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Testimonials, Part 2

The following are testimonials from owners of Martin Doyle flutes. If you would like to add a testimonial to these pages, kindly contact Martin Doyle or his webmaster.

Brother Seamus Byrne – Celtic musician and singer from County Wicklow, Ireland:

         I have a boxwood D flute made by Martin Doyle. It sounds incredibly beautiful. I've heard other people play more expensive flutes but they don't sound half as good! And even their owners are amazed at the sound I get out of the boxwood flute. No doubt, Martin is a genius!

 

Premik Russell Tubbs – flautist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and producer from Queens, New York, USA:

         Regarding his Martin Doyle keyless celtic style D flute in African blackwood (without a tuning slide), Premik enthusiastically stated, "I love, I love, I love my Martin Doyle flute!!!"

 

 

Apatini Dora – flute player from Hungary:

         When Martin first came to Hungary, I had the opportunity to try one of his flutes and it was flute-love at first sight. They are so beautiful, with such wonderful tone! I think that when Martin makes these flutes, he gives not just his knowledge and know-how, but his spirit too! That is what I feel every time I have my flute in my hands.

 

Judit Kuti – flute player from Hungary:

         As a complete beginner in playing the flute I was a little afraid to begin with and prepared to face an 'beginners struggle period' during my first attempts. Instead, your flute is providing me 'daily harmony moments' that I've been seeking for so long. It is so much easier to forget respiration problems if even the first tentative sounds compensate for them! I just love my flute and am very thankful to you.

 

Pat Plunkett – is a whistle and flute player from West Virginia in the USA:

         I have a little story for you... I recently visited Ireland and stayed a couple of nights in Doolin. While there, I visited Skip at the Doolin Music Shop and tried a couple of your flutes, a rosewood and a blackwood. Well, I liked them a lot, but Skip couldn't do credit cards beccause his shop was being renovated. Anyway, when I got back to the States, I started looking around and was able to buy one of your flutes from Doc Jones of the Irish Flute Store. It's a Celtic model in blackwood with three silver rings. Basically, I just wanted to tell you that this is the best-playing flute I've ever owned! I wish I could have met you and visited your workshop when I was over there, since I was only a few miles from you, but I may be back next spring or summer. Again, I love this flute!

Paul McCarthy – a self-professed 'flute player for the fun of it' from Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland:

         Having played other flutes (mainly African blackwood with headliner) and been dissatisfied with their somewhat capricious nature, I started searching for an instrument which did not have these flaws. After scratching around the country on and off for months and visiting several well respected flute makers, I failed to find what I was looking for. Maybe it was me and not the flutes but I found them very unacceptably fickle. Eventually in the autumn of 2005 I found myself in a snug workshop in Bray talking with a very relaxed and affable flute maker who invited me to sit into the corner and try any flute I could find. There were several on a rack on the table next to me so I started with the one closest to me and worked my way along about 7 or 8 of them. Being of a methodical nature, I played the same tune (a slip jig called A Fig For A Kiss) on each of them to better judge their performance. All were sweet toned, balanced and uncapricious.

Then my eye lit on it! A nice looking cocus wood, unkeyed, unlined flute at the end of the rack. The feeling I got on playing those first few notes I can still recall. Absolutely gorgeous tone, weight and balance, not a hint of fickleness and with that lovely soft, mellow reverberation which comes with good tone. Low D? No problem. Another fifteen minutes playing passed interspersed with question and answers with Martin. The decision to buy this particular flute was not made by me nor by Martin but by the flute. This thing of beauty is of the rare sort and gives massive enjoyment. Thanks are not enough Martin Doyle!

Shardul – flute player from Auckland, New Zealand, who specialises in the meditative music composed by Sri Chinmoy:

         I have been playing Martin Doyle's flutes since 2001 and currently have two; a three keyed D flat in African Blackwood and a keyless D in Boxwood. Both are without tuning slides. While there is quite a difference in the tonality and personality of these flutes, their similarities are clarity of tone, great tuning and amazing responsiveness. They are also beautifully finished. Whether I am playing music in gentle or dynamic mode, these flutes offer everything I need and much more. I am always finding new and interesting expression and possibilities. Indeed, Martin Doyle's motto, 'ease of playing – quality of tone', is no empty brag but a solid reality! Thank you Martin – the world of music, Irish traditional or otherwise, is the richer for your efforts.

       Music Sample
       Related article: Finding Your Instrument

Malyavati – artist, chef, singer and flute player from Christchurch, New Zealand:

         Dear Martin – it has been a few weeks now since you sent the [traditional style in D] boxwood flute, and I just wanted to let you know how much I love it. She is simply beautiful and just what I asked for. I am not practising enough at the moment, but whenever I do she sends me off to another realm. So much depth and sweetness. :-) Thank you!!" (An image of Malyavati's boxwood flute may be viewed here: Martin Doyle Boxwood D flute)

 

Phoolanjaya – singer and flute player from Auckland, New Zealand:

         I have been playing the classical flute since I was five years old but when I first heard the wooden flute in Ireland, I immediately decided to buy one! (Celtic style flute in New Zealand Black Maire wood) I really enjoy the deep, smooth, earthy tones that the wooden flute produces. The sound carries an ancient, haunting feeling. I find that I can put so much more expression, beauty and subtlety into the music on the wooden flute than I could on the concert flute.

 

Mark Royden – aeronautical engineer and flute player from Auckland, New Zealand:

         I recently acquired a lovely used keyless flute made of Maple wood (nice, as I'm Canadian!) It turned out to be a Martin Doyle flute and within an hour I was able to get a couple of simple tunes out of it. The flute practically played itself! This fantastic ease of playing is a credit to the makers skill and talent. I have since played a number of Martin's flutes and found them all easy to play and they look as beautiful as they sound. The world of flute music is indeed fortunate to have a craftsman of Martin's standard whose love of the old ways and willingness to experiment are bound to keep the Irish flute alive and prospering for a long time to come.

George Hoar – jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist from North Carolina in the USA:

         Hey Martin! Enjoying playing one of your traditional flutes that I picked up here in the States – great craftsmanship! In the attached file is one of my original pieces played on your great flute. Best, George.

       Music Sample

 

Andrew Lyon – flute player from Glasgow, Scotland:

         Hi Martin. I had a couple of hours playing on the new flute you sent me. Great! My wife says I am to throw away my concert flute!

 

More: Testimonials, Part 3