Whistle Tunes from Other Traditions Beyond ITM?

moonlitnarwhal · Post by **moonlitnarwhal** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 12:09 am

Hello!

I have been having a blast trying to learning ITM on the whistle (which is honestly one of the most satisfying musical experiences I've had in my life!), but I wondered if anyone here can recommend resources for learning whistle tunes from other cultures and parts of world? I've heard incredible French and Italian whistlers, and I know that (versions and varieties) of fipple flutes have played wonderful music throughout so many places and periods in the world, but I've had a difficult time finding good learning resources outside of the Irish, English, and and Scottish traditions. To be clear, I would be excited to learn any tunes from other traditions that could work on a high D whistle, not just whistle-specific tunes.

Also, I would be particularly interested in ABC files, as the ability to import them and utilize the MIDI file to learn the basic melody by ear has been indispensable. I have found some big collections of ABC files from other genres, but I would love some specific advice on which genres would work well on a high D.

In any event, I'd love to hear if any of you have explored other traditions and how you've learned those tunes (particularly if you've used other resources beyond learning strictly by ear, as my own ear is improving but not yet at the point of just absorbing and translating a tune to the whistle).

Thank you all for any suggestions!

Rich

PB+J · Post by **PB+J** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 3:14 am

The most notable other genre that I know of is Kwela, a style of music from South Africa that was popular in the 50s and 60s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adyM1Gx1lHU

I don't know much about it, but I'm always impressed by what I hear. There were a few people playing pennywhistle in jazz: you can find a guy named Les Lieber.

This has been posted before, the ending of "To Have and To Have Not" with Hogey Carmichael playing piano: Dig the time whistle at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs4vI2XnQJ4

The whistle is very cool and it's amazing how expressive it can be in the hands of a real musician.

Sorry no specific links to tunes. I've had a great time improvising on the whistle on a jazz/blues.

fatmac · Post by **fatmac** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:40 am

If you don't already know it - http://abcnotation.com/

moonlitnarwhal · Post by **moonlitnarwhal** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 12:17 pm

Yes I've found these huge ABC databases too, and after exploring some of the collections I found some tunes that worked fine on the high D and many others that were either awkward or didn't work seem to flow well (for me). Plus the format of thousands of unfamiliar tunes was pretty overwhelming when I dipped into some of those collections, so I wondered how other whistlers have gone about exploring other traditions or genres and if any specific ABC settings (or broader collections) could be recommended? I've heard mention of some whistlers here playing American Old Time, medieval renaissance music, and other styles - do you just sort through piles of ABC files and see what works? And if so, could you send me some!

oleorezinator · Post by **oleorezinator** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:22 pm

PB+J wrote:I don't know much about it, but I'm always impressed by what I hear. There were a few people playing pennywhistle in jazz: you can find a guy named Les Lieber

A whole lot of people know nothing about it
and post what they deem as "jazz" which
usually has absolutely nothing to do with jazz.
Les Leiber is one of the greats that played jazz.
I recently dug up some more along with Les.
Tuba player Howard Johnson and alto sax player
Bud Shank.
This is jazz played by jazz musicians. No noodling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ficFWx6wAwc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPedyhk83k0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8inPXiss5RU

oleorezinator · Post by **oleorezinator** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:29 pm

Some more Howard Johnson
with the Gil Evans Orchestra
on the funky side of things.
Scroll to 17:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqMYKq71mcc

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 5:10 pm

Here's some Newfoundland traditional music played on whistle by Gerry Strong. This is a set of "doubles" from the playing of fiddler Rufus Guinchard. (Normally they'd be repeated a few times before switching to the next tune -- Gerry seems to have wanted to make a quick demo here!)

Gerry has a Newfoundland whistle tunebook, but darned if I can find any links to it right now.

