Jim Gilliland

  For all of you who have been looking for low keyed cane flutes-Here they are! James R. Gilliland, a Native American artist and flute maker for the last 18 years from the hills of Alabama is retired Design Engineer from the Space Shuttle Program. James was involved in the NASA Space Program from 1963 to 1999. James uses his engineering skills and Native American heart, to take a piece of living wood and without destroying the soul of the wood, but only altering its shape, creates a flute that sings. These flutes are made using the traditional methods and some new technology.

  The material for these flutes goes through a special heat treating process, A drying process and finally a special flame hardening process to remove the internal stress from the cane to eliminate cracking. The material is then hand scraped to remove the outer skin; the inside is cleaned and sanded. The cane is cut to the correct length for the desired key and the placement of the playing holes is calculated. The playing holes and the reed are burned into the flute using traditional methods. Each playing hole is tuned using a Peterson Autostrobe tuner (new technology). After the flute is completed it is impregnated with lacquer with a vacuum/pressure process. After the lacquer is cured the flute is then sprayed with up to 5 coats of clear lacquer and then waxed with carnauba wax for lasting protection.

  One of James’s river cane flutes that was played on the Space Station in 2002 buy Cmdr. John Herrington, is now on display on the 4th floor of the National Native American Museum in Washington, DC.

  James was also commissioned to make the River Cane Flutes for the movie The New World that will open in November of 2005. The flutes were made the old way so they would represent the flutes played by Native Americans at the time of Colonial contact in Virginia.

  James was also honored this year as the First Place winner in the Musical Echoes, Flute Makers competition in Ft. Walton Beach Florida in 2005. This event has become a national event. James took first place with a river cane flute in the key of E that had a roost and sound mechanism of inlayed ebony. The flute had two bands of inlay that contained turquoise, red pipestone, blue pipestone and malachite.

  James now has a flute in the Heritage display at Disney World, Epcot Center in Florida.