Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Jan 1, 2021
Happy New Year !
There's no doubt 2021 will easily be better than 2020. Noseflute.org addresses you and your relatives its best wishes for the New Year, health and happiness, for sure, and also many joyful nosefluting moments !
Jan 1, 2017
Nov 11, 2016
Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)
This morning turned very sad when I learned the passing of our beloved Leonard Cohen. Up to then, he was the *only* living member of the Nose Flute Hall of Fame. Finally, yesterday, he decided to quit his constant infringement and to comply with the NFHoF rules.
Leonard had been inducted for the last notes of Tonight Will Be Fine (Songs From A Room (1969)), clumsily played at the nose flute.
So long, Leonard...
Aug 9, 2016
Happy Birthday NoseFlute.Org!
Five years ago, on August the 9th, 2011, I launched this blog with an inaugural post, including a first nose flute video made in Athens, Greece. Since then, NoseFlute.Org had ups and downs (long mute periods), but but got richer of no less than 755 posts, and more than 245,000 page views!
I want to thank all of you who come to visit the blog from time to time, or more often, from any part of the big big world! Some of you are particularly active, posting comments or sending pictures or videos, making this blog a vivid place of discussion. Other are more reserved, but loyal and faithful.
I also want to thank all the nose flute builders, makers, inventors, craftsmen... amateurs or professional, for the joy and innovation they provide with their creations: they provide delicious food for the blog.
No more blah blah, Happy Birthday NFOrg!
I want to thank all of you who come to visit the blog from time to time, or more often, from any part of the big big world! Some of you are particularly active, posting comments or sending pictures or videos, making this blog a vivid place of discussion. Other are more reserved, but loyal and faithful.
I also want to thank all the nose flute builders, makers, inventors, craftsmen... amateurs or professional, for the joy and innovation they provide with their creations: they provide delicious food for the blog.
No more blah blah, Happy Birthday NFOrg!
Aug 7, 2016
Happy Nose Day!
Today is the Nose Day in Japan! As explained earlier, August the 7th, alias 8/7 is pronounced 'hachi/nana'. And as a Japanese kinda rebus, keeping the first syllabs only brings 'ha-na', which is pronounced exactly as 'the nose' (鼻, 'Hana'). Happy Nose Day!
Jul 23, 2016
Selfie with Uke Master Will Grove-White
NoseFlute.Org was honoured by the visit of Mr. Will Grove-White (and family), respectable member of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (UOGB) and reknowned nose flute enthousiast! Very proud of this unmerited honour, Noseflute.org associated with the incomparable Nosy Diva to take a fluty selfie with Will's pair of young bodyguards, in front of the Neptune fountain (Nancy, France).
Then at the Wallet Instant Wallet Nose Flute, at the Snoot Flute, and at the Numero 9, my koa uke built by master Gérard Guasch:
Then at the Wallet Instant Wallet Nose Flute, at the Snoot Flute, and at the Numero 9, my koa uke built by master Gérard Guasch:
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Jun 14, 2016
5th International & Interspecies Nose Flute Day!
Here, at Noseflute.org, we regard the Nose Flute day as the perfect moment to spread nosefluting, and particularly to initiate someone to our noble art. That's the reason we decided to make a specific little nose flute for our C.E.O., my cat Patafix.
I also wanted to test a new device I received (I intend to use it at School of Architecture): it is an extrusion pen. You plug it on USB, stuff it with a ABS plastic wire, and the pen melts the wire while extruding the plastic. With it, one can build (literally 'draw') small (and fragile) little structures.
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So, I wanted to see if it was possible to build a small nose flute for Patafix. I chose 'glow in the dark' ABS wire to do so, and began to draw a basic shape, then to fill it. It is rather difficult to master the pen and I was not able to produce a regular shape. I felt like drawing with a pastry bag disgorging custard.
