Kaval Whistles
I am very sorry, but my workshop is closed for the foreseeable future.
I am not taking any new orders, until further notice here.
Thank you for your interest!
Hans Bracker
Low A Kaval whistle
- low A Kaval whistle - 230 GBP
- made out of thin-walled aluminium tubing with 25mm bore
Also available in keys of low D, Db, C, B and Bb
This low whistle has its tone holes similar to a traditional wooden Moldavian Kaval, but its bore is wider (26mm, same bore than my low C and low B whistles), which gives it a strong lower oktave. It plays a Romanian scale like my Gypsy-whistles, but, because it has only five finger holes, it does not play some other scales the Gypsy whistles can play. It is 77cm / 30.5" long, which might be too large for someone with short arms. For shorter reach I would recommend a low B or low C Kaval whistle.
The "A" Kaval whistle plays these scale notes in the low octave: A B C D# E F (21311 step pattern). Other notes are available in higher registers.
Listen to low A Kaval whistle sample: missing file: Low-A-Kaval-improvisation.mp3
Wide-bore low D Kaval whistle
- low D Kaval whistle - 200 GBP
- made out of thin-walled aluminium tubing with 22mm bore
The low D Kaval whistle plays these scale notes in the low octave: D E F G# A Bb
Listen to wide-bore low D Kaval whistle sample: missing file: Low-D-WB-Kaval-impro.mp3
Low A Kaval, low D Gypsy and Low D Kaval whistle
In the picture above you can see the low D Gypsy whistle is longer than the low D Kaval whistle, because it has an addition note (the C) below the D. You can play the Romanian scale fine on both whistles, but you can play a number of other scales or modes on the Gypsy whistle as well, because of the extra holes. Basic scale notes side by side:
Gypsy low D: C D E F G# A Bb B
Kaval low D: D E F G# A Bb