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Music In The Family, Part 2

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In the previous post, we highlighted a new album that has just been produced and released by Martin Doyle’s daughter Aoife Doyle. Continuing with the theme of music in the family, this post highlights some video clips produced and posted on YouTube by Martin’s son Joe Doyle – a talented multi-instrumentalist/singer/composer and voice artist. Joe recently spent some time at Martin’s home in County Clare and recorded three video clips with local flute player Brian Morgan. Brian is playing Martin Doyle flutes and Joe is playing bouzouki.

Two reels with Brian playing a keyless Martin Doyle traditional flute made of boxwood.

Brian and Joe play two jigs, the second of which is Christy Barry’s jig. Brian is playing a Martin Doyle keyed flute made from African Blackwood.

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Music In The Family, Part 1

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“We had music in the house…” It is an expression that one quite often hears when Irish musicians and singers recall the good fortune of having parents, relatives and friends who would play their instruments, sing their songs and tell their stories during informal gatherings and house sessions. This ‘living tradition’ has been the catalyst for a great many people into the joyful (and sometimes storm-tossed) river that is music and Martin Doyle’s family, upstream and down, is no exception. Martin’s three children, grown adults now, are all instrumentalists and singers. Martin himself recounts the influence of his parents and grand-parents in his own development as a musician and flute maker. So the gift of music often flows down through the generations and evolves as creative self-expression in those who are blessed to receive it.

In the case of the Martin’s daughter, Aoife Doyle, it is through the voice that the gift of music seems to have manifested itself most powerfully although it is worth noting that she is also an accomplished fiddler. This past August, Aiofe released her debut CD, This Time the Dream’s on Me, a jazz album backed by a four piece band which Journal of Music introduces with these succinct words:

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Recent Additions To Martin Doyle Flutes

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Some recent additions to Martin Doyle’s website:

New Testimonial

Martin Doyle recently sent a flute to Russia and, after some initial delays, it finally reached the hands of its new owner who kindly expressed his joy with these words:

Ivan Pustovalov

Ivan Pustovalov

Hello, Mr Doyle!

I finally got the flute and it is incredibly beautiful! You are an expert in beauty and the sound is perfect! I have never seen and never played a flute easier than this one. This is a work of art for me!

Lately I’ve been studying a lot about the relationship between geometry and the sound of flutes. But the strong D of this flute – a mystery to me. I do not know how you manage to do this. This flute permits me to do the impossible! Unfortunately, I don’t quite know very well English, to tell you my impressions! But, believe me, it’s endless! I have very long dreamed of a flute like this and now the dream has come true!

Sincerely,
Ivan Pustovalov.

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Rob Portnoy Comments On MDF Headjoint

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Rob Portnoy

Rob Portnoy

Rob Portnoy is a renowned multi-woodwind performer, clinician and teacher who has worked with a plethora of superstar singers, musicians and performers including Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Mel Torme, Aretha Franklin, Wayne Newton, Nancy Wilson, Don Sebasky, Mickey Rooney, Red Skelton, Debbie Reynolds, Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole and Sarah Vaughn.

Rob had the following to say about a wooden headjoint that he recently commissioned Martin Doyle to make for his concert flute:

Hi Martin,
I just wanted to thank you for the phenomenal work you did in creating my new headjoint. I recently played it on the show “Beauty and The Beast” and received many compliments on my “sweet” sound. The combination of my Altus Limited and your Blackwood Headjoint allow me a warmth that neither of my metal headjoints provide and enable me to play all octaves with a solid, centered sound which articulates quickly and doesn’t break up when pushed! I will surely endorse your craftsmanship so more flutists can experience the wonderful qualities of a Martin Doyle headjoint!
Best wishes,
Rob Portnoy.

Martin Doyle’s web page about the wooden headjoints he makes for concert flutes can be viewed here: Wooden Headjoints for Concert Flutes »

Kind Words From Matthew Laurie

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Matthew Laurie

Matthew Laurie

As mentioned in previous posts, Martin Doyle sometimes receives messages from people who have purchased flutes from him and write to compliment and thank him for his efforts. These kind comments are sometimes posted on Martin’s website, with the permission of the authors, and Martin recently received a very nice comment from Matthew Laurie – a community musician and storyteller from Derbyshire in England. These are Matthew’s kind words:

Hi Martin,
The flute [boxwood Celtic style flute] arrived today and I am in love! It is simply stunning and is far and away the finest flute that I have played and owned. I am amazed at the expressive range that I can achieve even on the first day of playing it. This flute will inspire me to play and practice more – I am very happy indeed. Thank you!

Some two weeks later Matthew commented to this webmaster that the flute had indeed inspired and helped him to practice more and to play at a higher level. I mentioned this to Martin Doyle who made the following comment:

Well for me the whole point of this flute making game is to make flutes that bring the players on – that’s my intention. Otherwise there would be no point in doing it.

Fair play to you Martin.

Matthew’s kind words and those of many other flute players can be viewed here: Testimonials »

Bran Releases New Album

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Martin Doyle has for many years had a close association with the members of the Hungarian Irish music group Bran and has travelled to Hungary on a number of occasions to take part in Irish music festivals to offer flute workshops, recitals and inspiration. Two of the members of Bran, Gáborján Kovacs and Judit Kuti, play Martin Doyle flutes and Martin has often commented on the enthusiasm that the Hungarians have for Irish music and of the joy and inspiration he has received from his association with Bran and the Hungarian Irish music festivals.

Int én Bec - Bran's New AlbumBran has recently released a CD of Irish tunes that are linked by the common theme of ‘birds’. The title of the CD is Int én Bec – Birds’ Day – Rigmadár (‘Birds’ Day’ in Irish, English and Hungarian) and it is a delightful offering of simplicity, purity and joy that are distinctive features of Bran’s music.

Here is a video clip featuring the music of Bran:

Martin Doyle Flutes’ 30th Anniversary

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Martin Doyle Flutes : 1983—2013

Martin Doyle Flutes' 30th Anniversary : 1983-2013 This year marks the 30th anniversary since Martin Doyle began his odyssey as a flute maker. No hoopla, probably not going to have a party, have put a little logo on the homepage of the website – that’s about it folks! Life goes on, flute orders come in, and Martin feels that the best way to celebrate is to carry on with the creative process that he began with and try all the time to improve his flute designs with the people who will play them in mind. This ethos has always been to the fore in his heart and mind from the outset and continues to drive him today.

A Message From Martin Doyle

Martin Doyle

“I would like to thank everyone for their support over the past thirty or so years. There are many dear friends who have been very encouraging and supportive through this process and that includes my family of course. I have also been very grateful to receive kind and encouraging comments from people all over the world who have purchased my flutes.

“I consider the act of creating instruments for musicians a privilege that cannot be understated. It is also a journey of partnership that requires the interplay and focus of both parties – the flute maker and the flute player. This has helped me to evolve and has also kept me inspired and active in the field of flute making. In my view these are sacred connections in the eternal quest for expression through the universal language that is music.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH! – Martin.”

A Tune To Celebrate


Tune: The Flute Maker Martin Doyle – by Joe Doyle.