Makes of Panpipes
Here I have included
some pictures of different Panpipes from various makers across
Europe. I describe each and make my own personal observations.
A top quality 22 tubed (standard) instrument will cost around
£350 sterling but there are cheaper alternatives for the
beginner. Be warned , do not waste your money on cheap , plastic
"toys" , proper Panpipes are made from quality bamboo
or fine , turned wooden tubes.
Construction
of the Panpipes.
The classical Romanian Panpipes
, in whatever variant of size and range , is constructed , in
the main , from fine quality bamboo canes. The instrument is formed
by joining the tubes together in a concave curve (as viewed by
the player) and setting them on a wooden base. The tube bottoms
are plugged with either cork or wooden dowels and then further
sealed with a plug of beeswax. The beeswax enables the Panpipes
to be tuned by either removing some of the wax or inserting and
pressing home aditional wax. On the best made panpipes , the tops
of the tubes are shaped to provide for the most efficient and
effective production of sound. As the tubes become shorter they
also become narrower. These characteristics can be seen in the
following gallery.
Above is a 22 tubed (G1 to
G4) Panpipes from the great maker Ion Preda. These Panpipes are
available from the Composer and Teacher Costel Puscoiu , who fine
tunes the instruments before despatch. Click on the picture to
link to his site. This size of instrument is known as "Soprano-Alto".
A 25 tubed ( D1 to G4) Panpipes
from Ion Preda. This instrument belongs to the class referred
to as "Tenor". It provides for the lower registers required
for some pieces.
A 26 tubed (C1 to G4) Panpipes
from Ion Preda. The above instrument was made to order for the
American Panflutist Brad White.
A 28 tubed (G to F#4) Panpipes from Ion Preda. This
size of instrument is known as a "Concert" Panpipes
as its range covers the bass and sprano-alto instruments.
A 19 tubed "Contra-Bass" Panpipes from
Ion Preda. The range is C0 to G2. The instrument is huge in size.
The very lowest tubes have a special insert to allow for a clearer
sound.
A 22 tubed (G1 to G4) Panpipes
from Ulrich Herkenhoff. As well as being one of the world's foremost
performers of the Panpipes , Ulrich Herkenhoff makes superb Panpipes
from both Taiwanese Bamboo and wood under the label "Ulitza".
A 26 tubed (C1 to G4) Panpipes
for the great German maker , Steffen Kuettner. These Panpipes
are exquisitely built and are available in "flamed"
bamboo( (not featured) , which is specially treated for enhanced
sound quality. Kuettner Panpipes have a "tighter" curve
than Predas, the instrument above is one of my favourites , it
has wonderfully rich lower registers.
A 22 tubed Panpipes from the
late Constantin Popescu. Popescu made Panpipes for all the great
Romanian players including Zamfir in his earlier days. These instruments
are quite hard to source now. Note the similarity in base pattern
to the Preda Panpipes.
A 22 tubed (G1 to G4) Panpipes
"Master" model from Dajoeri. (Expect to pay around £800
for this!).
You don't have to pay a fortune
for good , serious Panpipes if you are starting out. Kevin Budd
of Canada makes excellent instruments at a very reasonable price
and will custom build your instrument.
A 24 tubed (B to C4) Panpipes
from Kevin Budd.
Tuning and Care
of Panpipes
Fine Panpipes are a delicate
item and require care and maintenance just like any other instrument.
The Panpipes are tuned by varying the amount of beeswax at the
base of the tubes. Most Professional Panpipes you buy will need
some fine-tuning for your own personal embouchure and angle of
attack. This can be done using a musical tuning meter or a reliable
keyboard with accurate pitch (A = 440 HZ). The amount of wax in
the tubes can be altered using special tuning sticks as shown
below (these are made by Ion Preda)....you can make your own from
wooden dowels.
Wax can be either added or
removed using these tools.
Some makes of Panpipes require
a regular oiling of the tube interiors using Almond Oil. This
protects the bamboo from the acids in the breath. The tubes should
be oiled about once a month. Preda and Dajoeri Panpipes do not
require oiling as the tube interiors are specially treated.
Panflute World 
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