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Then I created the inner airway (very uggly, uh?), and a nose hood adapted to Patafix' snout:
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Finally, I sharpened the labium and sanded the flute as I could to smooth the surfaces, added an elastic cord with 2 pink beads (Patafix is a girl, don't forget it!):
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Yoohooh! It glows in the night!
At first, the moustachioed C.E.O. of noseflute.org was a bit reluctant in trying the instrument...
But after a while, Patafix adopted the nose flute and played a beautiful music piece (unfortunately, I hadn't my recorder with me at this moment...). Anyway, she will mostly use it as a bird call…
Jun 13, 2016
What are you going to do for INFD?
14th of June — tomorrow – is the International Nose Flute Day. The date was chosen as an homage to William G. Carter, inventor of the mordern and urban nose flute, which patent was registered Jun. 14, 1892.
Each year, on the 14th of June, united nosefluters around the world do something special to honor the little instrument. And you, what will you do for the International Nose Flute Day?
Our friend Don Luis, from Mexico, just realized a video in which he plays the nose flute, juggles with a pair of tennis balls (Juggling Day stands on 18th!), and read a book by James Joyce (Bloomsday on the 16th!). Hahaha! very creative!
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On his side, sensei Mosurin organizes an nose flute exhibition in Saitama (Japan), that will stand from 14th to 19th of June. During five days, the work of 13 hanabue makers will be exposed. On the 19th, a concert will close the event (we wish we could be there, with a thick wallet:).
2016/6/14 (Tue) to 19 (Sun)
open from 11:30 to 16:00
Community Restaurant, Saitama Prefecture Tsurugashima Gomiketani 230-3
Parking available. TEL: 049-287-1792
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/mosurin01/diary/201605140000/
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And you, what will you do for the International Nose Flute Day?
Each year, on the 14th of June, united nosefluters around the world do something special to honor the little instrument. And you, what will you do for the International Nose Flute Day?
Our friend Don Luis, from Mexico, just realized a video in which he plays the nose flute, juggles with a pair of tennis balls (Juggling Day stands on 18th!), and read a book by James Joyce (Bloomsday on the 16th!). Hahaha! very creative!
--
On his side, sensei Mosurin organizes an nose flute exhibition in Saitama (Japan), that will stand from 14th to 19th of June. During five days, the work of 13 hanabue makers will be exposed. On the 19th, a concert will close the event (we wish we could be there, with a thick wallet:).
2016/6/14 (Tue) to 19 (Sun)
open from 11:30 to 16:00
Community Restaurant, Saitama Prefecture Tsurugashima Gomiketani 230-3
Parking available. TEL: 049-287-1792
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/mosurin01/diary/201605140000/
--
And you, what will you do for the International Nose Flute Day?
Jun 10, 2016
75th Anniversary of the plastic Humanatone!
Filed Jan. 22, 1940 by Ernest W. Davis (NFHoF), the patent of what became the plastic Humanatone (in 1943) was registered on 10th of June, 1941, exactly 75 years ago!
We all know that the 'Hum' is not the best nose flute – could I dare to say it is the worst mass produced one – but it has been much better by the past. The plastics used have evolved in a bad way: whether the 1943+ models were roughly injected in a low grade plastic (celluloid?), the Fred Gretsch Mfg Co. quickly turned to a nice polystyren, stiff and crispy, yet light, nicely sounding. But on the turn of the 1980-90s, Trophy Music Co. bought the brand and began a production in a cheap, soft and dull sounding PVC (not from the beginning however, there were polystyren Trophy Music versions, then translucent red ones, then only the PVC).
The original shape evolved a bit at the early stages: the nose scoop got sharper, the 'true tremolo' hole stopped to been chamfered, the wingspan was reduced a bit while the mouth hole made bigger, and a heal was added to the bottom of the mouth shield. All by Grestch, on their late models.
