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The Wood
Wood - what an important subject. There are so many things to know about the woods we use to make a Love flute.
First, let's talk about the trees themselves. Any piece of wood I might use to make a Native American style flute is from a tree that was at least one hundred years old. Most hardwood is probably from trees that were a great deal older – hundreds and hundreds of years old. Every tree is itself a manifestation of Great Spirits guidance over millions of years of evolution. The board I hold in my hands is a triumph of sustained effort stretching back to far before the advent of man on this planet. I have always felt that to work with such a material is indeed an honor. When crafted into a Love flute good, hard, properly treated wood will create an instrument that can last for hundreds if not thousands of years.
I am very aware that the great forests that once covered so much of our planet are disappearing. Most will soon be gone – perhaps never to return to their former glory. I might grieve, but I know that I am not capable of understanding the designs of the Great Spirit. I treat each remaining precious piece of wood that comes into my hands with respect. Made into a quality, handcrafted Native American flute the soul quality of a tree may live on long after the last of its kind have fallen to the chainsaw or to a changing climate.
Ash Wood
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African Blackwood
This wood comes from Southern African and Tasmania. It is used
extensively in the manufacture of musical instruments such as clarinets.
Efforts are made to ensure a continuing supply of this important wood
through reforestation and timber plantation management. Blackwood is a
dark black color with some dark brown grain. It is relatively hard and
dense and finishes well. It is very expensive and hard to obtain as
almost all the harvest is bought up by the big instrument manufactures.
extensively in the manufacture of musical instruments such as clarinets.
Efforts are made to ensure a continuing supply of this important wood
through reforestation and timber plantation management. Blackwood is a
dark black color with some dark brown grain. It is relatively hard and
dense and finishes well. It is very expensive and hard to obtain as
almost all the harvest is bought up by the big instrument manufactures.
Sustainability
I Waste No Wood.
Wood that does not become part of a Love flute or related object is burned as kindling to start a winter fire in my shop. I will often use wood that has small abnormalities if they will not negatively affect the tone of the Native American flute. I deliberately look for such wood as it often possesses superior tonal quality. These abnormalities are rightfully called character flaws. They are not blemishes or detracting elements. Rather, they express the uniqueness of the tree. A character flaw can impart a singular beauty to the wooden Love flute. It expresses the reality that never before has there been such a flute. And, never again will such a unique instrument be made in all of eternity.
Had I space and finances I would amass a great quantity of Love flute wood. I would probably end up with far more wood than I would ever use in a lifetime. Such is the allure of a beautiful combination of color and grain pattern. But I don’t have that kind of space in my little shop. So I must leave many boards behind in the lumber dealers warehouse. This is hard to do. Often I will see a series of boards from a particular tree. I know that never in this life will I see that same gorgeous composition of color and grain again. Yet I only have space for one of two of those magnificent boards. I can let the others go - knowing, as I do, that Great Spirit will provide other equally wonderful wood when I need it.
The list below of wood types is not exhaustive. I have refrained from judging the different species as to their tonal quality. This is because there is so much variation within each species. Not every piece of wood from a particular species of tree will be ideal for making a quality Native American style flute.
I use many different verities of domestic and foreign hardwoods to make Ancient Territories Native American Style Flutes. I have researched the different woods that I use to ensure that I (and you) are not involved with wood species that are overly exploited or in danger of extinction. The only woods that seem to be threatened are cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), blackwood (Dalbergia melanorylon) and ebony (Diospyron crassiflora). Therefore, I do not purchase these woods. A few pieces do come my way from another craftsman. These pieces would otherwise be discarded or burned.
The colors of most Love flute wood darken somewhat with age. This is because light rays and especially ultraviolet rays stimulate a photochemical reaction in the pigments of the wood. With most wood species this takes place so slowly that it is seldom noticed. You may see it when you remove or change the position of the leather band that secures the bird to the flute. Then you may see a lighter color on the covered portion of the wood that was shielded by the leather.
Many of you are not familiar with the different species of wood that you will find in Ancient Territories Love flutes so I am posting pictures of the different flute woods that I use with a brief description of their characteristics.
African Walnut
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Bloodwood (Brosimum paraense)
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Babinga (Gubortia demeusii)
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Birdseye Maple
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Beech
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Beech is a medium dense even-grained domestic hardwood. It has a tight grain and its color ranges from tan to medium brown. It is distinguished by tiny, evenly and closely spaced dashes of brown color (called ray flecks) distributed throughout the wood. Beechwood is rather pedestrian in appearance and therefore I seldom use it.
Cherry
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American cherry is a medium density wood with a close tight grain with beautiful pink/brown colors that darken with age to a rich russet brown. It has modulated tones of light reflective grain. Cherry is one of my favorite Love flute woods.
Canarywood (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Beech is a medium dense even-grained domestic hardwood. It has a tight grain and its color ranges from tan to medium brown. It is distinguished by tiny, evenly and closely spaced dashes of brown color (called ray flecks) distributed throughout the wood. Beechwood is rather pedestrian in appearance and therefore I seldom use it.
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Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa)
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American cherry is a medium density wood with a close tight grain with beautiful pink/brown colors that darken with age to a rich russet brown. It has modulated tones of light reflective grain. Cherry is one of my favorite Love flute woods.
Curly Maple (Acer saccharum)
Beech is a medium dense even-grained domestic hardwood. It has a tight grain and its color ranges from tan to medium brown. It is distinguished by tiny, evenly and closely spaced dashes of brown color (called ray flecks) distributed throughout the wood. Beechwood is rather pedestrian in appearance and therefore I seldom use it.
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Jarrah
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American cherry is a medium density wood with a close tight grain with beautiful pink/brown colors that darken with age to a rich russet brown. It has modulated tones of light reflective grain. Cherry is one of my favorite Love flute woods.
Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril)
Beech is a medium dense even-grained domestic hardwood. It has a tight grain and its color ranges from tan to medium brown. It is distinguished by tiny, evenly and closely spaced dashes of brown color (called ray flecks) distributed throughout the wood. Beechwood is rather pedestrian in appearance and therefore I seldom use it.
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Lacewood (Roopola brasillensis)
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American cherry is a medium density wood with a close tight grain with beautiful pink/brown colors that darken with age to a rich russet brown. It has modulated tones of light reflective grain. Cherry is one of my favorite Love flute woods.