Native flutists tout their talent

By JOSH NEWTON

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — PARK HILL – Flute player Danuwa analihi Adonvdo, instrument in hand, thanked the Creator Saturday morning for this year’s second annual Oklahoma Flute Festival, the music that would encompass the area, and the participants who enjoyed it.

Adonvdo and his family – wife, Wo’ya Usti Adonvdo, and son, Yona Waya – arrived at the Cherokee Heritage Center from Pennsylvania.

They weren’t the only ones to travel to Park Hill for the event. Joyce Barnes, festival staff member, said the festival is the only one of its kind “centralized in the country,” so coordinators were able to bring in a number of talented artists from across the U.S.

“We decided we wanted to hold a larger festival to share our passion with people around the country,” said Barnes. “Education is a key component when sharing a revitalizing genre like Native American flute. We want people to share in the passion of the music and history.”

Master of Ceremonies Dusty Moore encouraged visitors to support the performers by purchasing a CD. He also mentioned the numerous vendors and their handiwork. “These vendors have some of the best flutes I’ve seen in the 10 years I’ve been doing this sort of semi-professionally,” said Moore.

He mentioned one flute maker who was unable to attend after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Donations were accepted to help with medical bills.

“Unfortunately, like many of the flute makers we know, many of us don’t have health insurance,” said Moore. “So hopefully, the donations will help some of the costs. He is known as a warm and loving fellow, and if we fight with our heart, we win these battles.”

Flute player Joe Young of Idaho performed first Saturday morning. He used a variety of flutes and tunes, explaining a little of the history behind some of the music. “This one is called ‘Dust Devil,’” said Young. “I grew up on a farm, and when we plowed the field; the wind comes up, and stirs up a dust devil.”

Once, he said, a dust devil nearly knocked him off his bike.

“So this,” he said, “is an ode to the dust devil.”

He introduced another piece by telling of an adventure he took. The fusion of nature’s light and darkness inspired the music, titled “Shadow and Light.”

“We have to have both the shadow and the light to create the beauty I saw among the trees there,” said Young.

Throughout three days at the Heritage Center, participants could listen to other performers; attend workshops and how-to sessions; or browse through the Center’s museum. There was also a flute-making competition – with entries Moore called “phenomenal” – and a concert at the NSU Jazz Lab Saturday night.

The festival was inspired by the Cherokee Heritage Center’s Flute Circle and its volunteers, which has grown to include musicians and enthusiasts from several states.

Barnes said the festival was also open to world instruments this year alone, including a Switzerland hang drum, a Slovakian Flute, Dijurido, Maori artwork, Japanese Shakuhachi, and an Indian Bansuri.

Learn more

To learn more about the annual Oklahoma Flute Festival, log on to www.okflutefest.com; or call (918) 457-4893.