For the Woman

Indigenous Estum-bah means "For the Woman" in the Apache language. In the Native American music world, it means "Beautiful Music". The rarely played or heard cane flute goes direct to the heart with simplicity and grace. Melodies of the Cane Flute is dedicated to fallen Hopi war hero Lori Piestewa. Estum-Bah holds true to their native ways while blending an array of original and beautiful, serene native love songs.

The Apache cane flute is indigenous to the Southwest. It’s carved from the tall stalks of the desert river cane. According to traditional stories a young man played beautiful melodies as he was taught be his elders. This was the way to pursue a young woman with great respect, beauty, and gentleness. The flute of the high plains is said to be a gift from the bird people. A young boy heard the tapping of a woodpecker as he sat outside his tipi. As he looked up at the tree he saw 4 young woodpeckers. These woodpeckers carved holes out of a hollow tree branch. As the wind began to pick up the woodpeckers hopped up and down on the tree branch as the wind blew through it. The first sounds of the northern flute played as the tree swayed from side to side. The branch fell from the tree and into the arms of the young boy. From that day on the boy played the flute from village to village. A gift from the bird people.