|
If you are interested in buying one of these flutes (in the key of D), please contact Grey to discuss availability. I currently have one Grey Larsen Preferred flute in E-flat available. It is keyless, with a tuning slide, and its cost is the same as that of the comparable flute in D.
Click here to hear Grey playing the Irish reel The Torn Jacket on a Terry McGee's Grey Larsen Preferred flute. Grey is a bit of a maverick in the Irish flute world. He prefers American-made flutes of the mid-1800s over the instruments favored by most players of Irish flute today, namely the English-made flutes of the mid-1800s, and instruments based on them. For over 20 years he has been playing a six-key Firth Pond & Co. flute made in New York City between 1848 and 1863. Click here for more information on Firth Pond & Co.
The photo above shows Grey's Firth Pond & Co. flute. The 19th century American flutes tend to have smaller finger holes and narrower bores. While common thought in the Irish music community says that the English flutes, with their larger bores and tone holes, play louder, Grey doesn't find this to be quite true. He feels that the English-style flutes tend to sound brighter, and people sometimes perceive that brighter sound to be a louder sound. Importantly, Grey finds the American-style flutes to be more agile - quicker to respond to finger articulations and ornamentation, and capable of producing a wider variety of tone colors. He finds that these qualities suit his playing, and his musical personality, much better. The smaller outer diameter and the smaller finger holes of these American flutes make them very comfortable instruments to play. People with smaller hands and fingers usually find them much easier to play than the larger English-style flutes. And they are lighter in weight. If you appreciate the particular sound of Grey's flute playing, you may want to consider getting a flute of this type for yourself. They are not easy to find. Or at least they have not been, until now. In April 2003, Grey travelled to Canberra, Australia to collaborate with the great Australian flutemaker, Terry McGee. Terry was intrigued by his unusual Irish flute preference. Together, they carefully studied Grey's flute and compared it with a variety of other (mostly English) instruments of the period. Terry was so convinced of this instrument's fine qualities that he now offers his own Grey Larsen Preferred model, based upon his meticulous measurements and examination of Grey's Firth, Pond & Co. flute. Terry writes of the Firth, Pond & Co. flute: "It's a delightfully easy flute to play, reminiscent of the pipes or whistle in agility and economy of air. It would suit anyone who, like Grey, values crisp ornamentation highly. Despite the small holes, the flute produces a very impressive volume of sound." Grey loves Terry's Grey Larsen Preferred flute and recommends it without reservation. It plays just as beautifully as his original Firth Pond & Co. - plus Terry has managed to improve upon its already excellent intonation. Grey says that if he were to lose his flute, he would go to Terry for a replacement. Terry will keep Grey supplied, as he can, with a small number of Grey Larsen Preferred flutes in these three configurations:
For other key configurations, or other types of wood, you will need to order directly from Terry. To do so, go to his excellent website: http://www.mcgee-flutes.com. Please let him know that you were referred to him by Grey Larsen. Grey is offering these three configurations of the GLP flute for a somewhat higher price than Terry, but with no waiting period. Here are Terry's present prices and waiting periods:
And here are Grey's prices and waiting periods:
Terry McGee's fine wooden flute cases are also available for $276.10. A cloth bag for this wooden case costs $64.90. Click here to hear Grey playing the Irish reel The Torn Jacket on a Terry McGee's Grey Larsen Preferred flute. If you are interested in buying one of these flutes, please contact Grey to make arrangements. Return policy: If you purchase one of these flutes and find you are not happy with it, you may return it within 14 days as long as it arrives here in its original condition. You will then receive a full refund, minus all costs of shipping and insurance. Terry McGee's 12 month guarantee against faulty workmanship or materials applies to your purchase of one of these flutes. It is your obligation to get the flute back to Terry for repair. In some cases (e.g. for a minor repair) he might decide to have repair work done in your local area.
|
|
