A Science News article, Stone Age flutes found in Germany, reports that people living in Europe more than 35,000 years ago made this flute (shown from three different angles) out of a vulture bone. The magnified portion of the flute at the right provides a closer look at two of the flute’s finger holes.
As far as I can make out, it appears to be a simple end blown flute like the shakuhachi. The blowing technique is similar to blowing across the top of a bottle to produce a pleasant resonant tone. By placing holes in it, you can play a melody (or something melody-like in the case of Buddhist Hon Kyoku).
It feels intriguing being connected to a musical tradition (the end blow flute) that predates civilization as we know it by tens of thousands of years. Keeping that image in mind, while I play it, helps me put ‘tao’ into the blowing Zen. I mean, talk about the thread running through the way!
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