John Kulias
// composer & flautistJOHN KULIAS is a composer, flautist, and flute artisan from Lakewood, Colorado. He first heard the sound of the Native American Style Flute in Canyon De Chelly, Arizona, and was drawn to the voice and spirit of that first flute song. John is a ceramic flute specialist who creates both Woodlands and Plains style flutes, and tunes them to the pentatonic scale, Mode 1 and 4. He is one of the few Native American Style flute makers who creates from clay using an ancient technique called pit firing, which gives each flute it’s own coloring pattern and unique voice.
Website: www.meadowlarkflutes.com
Photo: John Kulias / MeadowlarkFlutes.com
Interview:
I believe the spiritual significance of music is a connection to our heart and soul. It is an expression of our being, who we truly are and what is inside our heart. Music surrounds each moment of our life. Think of what the very first sound you hear when you awaken in the morning. Your breath, your heartbeat; each of us creates this music. It is the music of our spirit. It is an expression of ourselves, our spirit. When I close my eyes and play the flute, the music that comes from the flute is an expression of what lies in my heart. My spirit. Sure, you can play a song and that song can be music. You can also play a heart song which, for me, is very different. Playing from the heart expresses what is inside my soul. It is who and what I am, and is expressed as music. It is a way of bearing my soul through music. I can hear this each time I pick up a flute. The songs reflect what feelings are in my heart at the time. Happiness, joy, love: they all come out of my spirit as music. Playing music from my heart is a meditation and is healing in the way it affects me. It brings a calming balance to my life and grounds me.
“Happiness, joy, love: they all come out of my spirit as music.”
– John Kulias, composer and flautist
