Casey Burns Flutes
[Casey Burns Irish Wooden Flute Head Joints]

Casey Burns Flutes are professional performance instruments for Irish and other traditional music, based upon the acoustical models of 19th century makers such as Rudall & Rose, Boosey (Pratten), and Prowse. Each instrument is meticulously crafted from carefully selected, air-dried tonewoods. Keywork and bands are made from Sterling silver.

Casey's flutes are an intelligent balance of tradition and innovation, comprising careful improvements of the traditional acoustical models, and a deceptively modern aesthetic that preserves the best features of their historical forbearers. The experience of over twenty five years and three thousand instruments has resulted in an instrument gratifying for beginner and professional alike. We invite you to learn more about these remarkable flutes, and look forward to discussing with you the appropriate instrument for your needs.

[photo of a 5-key european boxwood Irish flute with tuning slide and silver rings]

[ models ]  [ pricing ]

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND NEWS

[ detail photo of the new Folk Flute headjoint stamp ]

The Folk Flute: This is my most popular flute, with about 800 of these out in the world. Available in European Boxwood, Mopane and Blackwood and costs $375. For more information please visit www.folkflutes.com

Grey Larsen and Cindy Kallet's CD "Cross the Water": You may order the CD, and downloads of the individual tracks, at their website where you may also listen, for free, to all of the music. A few of the tracks feature Grey playing the low A flute that I made him. Details of this forthcoming shortly, along with a few music samples here. From the little bit I have listened to already, its lovely! (December 9, 2007)

John Skelton on YouTube: John just informed me of some videos of him that were posted on YouTube recently. These were taken at a concert sponsored by Shepherdstown Music and Dance and Upper Potomac Music Weekends. Click this link to see him playing one of my Bb flutes in Mopane. (February 10, 2008)

Kara Lochridge - Expert Flute Repair and Restoration: I frequently get asked if I am available to repair or restore antique flutes and some not so antique flutes by living makers. My limited experience with such tasks has been frustrating and at times horrifying and I've simply turned such work down.

Kara Lochridge repairs and restores wooden flutes of all kinds, including the modern Irish flute and those from the Baroque Era and the 19th Century. She spent a number of years in Patrick Olwell's workshop and does great work. If you have an old flute in need of repairs you can reach her through her website.(December 9, 2007)

Larger Holed Standard Version: This flute is as powerful as a Pratten, but has much better tonal balance and hand ergonomics. It resembles my Standard model and uses the same bore. However, the fingerloles are slightly farther down on the instrument, and slightly larger in size. With this instrument there is no longer any need to offer a copy of the Pratten, so the Pratten has been discontinued. (August 25, 2006)

Combo low flutes: My low flutes are now available in these pitches: A, Bb, B and C, or in 2, 3 or 4 way combinations. Choose your pitch! Each additional pitch costs 1/2 the cost of a standalone, with the exception of the B which uses the Bb lower middle joint. Illustrated below is a recently completed 4 way combo in blackwood with silver bands and tuning slide, with bodies arranged below the headjoint from the top-down: A, Bb, B and C. (August 25, 2006)

[photo of my 4 way combo low flute in blackwood with rings and slide]

Casey

81238 visits since
July 21st, 2001

Page last modified:
August 27 2006

     © Casey Burns 1981-2007