Unsplit Branch Flutes

I started making my first flutes using reclaimed timber and even PVC pipes. Very soon I felt the urge to make my flutes from materials I could gather myself, without the help of industrial processed timber. So I started experimenting with making flutes out of tree branches from my local forest. I searched for branches that had been dried by the elements, which I would split with my knife and hollow out with a gouge. After that, I would glue them back together and start working on the voice of the flute. This is common practice when making branch flutes. I was really enjoying this process, but after making a few flutes like this, I started envisioning...

Would it be possible to keep the natural beauty and strength of the branch intact? Would it be possible to make a flute without splitting the branch? I started looking for other makers who had done this before, but unfortunately I could not find a lot of information. Unable to leave this thought alone, I started experimenting. At first I would use long hand drills, trying to keep it as straight as possible, but without much success... After trying a lot of different techniques, which often resulted in a lot frustration, it slowly started to make a little bit more sense. Almost a year later, I developed a method that enabled me to make a flute, while keeping the natural strength and beauty of the branch intact.

When making flutes like this, every branch presents a new challenge, much greater than working with a piece of lumber. I have to listen carefully to the branch and adapt to her wishes. Every branch is unique, so every flute will have her own character. Within this uniqueness, I make sure she has a clear voice and a concert quality tuning.