Tomás MacUileagóid, a flute player, fiddler and harp player/maker from Dublin, Ireland, has kindly added a testimonial to Martin Doyle Flutes. Tomás recently purchased a keyed flute from Martin Doyle.

“Hi Martin, I have thought a lot about writing to you since I got my keyed flute from you. I wanted to really feel my way into it and explore what it has to offer. I am astounded by the range of colour available, just waiting for me to exploit it. The tones available far exceed what I could get on the flute I got off you 10 years ago. I wanted the keys because I have a particular interest in the music of east Galway, Paddy Kelly and Paddy Fahey in particular, and you can’t really manage that without the F natural. Obviously since I have a keyed flute I notice other flutes much more, and I am continuously impressed by your standard of craftsmanship, and I understand how difficult it is to maintain such a high standard. Well done!! I don’t know what motivates you as an instrument maker, but I enjoy being able to create something that is unique with its own voice, that will hopefully live long after me and in some small way contribute to making the world a better place. I think you have already achieved this. Thank you. Regards, Tomás.”

Very thoughtful and insightful words from a fellow instrument maker — thank you for your kind and encouraging comments Tomás.
This and other testimonials from owners of Martin Doyle flutes can be viewed here: Testimonials

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:

Tanzanian street scene

Return to the Top

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…

Return to the Top

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

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…

The following treat is a video clip of Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh singing An Spealadóir, a traditional West Kerry song. Later in the set Muireann plays flute and is accompanied by Michelle Mulcahy on accordion with two reels — The Caucus and The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Accompanying them on the bouzouki is Billy McGlynn.

And it’s awful hard not to include this delight! The Mulcahy family, Mick on accordion, Louise on flute and Michelle on fiddle, accompanied by Billy McGlynn on the bouzouki, play four reels — Last Night’s Fun, Lad O’ Beirne’s, Miss Lyon’s Fancy and The Dairymaid:

Return to the Top

Elizabeth Petcu

Elizabeth is a former Principal Flute (25 years) with the Radio Telefís Éireann Concert Orchestra. This from Elizabeth’s web site:

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.

Return to the Top

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:

“We will be travelling to Dar es Salaam where Martin will attempt to make a flute in the workshops of the Mwenge Carving Centre. We will then travel to Kilwa Masoko where we will meet people involved with The Mpingo Conservation Project. We will then go to Ruhatwe village where we will meet people involved in the project and attempt a musical collaboration with the local singing group. They have never heard or seen an instrument made from Mpingo (aka: African Blackwood).”

Map of Tanzania

Martin Doyle is looking forward to the trip and is in the process of making specialised flute-making tools in anticipation that they might not be available in Tanzania. He is also practicing some Tanzanian tunes on his flute with the view of accompanying Nina Perry, herself an accomplished musician, in performing for their Tanzanian hosts during the trip.

The Music Tree expedition represents the coming together of the craft of instrument making, the conscious use of timber and a growing awareness and consideration for the people who grow and live among the trees harvested for instrument making, and of music — the universal language.

Bon voyage Martin and Nina!

Also Related:

• Martin Doyle To Feature On BBC Radio 4
• Tanzania tree strikes right note – BBC News

Return to the Top

Recently added are two new testimonials from people that have purchased Martin Doyle Flutes. One from Iris Klapper of Christchurch, New Zealand, who writes,

“Dear Martin – it has been a few weeks now since you sent the boxwood flute, and I just wanted to let you know how much I love it. She is simply beautiful and just what I asked for. I am not practising enough at the moment, but whenever I do she sends me off to another realm. So much depth and sweetness. Thank you!!”

And one from David Craig of Duluth, Minnesota, USA, who writes,

“Hi Martin. The flute arrived yesterday and, of course, it is beautiful. It plays easily and I suspect there is an angel singing in there somewhere. Thanks for the quick turn-around.”

Three pages of testimonials from owners of Martin Doyle flutes may be viewed from here: Testimonials

Also added is a translation of the About Martin Doyle page into Irish. This page was kindly translated into Irish by the renowned Irish biographer and encyclopaedist Diarmuid Breathnach of County Wicklow, Ireland. The new page may be viewed here: Sceal Máirtín Ó Dubhghaill. Our thanks to Diarmuid Breathnach for his time and kind patience.

Return to the Top

Martin Doyle has just published a new web site that introduces his Aikido classes to the world via the internet: Clare Aikikai.

Martin Doyle first became interested in Aikido in 1987 at the recommendation of a friend and is now a shodan Aikido instructor – or sensei in Japanese. He offers twice weekly Aikido classes for adults and children at Liscannor, County Clare.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as “the Way of unifying (with) life energy” or as “the Way of harmonious spirit.” Ueshiba’s goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury. Read more…

Return to the Top

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.

The entire article may be viewed here: An Irishwoman’s Diary.

Related:

• A Flute Maker/Player Dyad by Elizabeth Petcu
• New Music Samples Added

Return to the Top

Flutes for Africa

Mpingo logger, Tanzania

Tanzania is home to the famed Mpingo tree from which the highly valued timber known as African Blackwood is harvested. This wood has been one of the first choices for woodwind instruments such as clarinets, oboes, bag pipes and flutes for over 150 years now, but was also valued by furniture making as far back as the time of the Egyptians. It is a timber favoured for it’s density, durability and exceptional tonal qualities.

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. This from Nina Perry:

“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.”

The plan is to set up a workshop so that Martin will be able to make a flute while in Tanzania. He will also be visiting places where the trees grow and meet the people who tend the trees. Our thanks to the intrepid Nina Perry for her update and we look forward to further news as the production of The Music Tree unfolds…

Also Related:

• Martin Doyle To Feature On BBC Radio 4

Regarding Mpingo Conservation

The Mpingo tree is also found in Kenya, where it is considered to be severely threatened. In Tanzania and Mozambique, Mpingo is doing better but is in need of conservation management as it is being harvested at an unsustainable rate, partly because of illegal smuggling into Kenya, but also because the tree takes upwards of 60 years to mature. There are two organisations involved in the conservation of African blackwood, the Mpingo Conservation Project and the African Blackwood Conservation Project. The following video clip is from Sound and Fair — a campaign to realise a sustainable trade in African blackwood.

Return to the Top