Just got this odd fife(?)....let me describe the instrument....metal with whistle-like mouth piece attached to the body forming a right angle....you hold and finger like a flute but point to of contact with mouth and blowing is like a whistle. Any thoughts on this instrument would be appreciated.
They used to make those in America in the old days, some are stamped Melody and Laurel, MD. Simple style fifes, usually in B and with no keys, by makers like Geo. Cloos often came with what is now called a "cheater," a metal (pewter) attachment that would simplify blowing, no embochure needed, for amateurs or players who'd lost their teeth - I believe I read somewhere it was developed during the American Civil War. The cheater was ring-shaped and fit so the air was focused at the fife's blow hole. I have a William Hall fife with one of these, it plays as easy as any whistle with the cheater attached. Your fife is a metal version of this.
My So brought one of these with her from the US of A 25+ years ago. Most of her ordinairy tin whistles play better, especially anything more expensive than a Clarke or a Generation. Hers is a D, so you could use it in sessions, but why ?
Odd Fife
Odd Fife
Just got this odd fife(?)....let me describe the instrument....metal with whistle-like mouth piece attached to the body forming a right angle....you hold and finger like a flute but point to of contact with mouth and blowing is like a whistle. Any thoughts on this instrument would be appreciated.
# Posted on February 25th 2006 by ecologia
Re: Odd Fife
They used to make those in America in the old days, some are stamped Melody and Laurel, MD. Simple style fifes, usually in B and with no keys, by makers like Geo. Cloos often came with what is now called a "cheater," a metal (pewter) attachment that would simplify blowing, no embochure needed, for amateurs or players who'd lost their teeth - I believe I read somewhere it was developed during the American Civil War. The cheater was ring-shaped and fit so the air was focused at the fife's blow hole. I have a William Hall fife with one of these, it plays as easy as any whistle with the cheater attached. Your fife is a metal version of this.
# Posted on February 25th 2006 by Kevin Rietmann
Re: Odd Fife
ecologia, here's an article I found on a 'CHEATER'.
Does this look familiar?
A Mouthpiece for Your Fife?
(Do you really need one?)
http://www.beafifer.com/mouthpiece.htm
# Posted on February 25th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Odd Fife
My So brought one of these with her from the US of A 25+ years ago. Most of her ordinairy tin whistles play better, especially anything more expensive than a Clarke or a Generation. Hers is a D, so you could use it in sessions, but why ?
# Posted on February 25th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Odd Fife
My SO....
# Posted on February 25th 2006 by Guernsey Pete