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Tube of delight!
#1 2008-03-15 10:07:53
- Toby
- Shakuhachi Scientist
- From: out somewhere circling the sun
- Registered: 2008-03-15
- Posts: 405
Anybody else have an Okuralo?
Hi folks,
I picked up an old Okuralo at my local pawn shop in Machida and wonder if anybody else has one of these weird hybrids. Mine is obviously made early in the 20th century, with a seamed tube, soldered tone holes and open G#. It plays wonderfully, although it hardly sounds like a shakuhachi--much more like a concert flute, which is logical since essentially the bore under the utaguchi is that of a standard flute. But there is very little info on the Okuralo on the net, and any links to history, etc. would be highly appreciated.
Best,
Toby
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#2 2008-03-15 13:14:19
Re: Anybody else have an Okuralo?
WHAT !?!?!?!?
You picked up an okuraulo at the local pawn shop?
Is there another???
Please, do put up a picture of it!
The proud maker of okuraulo was OKURA Kichiro (not 100% sure about his given name)... He made it in the 1920s, it is known, but was launched for sale in 1936. Apparently it was expensive and it never caught on. Only very few players played it, and no really good composer composed for it, so it never got a repertoire for itself... a short life. But a very interesting phenomenon, a cross-over of a Boehm-system flute and a shakuhachi.
I have tried to play a copy. It has one large disadvantage that it is very unstable as it is held vertically and literally all fingers are used as on a Western flute.
Tell us more about it, Toby.
Last edited by Kiku Day (2008-03-15 13:14:35)
I am a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through
listen to this music
Hafiz
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#3 2008-03-16 23:06:30
- Toby
- Shakuhachi Scientist
- From: out somewhere circling the sun
- Registered: 2008-03-15
- Posts: 405
Re: Anybody else have an Okuralo?
I don't know the history of mine. It says "Okraulo" (spelled wrong) "Suonus Mirabilis". Yes, believe it or not, it was in the glass case in my local second-hand shop. I paid about $100 for it. Mechanically it's in excellent condition, a bit of plating wear. The big problem was/is the pads. The keycups are a bit smaller than those of a normal flute, and it took my repair guy a couple of years to locate pads that would fit. He still hasn't finished it--I have to go push him again...
As I mentioned, it is completely handmade, with a seamed tube and soldered chimneys. Open G#, which is a pain...It has a thumbrest and the foot joint has a tenon lock so that it won't fall off. Interestingly, whoever had it before also had a standard headjoint made for it (it must be custom made, since it is extremely long to make up for the short body of the flute itself). This headjoint has a very unique embouchure plate design--like a wave design but much deeper. It has an extremely dark tone, whereas the flute with the utaguchi head is quite bright.
As soon as I finally get it back I will post some pix.
Toby
Last edited by Toby (2008-03-16 23:07:21)
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