2020 Tin Whistle Enthusiasts Q & A

[Maddie]

After typing my previous reply, I'd like to hear from others, too. I'm adding this question to the Q&A list.

Question #6: What musical styles or genres do you typically play on tin whistle?

My answer: I've limited my whistle playing to mostly ITM for now. For other styles, I switch instruments. Recorders for renaissance, baroque, and classical. Ocarina for folk, anime, and some movie scores.

[Sedi]

Mostly ITM with an occasional easy classic tune. At the moment I practice "Air on G string" by Bach (not really hard but takes a lot of puff because of those super long notes). But I play it on an F flute. Could just as easily be played on a tin whistle however. I also did play "take five" on the whistle once.
https://youtu.be/Y-yFK9liy6E
Almost 2 yrs ago. Time flies by.

[dch]

Questions:

1. What did you accomplish on whistle in 2019?

I picked up the whistle in late 2018 after tripping round Ireland and memory lane with my parents and my oldest kid. I started off with Whiskey in the Jar, which I can now play comfortably on 5 different instruments, and in 2019 I buckled down and learned my kid's favourite tune, the Musical Priest. Many thanks to Ryan G. Duns, "the real musical priest" whose lovely playing both inspired us and also gave me something to focus on https://invidio.us/watch?v=lNU_ATqwpAk I guess it took about 3 solid months to level up, and I'm not done yet but I think I'm starting to feel the limitations of my whistle which has a few cracks and bruises, and not just the issues of the player, of which many remain.

2. What are your whistle-related goals for 2020?

- Join this forum (accomplished!)
- Get a local tutor for some lessons (recommendations/contacts welcomed, I'm in Vienna, Austria)
- find a regular-ish session to join up
- learn whatever they're playing and be a regular
- get a better whistle

3. What tunes are you learning this month, and which is your current favorite?

I keep coming back to The Parting Glass. So simple, and yet finding many ways to embellish it. I've been working on a few of my own, none finished. I'm still polishing existing stuff, and focusing more on keeping strict enough time that might hold up at a session.

4. What whistles are on your 2020 Wish List?

Oooh. My only whistle is a brass Dixon trad D, probably worth around 20 quid. I like it more than the 6 euro predecessor my son swears by, but it also isn't quite in tune, which drives me mad. It's suffered greatly from being played every day and taken on every trip. I want to upgrade to something special, really in tune, and probably wooden, and perhaps one of those fancy metal ones with interchangeable bits as well. I found that there's a local-ish whistle maker http://www.pa-music.com/ so I will pay them a visit and get some hands-on experience. I will peruse the forums but advice is welcomed, particularly around what key options would suit other than the standard D.

5. What do you enjoy most about playing tin whistle?

It's so damn convenient. In those boring phone meetings I slap mute on, I whip it out and stick out a few tunes. The joys of working from home! I find that I end up spending more time with my whistle, than my much less convenient accordion and violin. You can just throw it in a bag, take it on the plane, or on a bike ride, and get another hour or two in almost any day. Other than singing, I've never had such a portable and convenient instrument.

[RoberTunes]

Question #6: What musical styles or genres do you typically play on tin whistle?
Answer: anything of any style as long as it's got a strong and clear musical feel to it that I enjoy playing for any reason. I'm exploring the instrument itself and trying to find what voices it's capable of; long notes, trills, effects, melodies, moods, combinations and any complexities and changeups. I find that the Irish Traditional music as played on whistle is so often a very fast and highly embellished music that I find myself getting very picky about what pieces I would want to learn. I'd never fit in a strictly Irish music band, but I could sit and watch an Irish band for hours if they explore the range of music possible within the tradition (it's huge).

I want to learn the techniques and apply them to any kind of music, so the use of ornaments, effects and great tonal control are what I'm working at. As for style, in the exploration stages, that comes out as "noise" sometimes. Noise is an under-rated musical genre with a long history, with bootleg practitioners on every continent. I will say this; when I watch a highly accomplished whistle or flute player such as one of the great players currently showing up for YouTube videos or new sessions or albums, I'm mesmerized and want to learn everything I can. Most of them are working the ITM angle. If ITM is a strong supportive garden of musical encouragement, great, let it grow! Personally, I don't care what song or style they're in, if it's great music, I'm there if they are.

[Maddie]

2. What are your whistle-related goals for 2020?

- Join this forum (accomplished!) ...

Hello, and welcome to the forum. Nice to have you join us. There are so many knowledgeable members here, and they are always happy to help newcomers.

We only started posting our 2020 goals three days ago, but I believe you hold the distinction of being the first person to actually accomplish one. Congratulations!

