Chiff and Fipple Forums

I have been listening to the "Barnburner's Reel" and "Katherine Tyrell" (attributed to Carolan) on a terrific CD by the Fort Hill String Band, of Western NY (you can hear them live at the Fiddlers of the Genessee gathering at Mumford, outside of Rochester). Does anyone know where...

Can a whistle fix itself? I had gotten a Walton's mellow D over a year ago, after borrowing my son's --he wanted it back, without Mom-germs. I hated the new one, boiled it, tweaked it, still hated it, put it away, played my Dixons. Then, lo and behold, I took the Waltons out the other day, played Pl...

Can anyone out in whistle land personally recommend the Dixon Bb? I really dislike my Generation brass Bb (a bad job, despite repeated attempts at tweaking) and am considering a nickel Gen or a Dixon (I love my Dixon soprano D, it's my all-time favorite). Smallish holes and playability are my main c...

Cranberry: Try to think of playing your multiple instruments as musical cross-training. No one would think of telling a tennis player not to go swimming or a basketball player not to work out with weights, would they? As long as you play something every day, you'll improve exponentially, probably on...

I haven't been there in may years, but I did grow up in Queens, and Patrick's Pub on Northern Boulevard is a good bet. Depending on where you are (Queens is a big borough), you can try just about any Irish bar in Sunnyside-along Queens Blvd. and on side streets in Sunnyside & Woodside.

In addition to all those Irish lovelies, I would add "O Son Do Ar," a beautiful Galician slow air by Bieito Romero of the group Luar na Lubre. You can hear it on Mike Oldfield's "Voyager" album, and the music is available on the group's website. A very easy, but impressive air fo...

Walden: I recommend to you (and to anyone else on the board who has time to read) any and all novels by Charles DeLint, the Canadian modern-fantasy writer. He is not only a gifted writer, but also a trad-Celtic musician, and music (harp, fiddle, pipes, etc.) plays a big part in all of his books. Eve...

I'm looking for a transcription of Planxty Gan Ainm, recorded by John Faulkner on the Rounder album "Celtic Magic." Can anyone out there direct me to an online archive or tunebook that might have it? I've checked JC tunefinder, and came up empty. Many thanks. Cheers.

Addendum to food in Philadelphia: Try Astral Plane, near Society Hill, a survivor from the 70's restaurant renaissance and still very good, nice atmosphere, also Montserrat, South Street. And stop by the City Tavern for a drink - it's also in the historic district, near Independence Hall. If you mak...

First part of Aires de Pontevedra (part B is simple; A is a bear) and second part of Planxty George Brabazon. After a while, I forget how many repetitions I'm supposed to be playing.

This is a fascinating thread! I'm another whistling academic ( I teach mostly Spanish & French when needed), married to a non-whistling (but very encouraging) historian. I have two teenage sons, one non-musical (but literary), one musical - saxophone & ocarina. Last winter I "borrowed&q...

Dear Kathie: I just went through the same "which guitar to buy" experience. After 22 years (I don't even remember when I gave my old guitar away) and a case of arthritis, the whole idea didn't even look all that promising. After trying a Seagull (beautiful look & sound, but ultimately ...

I read this thread with interest, as a returnee to music after many years, this time with entirely different instruments (folk-dulcimer, whistle, guitar, instead of classical piano) and an entirely new outlook and set of expectations. You all may enjoy a book which I came across, Making Music for th...

Thanks to all for your help. Sometimes I have trouble with the concept that whistles, unlike dulcimers, can't be retuned on the spot. I dusted off my Generation C and have no trouble playing in Dorian of C. Problem solved!

Thanks to all for your help. Sometimes I have trouble with the concept that whistles, unlike dulcimers, can't be retuned on the spot. I dusted off my Generation C and have no trouble playing in Dorian of C. Problem solved!