Page 14 - Buzz Magazine - Issue 4 Fall 2022 | University of Rochester

PLAYING FROM THE HEART

families, audiences at festivals The Native American flute is an the heart, which has always
and concerts, everyone— instrument—a tool, really—that been a defining aspect of this
experience peace, happiness, allows all people to express the instrument.
and delight,” says Svengsouk. music that is inherently within WHAT’S DISTINCTIVE
“The Native American flute can them. It’s a very accessible ABOUT THE NATIVE
do all of this—it can help us feel instrument, too. By design, it AMERICAN FLUTE?
different, better.” features a pentatonic scale, It features two air chambers,
which makes it possible to play one to receive the air and
For patients, music at the notes in any order and always another to produce sound. It
bedside can alleviate pain and produce a pleasant sound—you doesn’t require an embouchure
stress and help with relaxation. can’t fail. as other woodwind instruments
Success comes in patient DO YOU PLAY do, which means you can just
response, and in how their TRADITIONAL NATIVE simply breathe into it. It also
families, who are often also AMERICAN SONGS? comes in a variety of sizes,
stressed and exhausted, react. No. Most contemporary Native shapes, designs, and woods
Svengsouk frequently tells American flute players like that yield different sounds. For
them that one of the greatest me perform original music. instance, a soft wood like cedar
compliments they could give Some traditional Indigenous emits a rich, soft sound, while
him is to fall asleep while he songs do exist in written music harder woods such as maple
plays. “The music would have form, and many songs are or oak produce very crisp and
then done its work,” he says. played by Indigenous peoples clean tones.
in traditional settings or by HOW MANY FLUTES DO
WHAT MIGHT SURPRISE
PEOPLE TO KNOW Indigenous recording artists YOU OWN?
ABOUT THE MUSIC YOU and performers. For most non- I’ve become a collector of sorts.
PLAY? Indigenous flutists, we play from I even keep a spreadsheet—

Svengsouk lives in Rochester
with his wife, Lisa. Together
they have three adult children,
Jocelyn ’11, ’14W (MS),
Madeline, and Samuel.

14 | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHES TER BUZZ MA G AZINE