The Runik Ocarina - A Comparison of End Blown vs Oblique Blown Playing Styles

In this video, I discuss the differences between end blown and oblique blown playing styles on the Runik Ocarina (as well as other vessel flutes in general) and how this can greatly impact the resulting tone, texture, and dynamics of the instrument. While most rim blown vessel flutes are played in the widely known and popular end blown style, the much rarer and little known oblique method of playing can add a different feel to the tone and control that expands the tonal capabilities of the instrument even further. The Runik Ocarina itself is a fascinating piece of archeological and ancient musical history. Discovered during a major excavation in the late 1960s (1968-1969) in the village of Runik in Skenderaj, Kosovo, this clay earthenware artifact measuring only 8cm in height is the first and only one of its kind discovered to date. Dating back to 8000 years old, the Runik Ocarina represents one of the oldest, if not the oldest, vessel flute ever discovered! Unlike its name suggests (which has been adopted both by the culture and for historical reporting), the Runik Ocarina is not in fact a true ocarina, but rather a rim-blown vessel flute, played exactly like similar analogous instruments such as the Chinese xun. Timestamps of the video are as follows: 0:00:00 – Title Performance 0:00:37 – Introduction 0:02:25 – End Blown Style Playing: An Overview 0:04:18 – End Blown Style Playing Example 0:05:04 – End Blown Style Playing: Recap 0:05:41 – Oblique Blown Style Playing: An Overview 0:12:54 – Oblique Blown Style Playing: Using it with the Runik Ocarina 0:13:43 – Oblique Blown Style Playing Example 0:14:33 – Oblique Blown Style Playing: Recap 0:16:17 – Sound Comparison: End Blown Vs. Oblique Blown Examples 0:18:40 – Differences in Control 0:24:19 – Conclusion An in-depth overview video of the history of the Runik Ocarina as well as my replication efforts of this ancient instrument and a first look at the first official batch of Runik Ocarina Replicas can be found here:    • The Runik Ocarina - Recreating an 8000-Yea...   Additional details of the Bretti Musical Instruments Runik Ocarina replicas can be found on the Bretti Instruments website here: https://brettimusic.com/runik-ocarina/