Charles Littleleaf

Last updated

Charles Littleleaf
Charles Littleleaf with his Native American flute.jpg
Charles Littleleaf at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
Background information
Born Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon, United States
Genres Native American
Occupation(s)Musician, flute maker
Instrument Native American flute
Years active1995–present
LabelsLittleleaf Music
Website https://www.eaglecanyonflutes.com

Charles Littleleaf, a Native American flute player and flute maker, is a tribal citizen of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Oregon. Charles is also an honorary member of the Piikani Nation, Alberta, Canada, and is the son of the late Chief Jack Littleleaf of Brocket, Alberta.

Contents

Native American flute player

In 1992, Warm Springs tribal member, Charles Littleleaf, received a flute from Native American flutist, R. Carlos Nakai. Nakai's gift was intended to encourage Charles to learn the instrument. The following year, Nakai held one of the first Native American flute workshops at the Feathered Pipe Ranch in Helena, Montana and invited Charles to attend.

The Feather Pipe workshop lasted two weeks and it was here, amidst players much more technically versed in music, where Charles learned one of the best lessons regarding the traditional flute: that playing from the heart and spirit is where some of the most beautiful Native American flute music will come from.

In search of ways to further express his heart, Charles continued to play the flute without instruction. Through these instruments, he also found an emotional way to release healing qualities that would not only benefit himself but all of mankind. At the beginning of this musical journey, Charles played the flute at the home of his ancestors, primarily to family and friends. This is where the first samples of Charles' music developed.

Years later, Charles continues playing and enjoying the native flute. He has grounded his flute playing within the essence of Mother Earth and from memories growing up on his reservation which he shares with audiences around the world.

Native American flute maker

Charles Littleleaf has been creating concert Native American flutes for over 20 years for both professionals and beginners alike.

Discography

Collaboration

Credits

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pan flute</span> Musical instrument, typically made from bamboo

A pan flute is a musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube, consisting of multiple pipes of gradually increasing length. Multiple varieties of pan flutes have been popular as folk instruments. The pipes are typically made from bamboo, giant cane, or local reeds. Other materials include wood, plastic, metal, and clay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerophone</span> Musical instruments that are played by vibration of air

An aerophone is a musical instrument that produces sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate, without the use of strings or membranes, and without the vibration of the instrument itself adding considerably to the sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warm Springs Indian Reservation</span> American reserve in Oregon, US

The Warm Springs Indian Reservation consists of 1,019 square miles (2,640 km2) in north-central Oregon, in the United States, and is governed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indigenous music of North America</span> Music by Indigenous peoples of North America

Indigenous music of North America, which includes American Indian music or Native American music, is the music that is used, created or performed by Indigenous peoples of North America, including Native Americans in the United States and Aboriginal peoples in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Mexico, and other North American countries—especially traditional tribal music, such as Pueblo music and Inuit music. In addition to the traditional music of the Native American groups, there now exist pan-Indianism and intertribal genres as well as distinct Native American subgenres of popular music including: rock, blues, hip hop, classical, film music, and reggae, as well as unique popular styles like chicken scratch and New Mexico music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Trudell</span> Native American activist, author, and poet (1946–2015)

John Trudell was a Native American author, poet, actor, musician, and political activist. He was the spokesperson for the Indians of All Tribes' takeover of Alcatraz beginning in 1969, broadcasting as Radio Free Alcatraz. During most of the 1970s, he served as the chairman of the American Indian Movement, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation</span> Indian tribes in Oregon, United States

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are the federally recognized confederations of three Sahaptin-speaking Native American tribes who traditionally inhabited the Columbia River Plateau region: the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Carlos Nakai</span> American flutist (born 1946)

Raymond Carlos Nakai is a Native American flutist of Navajo and Ute heritage. Nakai played brass instruments in high school and college, and auditioned for the Armed Forces School of Music after a two-year period in the United States Navy. He began playing a traditional Native American cedar flute after an accident left him unable to play the trumpet. Largely self-taught, he released his first album Changes in 1983, and afterward signed a contract with Canyon Records, who produced more than thirty of his albums in subsequent years. His music prominently features original compositions for the flute inspired by traditional Native American melodies. Nakai has collaborated with musicians William Eaton, Peter Kater, Philip Glass, Nawang Khechog, Paul Horn, and Keola Beamer. He has received 11 Grammy Award nominations for his albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon</span> Federally recognized Indian tribe in Oregon, United States

The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (CTGR) is a federally recognized tribe of Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Plateau. They consist of at least 27 Native American tribes with long historical ties to present-day western Oregon between the western boundary of the Oregon Coast and the eastern boundary of the Cascade Range, and the northern boundary of southwestern Washington and the southern boundary of northern California.

The Native American flute is a musical instrument and flute that is held in front of the player, has open finger holes, and has two chambers: one for collecting the breath of the player and a second chamber which creates sound. The player breathes into one end of the flute without the need for an embouchure. A block on the outside of the instrument directs the player's breath from the first chamber—called the slow air chamber—into the second chamber—called the sound chamber. The design of a sound hole at the proximal end of the sound chamber causes air from the player's breath to vibrate. This vibration causes a steady resonance of air pressure in the sound chamber that creates sound.

Bill Miller is a Native American singer/songwriter and artist of Mohican heritage. He is a guitarist, player of the Native American flute and painter.

Brulé & AIRO is a contemporary Native American new-age/worldbeat music group based in South Dakota. They have sold over one million CDs worldwide, won a number of awards, and have made media appearances with the Live with Regis and Kathie Lee television show, CNN WorldBeat, QVC, and others. They maintain a schedule of well over 100 performances a year including full stage productions with traditional dancers, an annual holiday tour, performances at Milwaukee's Indian Summer Festival, Indian Art Markets in Denver, Arlington (Tx.), and Overland Park, Kansas, Harbor Fest in Virginia Beach, the world-renowned Ordway Theater in St. Paul, Foxwoods Casino, and many additional outdoor festivals and events. They have released 22 CDs over their 21-year existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Youngblood</span> Native American musician

Mary Youngblood is an American musician and performer of the Native American flute.

Michael John Murphy is a folk musician based in Omaha, Nebraska. He plays various instruments, including the guitar, piano, and Native American flute. He has been a singer songwriter based out of Omaha since the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Locke (musician)</span> American musician, storyteller, and educator (1954–2022)

Kevin Edward Locke was of Lakota descent of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Anishinaabe of White Earth. He was a preeminent player of the North American Indigenous Flute, a traditional storyteller, cultural ambassador, recording artist and educator. He was best-known for his hoop dance, The Hoop of Life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Mirabal</span> Musical artist

Robert Mirabal is a Pueblo musician and Native American flute player and maker from Taos Pueblo, New Mexico.

Peter Kater is a German-born American pianist, composer and Grammy Award winner.

Canyon Records of Phoenix, Arizona, is a record label that has produced and distributed Native American music for 56 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs</span> Indian tribe in Oregon, United States

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is a federally recognized Native American tribe made of three tribes who put together a confederation. They live on and govern the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in the U.S. state of Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flute circle</span> Organization of musicians

A flute circle is an organization of musicians which focuses on the Native American flute. Flute circles typically meet periodically to engage in educational and recreational activities surrounding the instrument. Most flute circles offer instruction on the Native American flute, especially for flutists who are new to the instrument. Many flute circles have a facilitator with experience in group music facilitation and humanistic music education to structure the activities and the music-making.

This is a discography of Native American flute player R. Carlos Nakai.

References