Besides the bad quality of the plastic, we all know that the main feature that turns the Humanatone to a cheap toy is the very broad mouth hole: clog the bottom third of this hole by a piece of bristol (or better: a piece of aluminium), and the Hum immediately sounds better (but sharper). This is maybe the reason of its success: a sturdy, sharp and loud instrument would have frightened the parents! Better buy a barely sounding toy, more 'windy-woody' than sharp and crisp, and better, that the kido will break after an afternoon of use.
However, in the 1940s, the Humanatone was also specially packaged to be sent to the 'buoys' fighting in the Pacific. No more dedicated to concertists, as the original metal one was, but to kids and soldiers.
The early models were incredibly psychedelic, with swirled and marbled colours! But Gretsch rationalized its catalogue and began to produce only plain color Humanatones. Red, yellow, blue, brown, black. Then Trophy Music froze the range to the current 6 tones: yellow, orange, red, purple, navy blue and green.
In the 1950-60, the Humanatone was also produced in a tin version, made in Japan.
The Hum was copied. By the Hum-a-Tune, produced in Hong-Kong in 1969, rebranded into 'Bullwinkle's Hum-a-Tune', but also by an anonymous chinese production, in the 90s. But the Humanatone continued its road, sold under different disguises, like the Topps Nose Flute version in the 1960s, the Dr. B. B. Bumpstead's Musical Respirator, the Amazing Nose Flute in 2005, or even by Trophy Music itself with the 1st Note Nose flute. It was even used as a promotional toy for a nasal spray!
The Humanatone was also the object of all my affection in my very first video, very first post of this blog on 9th of August, 2011:
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So, despite your numerous flaws, your cheap make, your deep crappiness, you're the one with the biggest success and longevity, and this must necessarily mean something…
Happy birthday, Grandma!
We all know that the 'Hum' is not the best nose flute – could I dare to say it is the worst mass produced one – but it has been much better by the past. The plastics used have evolved in a bad way: whether the 1943+ models were roughly injected in a low grade plastic (celluloid?), the Fred Gretsch Mfg Co. quickly turned to a nice polystyren, stiff and crispy, yet light, nicely sounding. But on the turn of the 1980-90s, Trophy Music Co. bought the brand and began a production in a cheap, soft and dull sounding PVC (not from the beginning however, there were polystyren Trophy Music versions, then translucent red ones, then only the PVC).
The original shape evolved a bit at the early stages: the nose scoop got sharper, the 'true tremolo' hole stopped to been chamfered, the wingspan was reduced a bit while the mouth hole made bigger, and a heal was added to the bottom of the mouth shield. All by Grestch, on their late models.
 |  |
 |  |
However, in the 1940s, the Humanatone was also specially packaged to be sent to the 'buoys' fighting in the Pacific. No more dedicated to concertists, as the original metal one was, but to kids and soldiers.
The early models were incredibly psychedelic, with swirled and marbled colours! But Gretsch rationalized its catalogue and began to produce only plain color Humanatones. Red, yellow, blue, brown, black. Then Trophy Music froze the range to the current 6 tones: yellow, orange, red, purple, navy blue and green.
In the 1950-60, the Humanatone was also produced in a tin version, made in Japan.
The Hum was copied. By the Hum-a-Tune, produced in Hong-Kong in 1969, rebranded into 'Bullwinkle's Hum-a-Tune', but also by an anonymous chinese production, in the 90s. But the Humanatone continued its road, sold under different disguises, like the Topps Nose Flute version in the 1960s, the Dr. B. B. Bumpstead's Musical Respirator, the Amazing Nose Flute in 2005, or even by Trophy Music itself with the 1st Note Nose flute. It was even used as a promotional toy for a nasal spray!
The Humanatone was also the object of all my affection in my very first video, very first post of this blog on 9th of August, 2011:
---
So, despite your numerous flaws, your cheap make, your deep crappiness, you're the one with the biggest success and longevity, and this must necessarily mean something…
Happy birthday, Grandma!
