Martin Doyle is visiting Tanzania with Nina Perry of Falling Tree Productions at the moment. Nina is making a radio documentary called The Music Tree for the Irish radio station Newstalk and it features Martin Doyle as an instrument maker visiting the area of East Africa where the famous Mpingo (African Blackwood) trees grows. Since the 19th century African Blackwood has been a timber favoured for woodwind instruments as its density, tonal properties, stability and durability are incomparable.
This trip is in its own way an historical occasion as many of the local people of Tanzania, some of whom are involved in burgeoning Mpingo conservation projects, have never before met a European craftsman who uses their timber to make musical instruments. Martin accomplished the task of making a flute with some of the local Mpingo carvers on the third day of his visit and by all accounts they were enthralled when it was played to them.
Nina Perry is kindly authoring a blog (where internet connection allows no doubt) dedicated to the trip — Music Tree — so that we distant onlookers can keep abreast of events.
No story, small or large, is complete without a picture. Here is one from Nina’s Music Tree blog:
Here is a video clip of one Ciarán McPhilemy playing a tune on a Martin Doyle flute. Unfortunately we do not get to see Ciarán playing; rather it is an audio clip played under a still photo of a flute. The flute in the picture is not a Doyle, that is for sure. Perhaps someone will be able to let us know what tune Ciarán McPhilemy is playing and perhaps a little about himself and the style of his playing. Enjoy…
Muireann plays a Martin Doyle flute and has been kind enough to offer a testimonial for Martin Doyle Flutes and a sample of her flute playing from the album Dual — a collaboration with Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley and Ross Martin that was released in November of 2008.
Muireann’s testimonial reads:
“I have been playing a Martin Doyle African Blackwood ‘D’ flute since 2001. As a touring musician I am delighted with its reliability and consistensy of tone, no matter where I am in the world. The flute is perfectly in tune which is very important when playing in a band context. I also love the fact that it can produce a variety of sounds from a powerful bark to a sweeter, clearer tone, making it a very expressive instrument and suitable for all kinds of music from wild Kerry Polkas to more subtle slow airs. I always recommend Martin’s flutes to my flute students.”
More testimonials from owners of Martin Doyle flutes may be viewed here: Testimonials — and Muireann’s music sample can be heard here: Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Our thanks to Muireann for her kindness. We have posted a video clip of Muireann playing her Martin Doyle flute after the fold — a lovely example of Irish traditional music…
On Sunday, August 23, Martin Doyle’s good friend Elizabeth Petcu is scheduled to perform highlights from her debut solo flute music album, Just Me, at the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin.
Irish flute player Elizabeth Petcu seeks new ways of exploring and presenting music and her debut solo album, Just Me, captures in essence Elizabeth’s true authentic sound through a brilliant interpretation of her favourite repertoire.
Particularly innovative is the use of the keyless wooden flute for the Telemann pieces (tracks 3 and 4). The Liam Bates composition, Moth Manoeuvres (track 12), was commissioned by Helen Gaynor for her art exhibition in May 2007 — a project that was part-funded by the Wexford County Council Arts Department and the Arts Council. Elizabeth premiered Moth Manoeuvres at Newtownbarry House in Bunclody, Co. Wexford. Just Me also includes the music of Karg-Elert, Bach, Debussy and others.
Elizabeth will be performing at the National Gallery of Ireland on a Muramatsu concert flute fitted with a cocus wood head joint made by Martin Doyle and a cocus wood simple system ‘Irish flute’ also crafted by Martin Doyle.
The concert will begin at 3 pm in the Shaw Room, National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin. Tickets are €10; concessions €7; Gallery details here: Gallery Information.
In a recently posted article, Martin Doyle, Tanzania and The Music Tree, Martin Doyle’s upcoming trip to Tanzania in August with British composer and sound designer Nina Perry was highlighted. Two excerpts from that post:
Martin Doyle is to feature in a radio programme to be called The Music Tree that is being produced for the Irish radio station Newstalk. The project is being headed by Nina Perry (who also produced Sounding Post which looked at the use of wood for instruments and featured several instrument makers including Martin Doyle) for Falling Tree Productions. [...] The Music Tree is to accompany Irish flute-maker Martin Doyle from County Clare to eastern Tanzania where he plans to demonstrate Irish flute making so that accomplished local craftsmen might learn his skills to boost the economy surrounding this rare wood and, for the first time, hear the sound of instruments made from the local blackwood trees.
Nina Perry has very kindly offered this update on the trip:
Irish Times writer Arminta Wallace has recently published an article about Martin Doyle’s good friend Elizabeth Petcu who resides in the coastal town of Bray in County Wicklow. Elizabeth was principal flautist with Ireland’s national television and radio broadcaster Radio Telefís Éireann for over 25 years until a hearing problem sidelined her career. Despite this impediment, Elizabeth has gone on to record a solo flute music album, Just Me, and has formed the inspirational music ensemble Rune with Martin Doyle (flutes) and Deborah Armstrong (piano). Here are two excerpts from Arminta Wallace’s article:
The ability to hear plays such a crucial role in making music that it’s almost impossible to imagine how a professional musician feels when they’ve been diagnosed with a condition called otosclerosis, or progressive deafness. “I’m in good company, apparently,” says the flautist Elizabeth Petcu with a wry smile. “Beethoven is thought to have had it as well.” [...] Petcu formed a trio with the pianist Deborah Armstrong and the traditional flutemaker and player Martin Doyle. They call themselves RUNE, and they take an innovative approach to live performance; their concerts blend visual imagery, poetry and prose with various different kinds of music, from baroque to improvisation via the slow air. “I wanted to keep playing. But I didn’t want to do the very conventional, formal kind of classical recital,” she says. “So what we do is, we pick a theme and tie the music together with words and the beautiful visual imagery of Martin’s photographs.
With the Irish spring in the air, the three piece music ensemble Rune are looking forward to their first post-winter concert. Rune – Elizabeth Petcu (flutes) Martin Doyle (flutes) and Deborah Armstrong (piano) – will be performing on April 19 at the Camphill Village Community Duffcarrig near Ballymoney in County Wexford.
Martin Doyle is a flute maker from County Clare, Ireland. His simple system wooden flutes are renowned for their ease of playing and quality of tone. Visit his website: Martin Doyle Flutes
About Martin Doyle
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Martin Doyle grew up in the seaside town of Bray in County Wicklow. One of four children in a family with music in their blood, Martin was influenced and inspired by his mothers melodious singing from a very early age – learning songs that have stayed with him to this day. Read more: About Martin Doyle.
Webmaster
Martin Doyle's Weblog is maintained by Shardul – Martin Doyle's friend and webmaster. Shardul plays two Martin Doyle flutes and specialises in playing the music of spiritual teacher and musician, Sri Chinmoy.
With the Irish spring in the air, the three piece music ensemble Rune are looking forward to their first post-winter concert. Rune – 
