Made a Bone Whistle. |o>|

[Mud Hawk]

Was doing some learnin' on Native American bone flutes and wanted to take my hand at it. I used bone from a lamb shank. Very solid and polishes nicely. It originally was more of a flute than a whistle and I could produce 3 tones with it. Unfortunately It had some "non-functional" holes in it so I did some careless but informative alterations on it for edumacation sake.

In the end, I sawed off the mouthpiece and made a REALLY REALLY LOUD whistle. The coyote pups were actually vocally responding when I blew it outside last night. Think I am gonna make another whistle today...



... and I want one of these. Play the youtube video on this link:
Songbird Ocarinas | Eagle Bone Ocarina

[meetmaker]

That's neat. Pretty also in simple way. Do you have photos from other views or in it's earlier incarnations? I attempted one from plans at fallenbranch.com/myPictures/Old-Flute-white-printable.jpg. I was only able to get air noises. I think my problem was the mouthpiece.

[Mud Hawk]

Had to take the opportunity to post my best flute work. The Japanese Shakuhachi. Quite a robust history... They were also used as weapons when the Samuri were no longer allowed to carry swords. They kept the gnarled root end on the flute which basically made it a mace. The sound they produce can range from beautiful to haunting.

Took about two years of learning. Made five others before reaching this personal masterpiece:


Made of Tiger Bamboo. The box it sits on was also made by me. Lined with leather, the box is actually one of the tools in production. Think of it as a flute work bench.


The blowing end. It must be perfect to produce a proper sound. Lots of hours in shaping it, filing it and sanding it. Bamboo must be bound so it will not crack from temperature changes and humidity. Upholstry thread for the binding.


The bamboo root end. I didn't keep the roots attached. Solid as all heck. Look down the rabbit hole as the bore which is the soul of the flute took a few weeks. Wooden dowels with sandpaper glued on and tedious shaping of the inner nodes.

Cherry Blossom Sakura performed on the Shakuhachi. Beautiful song, I would suggest listening to the whole piece.

[Mud Hawk]

Meetmaker, sorry no other pics of earlier form. The sawed off piece is out with yesterdays trash. It is very simple and primitive looking, almost reminds me of ivory. Working on another one as we speak.

The mouthpiece is probably what got you. They can be very touchy.

[meetmaker]

I looked at your latest photos which inspired me to dig my old attempt out. The mouth piece on your bamboo flute is like that from the ice age plans. The extreme volume of hot air knocked dust off the bookcase but no music. The air conditioner took pity on me and kicked on. I believe it must be that I am not blocking and diverting air in the proper proportions. My family members believe that I am the worst singer, dancer or instrument player ever ( a broad statement but one that nobody disputes) and not being able to produce a note on a perfectly good flute could be construed as divine intervention. Thanks for sharing yours.

[Steve Valentine]

Here are two Bone Flutes that I have. These are both authentic Bone Flutes from Ft Ancient sites in my area. The 3 hole whistles really loudly and clearly. The 4 hole whistles, but not as well. I think it needed one more hole put in it and was never actually finished.

Your whistle looks really cool Mud Hawk. Excellent job!!

[Mud Hawk]

Steve, I have been admiring your whistles for a long while now. Thanks for the close-ups. Are they made of eagle bone? I think eagle bone was commonly used for those little sacred whistles.

[Steve Valentine]

I'm not really sure what type of bone they are. Being Eagle bone though would be really cool. I remember someone one another board saying they may be made from the leg bones of a Sand Crane, but I'm not sure about that either.

[kentlangreder]

the bone flutes used at the sun dance ceremony are made of eagle bones and look just like yours Steve but ours are new and made recently and yes i have permits to have such objects but i will post no pictures for they are sacred and used only at sun dance.and i have admired yours every time i see them. nice piece you made there mudhawk !!

kent

[Mud Hawk]

Thank you Kent and Steve.

Not gonna lie, had some experience making flutes and was enamoured/intrigued at those flutes Steve has. They say alot about early culture don't they?

I guess I have yet another hobby (as if work and life don't suck up all the time) but I am having fun and am learning about both bone as media as well as resonance properties for musical instruments. At first, a monotone whistle bothered me. Now I am rather fond of the concept. The beauty of simplicity I think. Yet the artist in me wants to take it a step further... here is unfinished number two with a learning curve:



The small notches on the base were inspired from a bone scraping tool I had seen (although the notches were on the inside where the marrow is.) I don't know what media I want to use to close it/create the air column to create the tone, but I guess I am leaning toward tree sap to create a hard natural resin.

Kent, I can't begin to imagine the sun dance you speak of. I also understand the silence of details. Wish the rest of the world would understand a bit more outside of their own personal beliefs and religion. I am Roman Catholic. I can say that freely WITH persecution.