PB+J · Post by **PB+J** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 5:29 pm

oleorezinator wrote:
PB+J wrote:I don't know much about it, but I'm always impressed by what I hear. There were a few people playing pennywhistle in jazz: you can find a guy named Les Lieber
A whole lot of people know nothing about it
and post what they deem as "jazz" which
usually has absolutely nothing to do with jazz.
Les Leiber is one of the greats that played jazz.
I recently dug up some more along with Les.
Tuba player Howard Johnson and alto sax player
Bud Shank.
This is jazz played by jazz musicians. No noodling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ficFWx6wAwc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPedyhk83k0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8inPXiss5RU

As a guy who regularly gigs in jazz bands, I'm very skeptical when the jazz police start showing up to say what's authentic and what's not

stiofan · Post by **stiofan** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 12:29 am

The Galician tradition comes to mind right away...check out Carlos Núñez, and other gaita pipers who play whistle. Not sure how to track down ABC format files (or sheet music for that matter), though you could try searching this site as well as thesession.org. Lunasa have done some Galician and Asturian tunes over the years. And the Breton and Québécois traditions are also worth exploring.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 4:42 am

Starts at 1.30, as a slow air, moves into a beautiful waltz - type air after. "Tejedor"'s music is magnificent.
https://youtu.be/l-ZR4DtvW6w

pancelticpiper · Post by **pancelticpiper** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 5:03 am

The traditional musics in the Balkans have plenty of whistle-like things (fipple flutes) and of course kavals (end-blown flutes) which are the size of a Low Whistle or Irish flute but generally play up in the range of ordinary Irish whistles.

Here's the small thing very similar to an Irish whistle, the Frula

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Y2dc297Yc

And the Romanian bass whistle, the Caval.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcTh7ocX9ZI

Note it's normally played high, with just tantalizing hints of the low register here and there, but at 1:46 he drops into the gorgeous low octave:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e-Nrm7d4sg

Here's a dance tune where the Caval alternates octaves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0jQgTcfpF4

oleorezinator · Post by **oleorezinator** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:23 am

PB+J wrote:
oleorezinator wrote:
PB+J wrote:I don't know much about it, but I'm always impressed by what I hear. There were a few people playing pennywhistle in jazz: you can find a guy named Les Lieber
A whole lot of people know nothing about it
and post what they deem as "jazz" which
usually has absolutely nothing to do with jazz.
As a guy who regularly gigs in jazz bands, I'm very skeptical when the jazz police start showing up to say what's authentic and what's not

With my long and broad experience playing
jazz, rock, and blues, I'm eminently qualified
to judge for myself what is or is not jazz and
nu-age noodling by someone who hasn't
put in the time to study and learn something
out of their experience is easily decernible.
Informed skepticism is always good.
But labeling something with a convienient
name because it's out of yer scope is quite another.
Kenny G. comes to mind...........

ytliek · Post by **ytliek** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:08 am

CutiePie plays tunes including pop, movie themes, TV, games, tutorials,etc., along with some ITM.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3UojW ... 1TZRU8oC-Q

Also, Elizabeth Valez at inspirationalflute does movie themes, tutorials, etc., on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/user/inspirationalflute/videos

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 2:50 pm

moonlitnarwhal wrote:Hello!
To be clear, I would be excited to learn any tunes from other traditions that could work on a high D whistle, not just whistle-specific tunes.
Thank you all for any suggestions!
Rich

Hi Rich,
try this web site http://tinwhistler.com then click on tunes then click on category. You can see the music and listen.

whistlecollector · Post by **whistlecollector** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 3:46 pm

oleorezinator wrote:With my long and broad experience playing
jazz, rock, and blues, I'm eminently qualified
to judge for myself what is or is not jazz and
nu-age noodling by someone who hasn't
put in the time to study and learn something
out of their experience is easily decernible.
Informed skepticism is always good.
But labeling something with a convienient
name because it's out of yer scope is quite another.
Kenny G. comes to mind...........

Gentlemen, I do believe you have been educated.

For the OP, there's loads of classical music that fits nicely to the whistle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXLF2ICgeLg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWTFWM-XJGc

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