Ian Anderson's style

Absoflutely · Post by **Absoflutely** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:59 pm

Hi, I've been listening to a bunch of Jethro tull music such as the album STAND UP and I'm curious about how Ian Anderson gets that "dirty" sound from his instrument. He doesn't sound crisp and clean like Julius Baker or Hubert Laws, but I really enjoy his style and would like to be able to play that way.

Also, how does he do that fast tonguing? It sounds like he's rolling his R's like when you speak Spanish. Is that a very advanced technique??

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:16 pm

Playing "dirty" involves using your embouchure in a different way, often to introduce some additional air into the sound, possibly overblowing slightly, and intentionally going for a less refined or focused sound. As you become more comfortable playing flute it becomes easier to pull different sounds from the instrument, and combine them with extended effects. The flute that you play on can also matter. I believe Ian Anderson did (and still may) play on a Haynes for at least part of his career, but I find student flutes are easier to get that sound on than more advanced instruments. Anderson is also pretty well known for his use of extended effects, such as singing while playing, multiphonics, etc. which can all contribute to the "dirty" sound. As for tonguing, it's called "flutter tonguing", and is not a terribly difficult thing to do, but is best saved (at least IMO) until the student has a firm grasp of the basics of playing, as it is not something one uses most of the time, and can detract from focus on the important subjects of flute playing. Essentially it consists of either rolling your tongue as you would if you spoke Spanish, or if you can't do that (some people can't), gargling (or using the uvula) to accomplish the same thing works. For the second option, you need to pull the back of your tongue up slightly as if your were gargling or speak a Hebrew or spitting (the descriptions for this are nearly endless).

Absoflutely · Post by **Absoflutely** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:46 pm

Flutepicc06 -- I AM a beginner and so, I guess I'll leave these techniques for somewhere down the road when I have more of the basics under control, as you suggested. I read most of your responses on the board and, as usual, although humble and unassuming, your response has been illuminating. Thank you.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:51 pm

Absoflutely wrote:Flutepicc06 -- I AM a beginner and so, I guess I'll leave these techniques for somewhere down the road when I have more of the basics under control, as you suggested. I read most of your responses on the board and, as usual, although humble and unassuming, your response has been illuminating. Thank you.

You're very welcome! I'm glad you find my posts useful! I'm always glad to help and to hear that my posts are appreciated!

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:42 am

Check this out

http://www.alfanet.hu/kirk/index2.html

Ian is clearly influenced by this guy!

Absoflutely · Post by **Absoflutely** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:17 pm

Phineas, once, many years ago, I went to a concert. I think it was a Miles Davis concert but I know that it was also featuring Rahsaan Roland Kirk. I had only heard his name before the concert but I remember thinking as I watched him, "Is that blind guy really playing 3 instruments simultaneously???!!!!" He was absoflutely amazing !!! Needless to say, it was a great concert and I feel privileged to have seen him live. He was in a league of his own.

I had not made the connection between RRK and Ian Anderson but you are the second person to make that comment to me. So, I'm going to listen to his music again and see what I can pick up. Thank you.

rai · Post by **rai** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:49 am

Ian Anderson.. What a legend.. Both he and James Galway were absolute idols of many of us in the 70's who were 'flautically'

obsessed.

Just his name brings back one of my favourite concert experiences of the 70's. I had the absolute joy to see Jethro Tull live at Kooyong Tennis Courts in Melbourne (Australia) at that time..Musically we were so lucky in those days over here in Aus. So far away from the 'rest of the world', and yet the creme de la creme of the music world would come to play for us.

I had front row seats for that concert. There is nothing like it, is there???!Any way it was sheer heaven to hear him play up close.. The memorable thing about that concert is, that it began to rain.. and they unfortuneatly had to stop playing coz it was an out doors concert and they were a wee bit frightened of being electrocuted... oh well

it was good while it lasted

It was fantastic to read technically just HOW he produced those sounds that were so incredibly different at the time.. I was especially interested by the description of obtaining voice and flute simultaneously... hmmmmm think I will make that my next little focus thing.. taaaaaaaaa.. wonder if i will be able to do it

Absoflutely · Post by **Absoflutely** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:28 am

Last August, I was lucky enough to see Ian Anderson LIVE! He had a lead guitar, bass, drums and a 14 piece string orchestra backing him up. It WAS Jethro Tull !! I've been a Tull fan since the late 60's and never new that Ian Anderson plays the acoustic guitar leads on many of the songs. He is an incredibly gifted musician.

By the way, after 3+ hours, the concert ended with a looonnnnggg version of LOCOMOTIVE BREATH that brought the house down! A night to remember.....................

rai · Post by **rai** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:43 pm

that would have been faaantasticcc. I would love to see Ian Anderson performing in the here and now..

apicultrice · Post by **apicultrice** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:37 pm

I am a HUGE fan of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Soon after I purchased a box set of recordings he did for Columbia records, I was happily bopping along, listening to it in the car one day when "Soul Bossa Nova" popped up in the player. "Soul Bossa Nova" happens to feature Rahsaan as lead flute/piccolo, and is really best known as the theme song for the Austin Powers movies. I was pretty surprised to make the connection! He recorded the track in 1964 with the Quincy Jones orchestra.

Anyway, he was such a weird guy, but an amazing player. I would highly recommend his music to anyone who is interested in jazz flutists.

Absoflutely · Post by **Absoflutely** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:10 am

For all the Ian Anderson fans out there -- if you've never seen him LIVE --for everything you've always wanted to know about Ian Anderson / Jethro Tull and more, including an ongoing list of tour dates, just go to:

http://www.j-tull.com/

He was in the US last year. Don't know when he'll be back here but you can always find him somewhere. Enjoy.

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Ian Anderson's style

Ian Anderson's style

Ian Anderson - what a legend!!!!

Ian Anderson