TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS  ****LOVE FLUTES NOW AVAILABLE**** David became very well known for his unique sounding, OVAL SHAPED Iroquoian Love Flutes he made out of BC cedar.  David also is now endorsing a new flute from the Navajo Nation.  They are in perfect concert pitch, in the key of A, and have beautiful totem reeds, including bear, turtle, eagle and buffalo.  He has used these flutes in concert and in performances all around the world. To inquire about purchasing any traditional instrument such as flutes, or water drums,  please click below...

THE LEGEND OF THE IROQUOIAN LOVE FLUTE - BY DAVID R. MARACLE

In the beginning, when earth was first created, she was in her most pure state.  Everything in and out of this world was put there for a reason; grandmother moon, our eldest brother the sun, our young brothers and sisters the stars, the oceans, rivers, lakes and streams, the plant life both big and small, trees, roos, medicine and fruit for all;  the winds, rain, thunder and lightening, the animals, fish, birds, insect and man; all there to survive and live in harmony together.  Even with all this natural beauty, the sounds were not enough for Creator.

One night, a restless Mohawk boy, twisting and turning, in and out of sleep, could feel something tugging at his spirit.  The boy awoke and prepared to set out on a journey.  Little did he know that his life would be changed forever.  He had very keen senses, which enabled him to hear, see and smell a great storm approaching.  He ran to take cover beneath a giant cedar tree. When all of a sudden, Creator sent a large bolt of lightening down from the Heavens, striking the cedar tree and causing it to split down the middle.  Beside the tree sat a big rock that was also struck by lightening, causing it to shatter.  Pieces of the red hot stone flew like fireflies and landed in perfect line formation on a small hollowed branch that had been broken off the cedar tree.  The storm ended as fast as it had started. The boy new that his life had been spared and that he was to respect the natural elements and never be afraid.

A Mohawk word has been given to us and that is Kanenhstaton, meaning the protected place.  The boy looked down and laying at his feet  was a small branch of hollowed cedar with holes in it.  He reached down and gently picked up the most unusual object; it was beautiful, red and white in colour and the fragrance that came from it left him speechless.

Catching the boy by surprise, the Creator had sent a severe wind storm causing things to blow about him where he stood.  Holding tight, the boy would not let go of the unusual piece of wood.  Again the boy had been surprised, as the wind blew through the piece of wood, making the most beautiful sounds.  He knew then that he had been given a powerful gift.  He began to blow his breath into the wood and made music like the birds.  It didn’t take long for the news to spread of this heavenly sound.

People would gather and listen as it allowed their spirits to travel, opening their third eye.  After seeing the powers that one possessed by having one of these beautiful instruments, they started showing up in the hands of many young warriors. They could play to the animals, and watch as the most ferocious beast of the land and sky would fall into a trance, and even eat out of the hands of these warriors.  Some of these warriors would play for the young women, manipulating them into believing that they were in love.

As time went on, leaders and elders from many tribes witnessed the effects it had as heart after heart was broken.  The beautiful music would stop, from that same breath, and words would develop and the spell of the love flute would be broken.  It didn’t take long until a law was passed, that no love flutes were to be played until the one playing it shared more about his life first, to show his intentions and his true nature.

As time went on, the sounds from these love flutes not being heard as often caused fighting and bickering throughout North America.  Today, the love flute is used by Native people throughout the world, as a useful tool in celebrating our existence in song and dance, and giving thanks to the Creator.