May 19, 2016
Nose Flute Demonstrations
As far as I know, there were (at least) five ways to sell nose flutes:
1.- Newspapers (advertisements)
2.- Catalogues (musical instruments, toys or novelties)[see here, for instance]
3.- Shops (musical instruments, toys or novelties physical)
4.- 'Fakirs', or street agents, selling the nose flute among other novelties (see this post)
5.- Demonstrations (in concert halls, parties or world's fairs)
Street 'fakirs':
We already published some documents recruiting musicians for demos, and some other about the performances themselves. Here is an advertisement from a demonstrator looking for a job!
The Era, London (Mar. 21, 1928):
The demonstrations were held in different kind of places. Some were organized in music shops before Christmas, or even in concert halls.
Chillicothe Constitution (1912-11-27) and Santa Ana Register (1913-05-08):
The San Bernardino County Sun (1913-01-25):
The Republic - Columbus (1915-03-26):
Some demonstrations were performed during parties or musical shows as entertainement during other kinds of events. But privileged places for commercial demos were trade show and fairs, particularly the big World's fairs. In the streets of Chicago fair, Seattle or New York, there certainly were fakirs selling Humanatones. But the Humanatone Co. had also probably a booth here and there. We are sure that the Stivers had a stand at the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition (Seattle 1909)[check this post], but it's more than likely they also got one in other fairs.
I found an interesting picture of a stand for musical demonstration. It dates of 1939 San Francisco World Fair:
Unfortunately, it was not a Humanatone stage, nor even probably for a nose flute, but for the Hum-A-Tune. Yes, there was a nose flute called by this name (see this post), but it is impossible that this 1970s nose flute was demonstrated in 1939. It is not possible to see the instrument played by the musician, but it was certainly the Hum-A-Tune kazoo.
This instrument had many imitators (Hum-Al-Band, etc.) including the FanFare by Paul Brunner. There were also 'special editions' for the Hum-A-Tune, we know one made for the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Now, how did the demonstrators proceed? Well, it was a fair, so it had to be a real show! I found an extraordinary video document in which 15 seconds show a Hum-A-Tune demonstrator on stage, at 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The musician first plays the Hum-A-Tune, pretending to play a mini and damaged trombone… Then we can see him playing the Hum-A-Tune while bowing a totally wrecked violin (The whole document here). There is also a ukulele hanging on the side:
1.- Newspapers (advertisements)
2.- Catalogues (musical instruments, toys or novelties)[see here, for instance]
3.- Shops (musical instruments, toys or novelties physical)
4.- 'Fakirs', or street agents, selling the nose flute among other novelties (see this post)
5.- Demonstrations (in concert halls, parties or world's fairs)
Street 'fakirs':
We already published some documents recruiting musicians for demos, and some other about the performances themselves. Here is an advertisement from a demonstrator looking for a job!
The Era, London (Mar. 21, 1928):
The demonstrations were held in different kind of places. Some were organized in music shops before Christmas, or even in concert halls.
Chillicothe Constitution (1912-11-27) and Santa Ana Register (1913-05-08):
The San Bernardino County Sun (1913-01-25):
The Republic - Columbus (1915-03-26):
Some demonstrations were performed during parties or musical shows as entertainement during other kinds of events. But privileged places for commercial demos were trade show and fairs, particularly the big World's fairs. In the streets of Chicago fair, Seattle or New York, there certainly were fakirs selling Humanatones. But the Humanatone Co. had also probably a booth here and there. We are sure that the Stivers had a stand at the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition (Seattle 1909)[check this post], but it's more than likely they also got one in other fairs.
I found an interesting picture of a stand for musical demonstration. It dates of 1939 San Francisco World Fair:
Unfortunately, it was not a Humanatone stage, nor even probably for a nose flute, but for the Hum-A-Tune. Yes, there was a nose flute called by this name (see this post), but it is impossible that this 1970s nose flute was demonstrated in 1939. It is not possible to see the instrument played by the musician, but it was certainly the Hum-A-Tune kazoo.
