kung-fu tv series chinese flute?

[z]

Anyone know the 1972-1975 kung-fu tv series (with david carradine) chinese
flute
chinese name? Is it a [non-tunable] dizi? [bon di? / bangdi? qun di? /
qudi?]
["walking-stick" flute?] [bansuri?] [transverse nay / ney Egyptian bamboo
flute?]

It seems to be pictured on the cover of the book, "Kung Fu: Book of Caine"
by Herbie J. Pilato. Amazon link here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0804818266/ref=ase_continguidetothe/102-7578176-4043300?v=glance&s=books

As I recall, the instrument is not a bangdi or quid, because it does
not have a membrane and does not produce a buzzing sound.

It does not seem like a bansuri because a bansuri seems longer
and seems to have the finger holes positioned 90 degrees away from
the transverse embouchure hole.

What key is it in?

How long is it?

How many finger holes does it have (6? 4? other?)?

Any dimensions / plans out there for duplicating it? Even
an approximation in PVC plastic pipe? Online stores that have something
close to it?

Thanks...

[z]

OK, further googling seems to indicate that it is not a "ney" or "nay
flute, since those are actually held/played at an angle to the flute
itself.

Also, just from old memories of the TV series reruns, I recall that the
flute music sounded very primitive and in a minor scale when he played it.
That makes me believe that the flute was actually tuned to a minor
pentatonic
scale (which is apparently the same scale as the shakuhachi flute),
and from googling, such a flute would only have four finger holes.

This still leaves open the question of the key. I'm guessing from memory
(again, sorry) that the key is somewhat "low" for a flute, and perhaps
that puts it in the low alto range-- maybe D? My visual memory
pegs the flute as being about 24" inches long, which seems as if it matches
up to a very rough degree with a flute in the key of D...

Would such a flute have a finger hole on the bottom for a thumb?

This almost seems like enough information to attempt to make
a rough approximation from a 24" piece of 3/4" Dia. Schedule 40 PVC
pipe. What am I missing (OK, one thing is the precise locations
of the finger holes, feel free to suggest measurements if known...)?

(Yes, I know, for a lot of good reasons, I should use bamboo, but I
don't have any at the moment, and don't know exactly where to get any,
at least without poaching at some park somewhere, and I expect
it would be expensive to buy just to experiment with. I figure I
can try out hole measurements and pitch with a couple of PVC flutes
and graduate from there to the real thing, if that makes any sense
at all... ;-)

Thanks...

"z" <z...@y.x.invalid> wrote in message
news:9Pyoe.2817$wy1...@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...

> Anyone know the 1972-1975 kung-fu tv series (with david carradine) chinese
> flute
> chinese name? Is it a [non-tunable] dizi? [bon di? / bangdi? qun di? /
> qudi?]

...

[Toby]

I checked the picture and it was probably made by some hippie in Los
Angeles--I'm not kidding, it doesn't look like any ethnic Chinese flute I
have ever seen--in China or out. It does look a lot like the kind of bamboo
flutes that I used to see at LA craft fairs.

Most of the transverse Asian flutes do not have a thumb hole. Usually its
six fingerholes on top. If you want to try to make one out of PVC remember
that you want an inner diameter of about 17-18mm for a normal flute in C or
D--possibly 20 for a longer flute. the larger the inner diameter (within
reason) the easier and stronger the low notes, but then the second octave
starts getting very windy and the third octave disappears. The embouchure
hole should be the same distance from the stoppered end as the inner
diameter. A cork that can be moved to tune the upper notes would be a good
idea.

One way to get the hole spacing is to find a flute that has tuning that you
like and mark their positions on a piece of elastic slightly stretched
across the body of the flute. You can then stretch it for any length flute
and the spacing will be proportionatelypreserved. What I did was to just
drill holes experimentally, and when they were incorrect I just taped them
up and drilled another until I got it right. That will waste one piece of
PVC but after that you will have it right. Start at the bottom holeand drill
until you get it, then move up to the second hole and repeat, then the
third, etc. Bigger holes are better but not so big as to make them difficult
to cover. Chamfering the cut undersides with a small round or half-round
file is also a good idea to improve response.

The shakuhachi only has five holes, and the thumb hole just doubles all
fingers down in the second octave (ro). Having six gives you the possibility
to play a diatonic scale as well as a pentatonic.

Good luck,

Toby

"z" <z...@y.x.invalid> wrote in message

news:yfKoe.159$bv7...@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...

[Toby]

Also

I have a set of Chinese flutes--I can send you hole and tube measurements if
you tell me what key you are looking at.

Toby

"z" <z...@y.x.invalid> wrote in message

news:yfKoe.159$bv7...@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...

[Jemima]

In his book about the TV series, Carradine claims three identical flutes
were custom made by somebody for the show, and he gave one or all of them
away. I have not read it recently.

[Toby]

That sounds about right. No Asian flutes that I know of look like that
picture,

Toby

"Jemima" <jem...@paljey.com> wrote in message
news:U%cze.37041$qm....@bignews5.bellsouth.net...

[ROMANO]

In "A Dream Within a Dream" I watched this show twice but cannot seem to
grasp the plot of the story.

Can someone here explain their interpertation of the "A Dream Within a
Dream" eposode to me?

Thanks

"Toby" <zdft...@gool.com> wrote in message
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