Arontius of Bygelswade

.....I was doing some research a while back for my Gemshorn and I read some stuff on the Aulos, a double-pipe instrument that was played primarily in Ancient Greece. Typically, one pipe plays the melody and the other is used as a drone.

.....The potential in the harmonies intrigued me. So I started looking for one. I thought about making one myself, but thought that maybe I'd see if there was something out there already. Several cultures have an instrument very similar to the Aulos. On the Island of Sardinia a double pipe flute is played that is very cool sounding. The Chinese have a similar instrument as well, although it has an air chamber at the top that serves as a reservoir for the air, much like the bag on a set of bagpipes does. I was more interested in something where the breather had more direct control of the sound, pitch and volume.

.....I found a double-flute on the internet made by someone known as 'Erik the Flute Maker'. His is manufactured out of an ABS plastic, which made me wince. But considering that not many people make a double-pipe, at least something affordable, I convinced myself to at least try it out.

.....It arrived in the mail today. Very interesting. His is much more like two penny whistles connected at the mouthpieces. The sound is very intriguing. The plastic itself of course really warps the sound, so you have to get used to that (something I find hard to do, I became spoiled after I started playing a better quality wood bass recorder). But after a while I really got into the sound. Immediately you are reminded of Andean Pipe music. The only difference being that it doesn't have the vibrato that typical Andean Pipe music has. But the sound is there. Because of the drone and the use of only two hands :-) you are somewhat limited to the keys that can be played, but you have more of a range than I originally thought you might. I was able to hammer out the old mainstay of Greensleeves to a large degree before too long.

.....We'll see. If I'm still intrigued with the sound in a couple of months, maybe I'll plunk down the money for something in wood. :-)

.....More to follow...

.....Arontius.