Poplar Flute with Black Locust and Black Walnut— E, 432 Hz

A uniquely colored Poplar flute with a warm, soothing voice—and one of my favorite flutes I've made.

This is one of those pieces of wood that caught my attention because it simply doesn't look like every other piece of Poplar. In person, the body has a beautiful lemongrass-green color, with subtle variations of tone running through the fine, flowing grain. It's difficult to capture that color accurately in a photograph, but in your hands, the unusual green character of the wood is immediately apparent.

This flute is one of my favorites that I've made. There's something about the combination of the wood, the way it feels in the hands, and the way it speaks that has always drawn me back to it. I kept the design relatively clean because I wanted the unusual Poplar to remain the focus.

I've paired the Poplar with Black Locust for the mouthpiece and footcap, and Black Locust and Black Walnut for the block. The reddish tones of the Black Locust create a beautiful contrast against the green of the Poplar, while the darker Black Walnut gives the block a little more visual weight. A small Turquoise accent completes the design.

And there's another surprise hidden in the Black Locust.

Under ultraviolet light, the Black Locust fluoresces a vivid yellow-green, revealing something that isn't visible under ordinary light. I've included photographs of the flute under blacklight so you can see this unusual characteristic for yourself.

Musically, this flute has a warm, soft, and soothing voice. There's something very inviting about the way it speaks. It doesn't demand a particular kind of playing. You can explore slowly, work with your breath, or simply pick it up and see what comes out.

Tuned to E at 432 Hz, it's a beautiful instrument for personal playing, quiet reflection, meditation, or simply spending some time with the flute and letting a melody develop naturally.

A note about the tuning: I design these flutes so the block can be slid slightly back from the fipple, raising the pitch so the flute can be played at 440 Hz as well. Although this flute is built and voiced around 432 Hz, you have the flexibility to play at either tuning depending on what you're playing with.

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Key: E
Tuning: 432 Hz
Body: Poplar
Mouthpiece & Footcap: Black Locust
Block: Black Locust & Black Walnut
Inlay: Turquoise