Irish flute is one of the most beloved instruments in Irish traditional music, revered for its beautiful tones and soothing atmosphere. Additionally, its captivating flute can also elicit strong responses from listeners.
Irish traditional music has long featured flute as an essential instrument. It offers unique sound and personality for players of all levels and is considered essential in Irish folklore.
What is an Irish Flute?
An Irish flute is a type of side end-blown flute with its own distinct sound characteristic of traditional Irish music, often used both traditional as well as jazz and rock styles of music.
Its sounds are often soft and soothing, yet also have an energetic sound. This instrument is often chosen by beginner wind players because of its simple fingering system and relative affordability.
Emboochure (the shape of one’s mouth) can have a significant impact on the sound of Irish flute. Peig employs a tight embouchure similar to what many Irish flutists utilize.
Embouchures are key components to producing great Irish flute sound, and will impact how easily you are able to play different notes. Your embouchure may require adjustments in terms of your angle or your blowing position depending on its effectiveness.
How to Play an Irish Flute
Listening to other musicians can provide you with valuable guidance in playing an Irish flute. Pipers, fiddlers, whistle players, accordion players and singers can give you insight into how best to approach playing your own flute.
Ireland is famous for its tradition sessions featuring flutes similar to wooden transverse Baroque flutes that were widely popular across Europe in the 1700s. Many flutes still come out today from factories all around the globe, providing you with an excellent way to learn Irish music on your own.
When learning Irish flute, it’s advisable to get acquainted with some fundamental techniques, such as holding and practising finger positions correctly. These will enable you to play effectively and keep your body healthy; additionally, key tips may make it easier to reach keys quickly while breathing freely.
Irish Flute Music
Irish music relies heavily on flutes to play various melodies. Some flutes are constructed entirely out of wood while others incorporate various other materials in their construction.
Some modern flutes are specifically tailored to produce an array of pitches which would otherwise be difficult to achieve on an Irish flute, such as using modern tuning methods with metal keys attached.
Irish flute players include both deceased and active performers such as Joanie Madden and Neansai Connolly – two notable names that remain among them today.
Joanie is heavily influenced by Matt Molloy and places an emphasis on breath control and fast, flowing ornamentation. Additionally, Joanie plays with Boehm flutes which allow her to achieve tones and volumes that would otherwise be difficult or impossible with standard flutes.
Irish Flute Books
There are various books available for learning the Irish flute. These range from books for novice players through advanced expertise.
Fintan Vallely’s “A Complete Guide to Irish Flute” is an excellent place to begin when learning how to play the Irish flute, covering its history, how to select a flute, articulation techniques and other essential practices for successful performance.
Leslie Anne Harrison’s “Playing Outside the Lines”, an Irish flute method book for Boehm and simple system flute players.
This book provides an excellent introduction to Irish flute playing, including breathing techniques, tone production, vibrato levels, vibrato articulation techniques, style performance recordings and many other aspects. In addition, there is also a section covering session etiquette as well as fingering charts to aid your playing journey.