohokam culture which was once the largest prehistoric culture in what is now southern Arizona around modern day Phoenix and Tucson. Built during the Civano phase cira AD1300 - 1350 Casa Grande lies about halfway between these two modern cities. The Big House is the only remaining structure of it’s kind and was thought to be used by an elite class, perhaps for religious purposes by a priestly class. Aside from it’s size the building was aligned to movements of the sun and moon.


In the inner most room of the Big House, holes in the wall are aligned with the equinoxes of the rising sun. In the photo above the sunlight shines through the hole on the left, from the rising sun, during the equinox and casts it’s image on the opposite wall. As the sun moves higher in the sky, it’s image moves down the opposite wall and lines up in another hole in that wall. There are also alignments to the Major and Minor standstills of the moon.


Surrounding the Big House are adobe, or caliche, room blocks like modern apartment structures. These made up a larger compound that may have once been walled in like a small ancient medieval city. Casa Grande Runs National Monument consists of at least four of these compounds. Many of the compounds have platform mounds that where used for ceremonies, dances and other public events. Much like plazas are used by modern Pueblo cultures. There is also a ball court where ancient game was played with a rubber ball where the players could not use their hands. Ball courts are common in Meso America and their presence in North America is thought to be a cultural influence from Meso America. To read more about other travels I’ve taken in the southwest visit the ECHOES FROM THE ROAD section of www.cedarmesa.com

As an aside, the desert, after the hugh amounts of rain that have fallen this winter, is in full bloom now. Wildflowers are everywhere and everything is a wonderful green.

Concert Photos

Thought I would post some photos of a concert I did last year. A fan from Florida sent me these.
Playing a Hawk Little John bass G flute.

Here's a wider shot.

You can see more concert photos at www.cedarmesa.com/photos.

Native American flutes Part 2

In the post "Native American flutes Part 1" we looked at flutes made in the "Plains" style. In this post we're going to look at a "Woodland" style flute made by Hawk Little John and Geri Little John of Woodsong flutes. (The main difference between these two styles is basically that the sound of a "Plains" style flute has a brighter tone while "Woodland" style flutes are more mellow.)


This flute, like the last two, is also made of cedar.

The block, the classic Little John design, is also made of cedar as are the tips.

This is an extremely expressive flute, having a haunting sound that begs to be played solo. It has a classic Little John tone, dark, resonant, and full. This particular flute is also a little temperamental and can squeak if you're not careful. My other Woodsong flutes do not do this. This squeak is not always bad. I like to use it during the ends of notes to add expression from time to time. Most "Woodland" style flutes are not built for fast fingering and tonguing. Not that they can't be played that way, it just seems most of the time to work against their lovely, warm sound. Here is an audio sample of this flute from my second CD, Sacred Dreams.
LISTEN TO THIS FLUTE.
If you compare the audio sample of this flute with the flutes from Part 1 you might be able to hear the difference in tones.

The flute is 23-1/2" long and has a 1-1/4" bore. Hawk and Geri made it for me in 1999 and it is #63 of 250 flutes they made that year. Little John flutes are beautifully made, with simple clean lines. Unfortunately Hawk passed away a few years ago. A major loss to fans of the Native American flute. Geri is rumored to be making flutes again under the name Red Moon Flutes, but I have not spoken to her in a long time and do not have any information where to get them.
We'll talk about Little John "Woodland" style flutes in future postings, including looking at one of their Bass flutes.

To find out more information about these makers, check out the Native American flute makers page on my web site. LINK
There is no link for Woodsong flutes.

Be sure to check out the photos of my flute collection on my web site. LINK.

Here is a page where you can also learn more about the history and construction too. LINK

If you have any questions, send it to me using the link below.

Native American flutes Part 1

Let's look at a couple Native American flutes. I picked two flutes in the key of G so we can compare how, even though they're in the same key, they sound unique. Being in the same key is not all they share as we shall see.

To start let's take a look at a G Native American flute made by Michael Gulino of Moonlight Creek flutes.

This is a lovely flute made of cedar.

The block is a walnut coyote. Michael's signature block design.

This flute is one of my favorite flutes. It's easy to play, responds well to my fingers and is very expressive. I use it a lot live, and recorded it on the song "Emergence" from Distant Spirits".
The flute is 21-1/2" long (all measurements are rounded) and has a 1" bore. It has only five holes, but can play all the notes that a six hole flute can. Michael made it for me in 2000 and it is #269 of that year. His flutes are hand rounded which is very time consumming. This flute has a classic Native American flute sound to my ears. The tone is sweet, clear and has the familiar haunting quality of the instrument.
Listen to this flute.

Now let's take a look at a Native American flute made by Marvin Yazzie of Yazzie flutes.

This flute is also made of cedar, but notice the lighter color.

It also has a wonderful horse block and tips made from walnut.

This was the first Yazzie flute I got and it is featured on my latest CD, New Fire, on track 10 "Ancient Memories". I love the subtleties of Yazzie flutes. They're great solo instruments.
This flute is also 21-1/2" long and has a 1" bore. This is a six hole flute and is hand carved by Marvine with a spoke shaver, which like Michael Gulino's flutes takes a longer time to make. Yazzie flutes have a haunting, round sound, which to my ears sounds a little clarinet-like. They still have that classic sound, but with a sligthly different quality.
Listen to this flute.

I'll be talking about both of these makers in future postings. Both are great flute makers and wonderful people. If you're new to the Native American flute I would recommend both of their flutes for beginners. They are reasonably priced, well tuned and sound great. They are also prefect for more accomplished players as well.

As we look at other flutes one of the things we'll notice is that all flutes sound a little different. Even flutes in the same key, made by the same maker, and using the same wood will each have a slightly different sound.

To find out more information about these makers, check out the Native American flute makers page on my web site. Makers Page.

If you have any questions send me a comment with the link below.