This instrument had many imitators (Hum-Al-Band, etc.) including the FanFare by Paul Brunner. There were also 'special editions' for the Hum-A-Tune, we know one made for the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Now, how did the demonstrators proceed? Well, it was a fair, so it had to be a real show! I found an extraordinary video document in which 15 seconds show a Hum-A-Tune demonstrator on stage, at 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The musician first plays the Hum-A-Tune, pretending to play a mini and damaged trombone… Then we can see him playing the Hum-A-Tune while bowing a totally wrecked violin (The whole document here). There is also a ukulele hanging on the side:
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Feb 24, 2015
Happy 60th Birthday, Schwan!
On February 24, 1955, the Weidlich & Lohse Musikwarenfabrik from Göttingen (DE), sent the file for a patent on a Nasenflöte aus Plastik mit biegsamen Oberteil (please check this post). This German nose flute was launched the same year, knew a great commercial success, and is still selling by batches under the popular name "the Schwan Nasenflöte", nickname coming from the logo showing a swan.
So, today is the 60th birthday of the "legal existence" of the Swan! And to celebrate this, we publish today a new collection of special color Schwans that has been discovered, then offered to us by the Nosy Diva herself! How did she find the nest ?
All are from current Chinese production, and let's remember that the so-called special colors are either intermediate production artefacts (when they change the color in the injectors), theoretically discarded from commercialization (but in fact given as goodies/bonuses to major resellers), or very limited color tests. All in all, it is very difficult to put the hand on them.
Now, let's take a look at some samples of this collection, particularly the ones with very colors...
Several specimens show a very bright petroleum blue, almost turquoise :
Another color that is present in several flutes is this rather translucent deep purple (very different from the regular pink-purple). Ths one also got a beige air cover:
Here is a chocolate brown one:
Even rarer and beautiful, two marbleized samples:
And last but not least, some silver specimens, with different silver hue (dark to light)!
Great collection, uh? And imagine it gathered with this one...
Thank you Nosy Diva!!!
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I discovered a new "production stigmata" on several of these collector babies... It is particularly visible on the silver body one, and looks like the inside of the nose shield was vertically torn. But there is no contour, the "tear" is plain and smooth, filled with translucent plastic. On the swirled grey flute, the "tear" just cut the marbling waves. The silver one also shows tiny cracks around the horizontal stigmata, as smooth and "unreal" than the big tear. Strange...
So, today is the 60th birthday of the "legal existence" of the Swan! And to celebrate this, we publish today a new collection of special color Schwans that has been discovered, then offered to us by the Nosy Diva herself! How did she find the nest ?
All are from current Chinese production, and let's remember that the so-called special colors are either intermediate production artefacts (when they change the color in the injectors), theoretically discarded from commercialization (but in fact given as goodies/bonuses to major resellers), or very limited color tests. All in all, it is very difficult to put the hand on them.
Now, let's take a look at some samples of this collection, particularly the ones with very colors...
Several specimens show a very bright petroleum blue, almost turquoise :
Another color that is present in several flutes is this rather translucent deep purple (very different from the regular pink-purple). Ths one also got a beige air cover:
Here is a chocolate brown one:
Even rarer and beautiful, two marbleized samples:
 |  |
Great collection, uh? And imagine it gathered with this one...
Thank you Nosy Diva!!!
---
I discovered a new "production stigmata" on several of these collector babies... It is particularly visible on the silver body one, and looks like the inside of the nose shield was vertically torn. But there is no contour, the "tear" is plain and smooth, filled with translucent plastic. On the swirled grey flute, the "tear" just cut the marbling waves. The silver one also shows tiny cracks around the horizontal stigmata, as smooth and "unreal" than the big tear. Strange...
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