Occasionally Martin Doyle’s webmaster browses the Chiff and Fipple forum boards to read what the folks out there have been chatting about, especially with regards to Martin Doyle flutes. One can learn a lot and also see the progress that we have made over the years as a community. Recently he came across an interesting post from March in 2010 by Jim Stone – a flute player from St. Louis, USA.
The context was that someone had spotted a Martin Doyle flute on Ebay and was casting around at the time to see what people knew about Martin’s flutes. Jim was first to comment with these kind words…
I’ve played a couple of Doyle flutes. These are really good flutes.
“To tuning slide or not to tuning slide – that is the question.”
The conversation then turned to the fact that the particular flute in question did not have a tuning slide. Martin Doyle’s basic flutes, whether celtic or traditional models, do not come with tuning slides but they can be ordered with tuning slides or even retro fitted after purchasing. Jim Stone had the following to say about the ‘no tuning slide’ issue.
No slide. The flute is tunable via the tenon and is, in fact, widely played in sessions.
The craftsmanship is very good, the design is very good. The headjoint is all wood,
and the flute has a great woody sound, good volume. It’s a bit on the Pratten side of
things but easy enough to handle and finger. I would gladly buy one of these
if I didn’t have quite enough D flutes already.A Doyle flute is in evidence on the first part of this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce-5VnetlCM
jim_stone March, 2010
Jim was on the money with his comments regarding tuning slides. Many flute players do not use them and they get along just fine. A prime example is in the YouTube video that Jim posted a link to. The flute player in the video is Ronan Browne, who is playing a Martin Doyle flute in the first instrumental break and a set of Uilleann pipes in the second. It is a lovely example of the reedy sound of an Irish flute without a tuning slide – ie: no metal lining the head joint. Here are some words from a testimonial that Ronan sent for Martin Doyle’s website some years back…
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Whilst nothing at all can be taken from the effort that musicians put into performing in Fleadh Cheoil competitions, from a instrument maker’s point of view, there are sometimes moments of pride when they hear that their instruments are in the hands of the musicians that win or place. Kudos to the instrument players and kudos to the instrument makers!