Bansuri Flutes / Bamboo with long internodes

[we3krs]

Subject: where to buy bamboo for bansuri flutes??
Hi,
This is a very interesting forum and kudos to all those participants.
I'm a flute player and flute maker. I've started to make the bansuri (Indian bamboo flute which is generally made out of one stretch of bamboo -usually more than 22~25 inches long). So I'm looking for bamboo that will have a nodal spacing of anything more than 20 inches.

I'm not able to find such bamboo here in the US. Can somebody help me and let me know where I can find some?
Thanks
Bansuri

[mejafu]

Hi,
I'm living in melbourne, australia, and have developed a interest in flute making. I too was interested in making bansuri as well as dizis (chinese bamboo flute) both of which are made from one long stretch of bamboo between nodes.
I got in contact with Jeff Whittier who's well known for making bansuri and dizis and he told me that he often used a species he harvested in hawaii, known as "paper bamboo".
He didn't know the scientific name for it though, and I have been unable to find which species it is.
He also uses bamboo imported from Assam.
He informed me both species had large nodal spacings and
were reasonably thin. if anyone knows the scientific name of
this "paper bamboo" it be much appreciated!
thanks
tim

[Angel]

Hello Bansuri and group,
I can't help very much because I'm in Argentine.
But I can tell you some about bamboo species able to make bansuri.
Bambusa multiplex Silver Stripe is very good, has a good sound, is long enough, but a bit thick walled and the internodes are frequently bent. I use it myself for special works. Take care with PPBs!
I heard about Schizostachyum , a green striped yellow culm which seems to be the best for bansuri.
I don't know about the original bamboo species used for bansuri in India, but I can add that it is very thin walled and straight.
Other species are very nice, but I don't know if they are available in the States.

[kevinrl]

Tim, I posted a message in the ABS List group and so far this is the only reply.
This bamboo is in Australia but not widely grown. The brachycladum is easier to grow, for me anyway.
Kevin
aloha - well, i've never heard of it referred to as "paper" bamboo but perhaps they are talking about 'ohe kahiko, the original canoe plant that the polynesians brought to hawaii. it is green, has long internodes and is used for making nose flutes. very thin walled. it is identified as Schizostachyum glaucifolium but since the description of that bamboo varies so much we are uncertain. It looks a lot like a green form of the Schizostachyum brachycladum that we grow.

[Shankar]

Hi Mark and the rest,
I learn the flute with Nilendu and wanted to give you some more information about the type of bamboo we are looking for...
Diameter: 1 to 1.25 inches
Thickness: 1 to 1.5 mm
Length: Longer the nodal spacing the better but atleast 20+ inches
And thanks for the bamboo you gave us to experiment...
Looking forward to meeting you sometime in Austin..

Cheers
Shankar

[bansuri]

The best bamboo is grown in Assam in N India. A good variety is also found in Hawaii but I do not know where.
There are 2 major types of bansuri, 7 hole as the type played by Panalaal Gosht and disciples G.S Sachdev in California and maker Jeff Whittier.
The 6 hole flute as played by Hariprasad Chaurasia has a wider bore which favours the lower register. These flutes normally have a seventh hole not meant to be played with the right pinkie which is placed underneath the flute and closed by pressing the flute against the thigh when playing sitting on the floor.
The best flutes I have found are by maker Harsh Wardhan of New Delhi.
Chaurasia usually plays his flutes. See website - www.wardhan.com

thanks!

[dinesh]

Dear friend, i m learning flute with one of disciple of late maestro Pannalal Ghosh here at jodhpur(rajasthan)
yet my fingering technique is adopted from pandit chourasia g.
i really need to make a flute of his specification.
please tell me the exact source for raw material from Asam(Finished cut bamboos preferred)
Also please guide me more if possible about flute making tools.

The best bamboo is grown in Assam in N India. A good variety is also found in Hawaii but I do not know where.
There are 2 major types of bansuri, 7 hole as the type played by Panalaal Gosht and disciples G.S Sachdev in California and maker Jeff Whittier.
The 6 hole flute as played by Hariprasad Chaurasia has a wider bore which favours the lower register. These flutes normally have a seventh hole not meant to be played with the right pinkie which is placed underneath the flute and closed by pressing the flute against the thigh when playing sitting on the floor.
The best flutes I have found are by maker Harsh Wardhan of New Delhi.
Chaurasia usually plays his flutes. See website - www.wardhan.com

thanks!

[Owleyes]

Hi, I live in N. Texas (Dallas area). I harvest locally to make Shakuhachi. What grows well in the northern climes is Phyllostachys types, typically Aurea, or golden bamboo, very hardy. Many time you can find ferrel colonies growing (which is what I do for flute making). It is not the "traditional species" for Shak, but, hey, it is free!! I've not made a Bansuri and it sound like you need thin walls. P. Aurea is not particularly thin, but you might give it a go. It grows up to 30 to 40 feet and many times the upper sections between the nodes are 20 inches or longer, and sometimes pretty thin. (I use the root end section for Shakuhachi)

Owl
www.mcneillart.com