Does anybody here know how long it takes to season elder for making
flutes? Or if it needs to be seasoned at all?

There is an old tradition around Europe of making folk flutes from
green elder in the spring - just hollow the pith out with a sharp
stick and carve it with a pocket knife. These weren't intended to
last very long, sometimes only a matter of weeks. But I've got a
couple of elder flutes (a Transylvanian whistle and a Moldavian kaval)
which have obviously been made with a lifespan of decades in mind -
the Transylvanian whistle was made 18 years ago and still sounds fine.
Anyone know how the wood might have been handled before it was made
into a flute?

==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === http://www.campin.me.uk ====
Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557
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