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Introduction
The Second Voice flute series described here are based on the Native American (NA) instruments made traditionally by the indigenous peoples who once populated the plains, woodlands and remote areas of the Americas. However, the tradition of NAF flutemaking had diminished by the mid 20thC, to a point where the secrets and techniques for making these instruments were left to only a handful of master flute-makers and players, one of whom was Xavier Quijas Yxayotl. One of his apprentices, Guillermo Martinez, has since become a legend over the past twenty years in the flute-making, recording and performing world. His generosity in passing on this almost-lost knowledge through his gift for teaching, added to the invaluable help and inspiration of renowned concert and recording artists Nigel Shaw and Carolyn Hillyer, has led to the NA flute series, and a new English wood series, which I now design and make in England at Second Voice.
Over the years I have developed and learned how to make the many different types of flutes which people seek. These range from the basic NA flutes for those who wish to learn a simple but beautiful instrument, through to concert quality flutes for recording artists and pro players, ceremonial flutes for those wishing to call privately or in sacred spaces to other realms, loud wind-stable flutes to play outside at gatherings, journeying flutes to help people cross the edges of this World, and healing flutes for Reiki and Sound Healing practioners. Getting the correct woods, energies, keys and voices (and the NA flute is capable of many different ones) is something the Universe has been very generous in showing me; and while I might like to think the time I have spent and continue to spend developing these flutes is of my own calling, I know that each development has been the result of my Guides and Spirit bringing people with particular wishes to my door and giving me the challenge to create the perfect flute for them. Like all flutemakers I serve an apprenticeship...it just happens to last a lifetime! Each flute I make is a partnership between myself and the player; that said, I am only the flutemaker...someone who takes the energies of the wood and the four elements, works with them and then passes the result on to the player for them to use on their Path whatever that may be.
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All Second Voice flutes are hand-made using the finest woods from Britain, the US and around the world; many of the woods used are collected, hand-cut, laid down, dried and prepared in my own workshop. The NA series are made from traditional woods such as cedars (Western Red, Yellow, White Port Orford and the wonderfully dense and fragrant Eastern Red), Oak, Cherry and Maple. The English series use native hard and softwoods including Oak, Ash, Elm, Holly, Silver Birch, Yew, Lime, Alder, Pine and Rippled Sycamore, with some flutes made from intact branches complete with bark. The flutes are finished using oils and waxes to seal the wood and provide the required finish, in accordance with the demands likely to be placed on the instrument.
Flutes can be plain (usually if the graining and patterning is exceptional) or decorated by pyrography (burning), painting and/or inlay work. The flutes can be voiced anywhere between mellow or buzzing, smooth or edgy, quiet or loud, as required, and using different blocks can give a single flute a wide tonal range. The most important thing, though, is that all SVF flutes respond to the gentlest breath, even the bass flutes, so you can relax fully while playing.
The opening Galleries page shows the various types of SVF flutes. The Little Owl series flutes are five-hole for ease of playing. The English Series comprise both 6 and 7 hole instruments and have a look, feel and sound to them which is very different to cedar flutes; their scale range is also fuller and very suited to the songs of this land. Unusual scalings, such as Greek/Arabic Hitzaz scales, are also easily accommodated, as are custom needs relating to any aspect of flute design or build. All the flutes I now make are individually tailored to the player's own hand, a simple but vital thing to do for learners and professional players alike to make playing comfortable and easy. Nowadays, I find myself doing all manner of paintings of birds, flowers etc on the flute barrels, and also carving and painting blocks of badgers, seals, eagles, crows and many other totem creatures. The Custom flutes page shows many of these. All this I love, but it takes time, and I have to ask for patience from the clients; my order book is usually very full, but I refuse to rush a a flutemaking...they have to come in their own time.
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Making these easy-to-play, beautiful-sounding flutes is a deeply spiritual experience in itself. I claim no native American heritage or special wisdom, other than the nagging feeling that there is somewhere in me a barely-remembered path back to another life. I do have Spirit Guides who help me as I make each flute; following a near fatal attack of meningitis several years ago, which took away much in memory but gave me certain 'gifts' in return, the Universe has given me a second chance, and I thank it every day for that. My flutes are made in the spirit of the Native American tradition, but my resonance is very strongly here with Our Land, which is why many of my flutes are made of indigenous British woods and sing of our ancestors and past times.
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Each flute I make is totally unique, and ALL Second Voice flutes are maker-marked, certificated and sequentially numbered. As a final acknowledgement of thanks to the Spirits which guide the creation of each flute, and to honour the trees whose wood has given it life, each Second Voice flute is blessed using sage and cedar smoke (a traditional way of purifying space and elements) to celebrate the birth of a new voice in the world. Where necessary, I also do energy alignments, particularly for Healing and Journeying flutes.
Finally, I must also thank my Spirit Guides for giving me the inspiration to design and build this website. The images are compressed to speed loading but please be patient if you are on a slow internet connection - some pages may still take a little longer than normal. Almost all images can be enlarged into a new pop-up window by clicking on them. Please note: The copyright for ALL the images on this website is held by Second Voice Flutes.
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I hope you enjoy the site. The flute series themselves are described and shown on The Flutes pages, with prices at the bottom of each page. The Workshop pages give you a look at how I make the flutes, and might be of interest to those who make these beautiful instruments -they look so simple, but as any maker will tell you, it's a long, sometimes skilful, sometimes intuitive, often lucky, path to making one that sounds and feels just right! The Contact page gets us to talk, and if you want, buy (though there's no obligation at all). Finally, and most importantly, the Thanks and Links page honours the many people who have (and still do) help and inspire me on my path, some without even knowing it!
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The Owlhouse • Milford • Surrey • UK • dc@secondvoiceflutes.co.uk
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© Second Voice Flutes 2005-2009 |
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