[fatmac]

After typing my previous reply, I'd like to hear from others, too. I'm adding this question to the Q&A list.

Question #6: What musical styles or genres do you typically play on tin whistle?

Folk, rock, blues, Scottish, classical, smooth jazz, really anything that takes my fancy, (I'm not into ITM, most of it is not melodical enough for me).

[An Draighean]

1. What did you accomplish on whistle in 2019?

Began teaching one of my grandsons.

2. What are your whistle-related goals for 2020?

Increase speed, nimbleness of fingers.

Keep teaching grandson.

3. What tunes are you learning this month, and which is your current favorite?

March of the Kings of Laois, The Cuil Aodha (Polka). Teaching the grandson Teampall an Ghleanntáin (reel), as an introduction to rolls and the ACA triplet. Like them all.

4. What whistles are on your 2020 Wish List?

None. Still on the waiting list for a couple of Sindts but not bothered; I like the whistles I have just fine.

5. What do you enjoy most about playing tin whistle?

The ease, simplicity, and portability. Fun to make music on such a basic, simple, and cheap instrument, that nevertheless can have a lot of depth and satisfaction.

6. What musical styles or genres do you typically play on tin whistle?

ITM only.

[dch]

3. What tunes are you learning this month, and which is your current favorite?

I've picked two - first one is Waterford Boys which was a pretty easy play by ear as I must have listened to Ronnie Drew sing this a bazillion times. I have a fair bit of work to get the fingering smooth but should be rough & ready in a week or so. The stretch goal will be Christy Barry's Jig https://www.invidio.us/watch?v=161xhB8e8oo

I first heard Kevin Crawford play it here https://www.invidio.us/watch?v=W4Yg9zHxu7c which despite the background noise is amazing. I haven't yet found any whistle fingering for this so please point me to some common websites where that can be found. I expect this will keep me quiet for several months, maybe through to end of summer even, but I'm looking forward to it!

[Maddie]

... The stretch goal will be Christy Barry's Jig https://www.invidio.us/watch?v=161xhB8e8oo

I first heard Kevin Crawford play it here https://www.invidio.us/watch?v=W4Yg9zHxu7c which despite the background noise is amazing. I haven't yet found any whistle fingering for this so please point me to some common websites where that can be found. ...

For whatever reason, those links aren't loading for me right now, but TheSession.org has eight settings of Christy Barry's Jig on this page: https://thesession.org/tunes/843 .

[pancelticpiper]

Richard, thanks for taking the time to explain your modification.

You're welcome! That modification is clever, too clever for me to have thought of, and I'm in debt to the person that shared the method with me.

Yes, my Bb Generation is also slightly flat in the second octave...jamming the fipple all the way down on the tube doesn't correct it.

Yes pushing the head further down raises the overall pitch of the whistle but doesn't correct a flat 2nd octave.

the second octave can be blown into tune.

Yes usually no matter how bad a whistle's tuning is it's possible to blow it into tune.

Possible but not desirable IMHO.

I want my whistles to play in tune without me having to do breath gymnastics to fix all the bad notes.

What type of saw do you use for that cut?

Just an ordinary hobby saw.

It would be nice if manufacturers labeled whistle keys as prominently as shown in your photo.

I did that to make gigs easier. A song that requires the Bb might be followed by one that needs the C, and I only have a moment to grab the next whistle especially if I play the intro. It's not good to start the next song in the wrong key!

It can be confusing, especially in dim light, and when I have multiple whistles of the same make

[pancelticpiper]

Question #6: What musical styles or genres do you typically play on tin whistle?

My main interest over the years has been ITM but I've also done a large number of church gigs and studio gigs.

[Sedi]

I found what I was seeking when I listened to the early recordings, the Irish flutists from the 1920s and 1930s. Later I found that this style was alive and well in Ireland, but for some reason wasn't well represented by commercial recordings available in the USA.

Do you have any tips to point me in the right direction where to find those recordings? Because, I agree to what you have been writing about the style and the influence of other instruments on the flute (and also the whistle -- see the never-ending controversy about tonguing that pops up every few months in the FB-groups).

[Mr.Gumby]

Do you have any tips to point me in the right direction where to find those recordings?

The first classic flute players to listen to would be Tom Morrison and John McKenna's output, I suppose. ITMA will have playlists, also, Kevin Rietmann's permathread on the flute forum has been sitting there for years, right under your nose. Take it from there, there's loads more to explore.

[Sedi]

Thanks a lot! Indeed, I never noticed that thread . D'oh! Stupid me.

[Mr.Gumby]

Things are often just sitting there until you are ready to notice them

The ITMA playlists are a good starting poiint as well.