Today I attended my first (and almost certainly not my last) Chiff & Fipple Northeast Whistle Gathering, held at the Sweet's place on the banks of the Scantic River in Enfield, CT.

I had a very fine time, and I hope no one took my quiet as an indication that I wasn't enjoying myself. That's just the way I tend to be around a new group of people. I'd like to thank everyone who offered encouragement or advice to this beginner, and to those who gave me a chance to hear and try a variety of great whistles.


There's a selection of the photos I took <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcurry/sets/72157594216689113/">here</a>.

I'll hope to see you all again next year, and by then maybe I'll be comfortable enough with my playing to join in a few tunes!

Michael (that new guy in the pirate t-shirt)

Glad to see the first batch of photos from this year's Northeast Whistle Gathering, and I hope to see lots more.
One little correction you might want to make, though... the 'Blue Silkstone' is actually an Overton.

Hmm....maybe I'm misremembering, but I could have sworn that Paul said it was a Silkstone.

Oh, and I got to try one of your Stealths today. That's one fine whistle!

I had lots of fun. I didn't even have time to get out my camera, too many whistles to try and too many tunes to play.

Nope, definitely an Overton anodized by Colin to match my PT Cruiser

Nice to meet you, and hope we see you there again!

Nice pics! BTW-- my wife is Charlene, not Cheryl (common mistake)

As you can see, the gathering was not large but the company was without exception wonderful. Several of us extended the day by having dinner after we broke up. Made some real, lasting friends here.

It would be a shame if more people didn't take advantage of this wonderful opportunity next summer. Slowair and I and several others discussed this a bit and we feel that we should start planning WELL in advance so people have the chance to put this in their planners before everything fills up. Sweets' place is a fabulous location, but on the chance that the location is a hindrance to some, we'd consider moving the event to a more mutually satisfactory location. Think about it...

Hmmm ... somewhere within two hundred miles of me would be nice.

My thoughts exactly. This would give attendees, potential clinicians, and whistlemakers some much needed advance notice to plan for the event.




Loren

Great photos Mike, thanks for sharing with those of us who couldn't make it


Loren

Thanks. Both the name of the whistle and the name of your wife have now been corrected on the photos.


Michael

I'd come if it were closer.

Thanks to Mike and the Sweets for organizing and hosting the event! (Sorry I had to bug out early.) I wished I could have heard some of you play more.

How about next time in Saratoga Springs?


Sheryl

Here's a second on Saratoga. Wonder if a C&F gathering could be held inside the Dance Flurry Festival in Feb?

Thanks to Michael for posting the photos. I took a few dozen but have not looked at them yet. Once I sort out a few good ones, I will find a way to host them.

Special thanks to Slow Air and Paul for the work they did in preparation for and during the event. Likewise to the Sweets for their kind donation of time, space and expertise. Walt's demo on the ins and outs of tuning--how sanding off a few thousandths of an inch can impact the sound and/or performance of a whistle, for example--was pretty impressive.

Our numbers were small, but we filled the barn with music!! The presence of three fine 'pickers'--at least two of whom also played fine whistle and one of whom is a proud and avowed guitarist--added a lot to the music, and I think that more folks knew more tunes in common than last year.

It was especially refreshing--and most welcome--to visit 'ye olde' swimming hole'. Yes, a cool, crisp and clean running stream that you can just walk to and just jump in!! No health club membership, no parking permit, no residence requirement--just this nice cool stream 50 yards from the Sweets historic site.

I had a great time. (add-on/edit starts here). I just reviewed the photos and there are some good shots in the lot, for sure. I will send the subjects 'their' jpegs for approval. The last four photos I took were taken about five minutes after I left the Sweets. In search of a Starbucks, I turned off the route and happened to see a rainbow, which I photographed and which actually shows up on the jpeg, If my sense of direction is right it is more or less over where we had just spent a pleasant day. If someone can host the photo, let me know by e-mail and I will send you four jpegs to select from.

Tom D.

Greetings from Dingle, gang. Looks like the second NE Gathering was a hit! Paul - the little green man drew a round of solid applause at Ballyduff House in Thomastown, Kilkenny, and he's still travelling with me.
A full report upon my return.

Best,

Philo

Sounds like I missed something memorable, stayed home sick in bed but am feeling much better today. It would have been my 1st & my wife was even looking forward to it and Conneticut is close by.