Thewillow flute, also known assallow flute (Norwegian:seljefløyte,Swedish:sälgflöjt orsälgpipa,Finnish:pitkähuilu orpajupilli,Latvian:kārkla stabule,Lithuanian:švilpynė), is a Nordic folkflute, orwhistle,[1] consisting of a simple tube with a transversefipple mouthpiece and no finger holes. The mouthpiece is typically constructed by inserting a grooved plug into one end of the tube, and cutting an edged opening in the tube a short distance away from the plug.
Similar but not identical instruments were made by peasants in Poland, usually using a different method described in sources as "kręcenie" (that nowadays means literally "rolling", at that time possibly also "drilling-gouging"), "ukręcanie", "ulinianie" (nowadays literally meaning: "making moulted"). Such instruments are mentioned in folk poems or songs.[2]
The willow flute is a type ofovertone flute. It is played by varying the force of the air blown into the mouthpiece, with the end of the tube being covered by the finger or left open. The tones produced are based on theharmonic series. Playing the instrument with the end of the tube covered produces onefundamental and itsovertones, playing it with the end of the tube left open produces another fundamental and series of overtones. Willow flutes cannot play anequal tempered scale.
Modern willow flutes are typically made of plastic (PVC tubing is often used), but the original willow flutes were made from sections of bark cut from greenwillow branches. Willow flutes could only be made this way during the spring, and became unplayable when the bark dried out.
There is also aKarelian variant of the willow flute that is made inFinnish Karelia and theRussian Republic of Karelia. It is made the same way as the willow flute, but instead of willow bark, it is made out ofbirch bark. The Karelian Folk Music Ensemble, based out ofPetrozavodsk in Russian Karelia, uses this instrument in their music.
Thekalyuka (or kolyuka,Russian: калюка, колюка) is a Russian andUkrainianovertone flute, lacking playing holes. Traditionally, kalyukas were made from hollow plant stems, such asmotherwort, orangelica.[3] Modern versions of the instrument are usually made fromPVC, an inexpensive and durable substitute.
The upper end of the kalyuka is open, and although it has a built-infipple[4] to produce sound, a player should also partly close the opening of the tube with thetongue.[5] The lower end of the tube is also open and occasionally there is a small side hole near the end. The side hole and/or end are opened and closed while playing to produce different notes (like theSlovakkoncovka). Higher tones are reached through over blowing.
In Eastern traditions, the kalyuka was played on summer evenings after thehayharvest when the suitable weeds, cut with ascythe, were available to make one, and was accompanied bypercussion instruments.[6]
The existence of the tradition was uncovered in 1980 by students of the Moscow and St. Petersburg Conservatories.
Noted modern willow flute artists include the groupHedningarna andAnders Norudde of Sweden. Other Nordic groups that use the Seljefløyte in traditional arrangements includeEivind Groven,Steinar Ofsdal,Lillebjørn Nilsen, Groupa, Bask, Ruumen, Ojajärvi Blom Ojajärvi, Hurja Halla, Tuultenpesä and Tapani Varis Collective.
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