ABSTRACT
This chapter explores Susan Rawcliffe's descriptions to accompany Gene Ogami’s photos of some of her ceramic wind instruments. Decorated with engobes and glazes; four fingerholes each. The ancient examples of these flutes as discussed in “Complex Acoustics in Pre-Columbian Flute Systems” generally consist of two balls joined by one open tube. The design is extended by making four balls with three tubes or, five balls with four tubes. This makes a small compact flute that can play unexpectedly low tones. Because of its irregular shape, it plays irregular overtones. Thus, the scale cannot be precisely controlled and each flute seems to have its own built-in melody. They have a haunting, intimate, thoroughly lovely sound. In general, water flute has a mind of its own and is truly interactive. Because of the nature of the physical movement required by the player, a performance becomes almost a dance.
