Improving the harmonics and accuracy of whistles is in the best interest of Makers and players. We want our instruments to be viewed as serious contenders to other professional woodwinds,yes?
Here are some Recorder modifications that can be applied to Whistles to improve “the breed”. Below is an example of a Keyed Recorder designed by Maarten Helder(notice the unusual speaker key)for better octave matching.
Here are 2 possible solutions to windway adjustments,a set of replaceable blocks and an adjustable one.
For those of you who wish to blast those fiddles and concertinas off the globe,have a look at Klaus Gruwald’s “Bell Recorders”. These babies could fell the walls of Jerico! (Notice the “button” used to deepen the last tonehole and bring it up the bore for finger comfort)
Hi Thomas,
I always enjoy your posts - these are very interesting ideas, even though they are applied to R(&%()!"corders
Especially like the adjustable fipple blocks. Would that be feasable on whistles??
Interesting stuff, Tom
I forget who it was who said that if you make enough improvements to a recorder, you end up with a Boehm flute… Wonder what would happen if you make enough improvements to a whistle?
We want our instruments to be viewed as serious contenders to other professional woodwinds,yes?
I think part of the appeal to a lot of whistlers is the simplicity of the instrument and it’s humble image. So, I’d have to say “no;” we don’t want the whistle to be taken as a serious contenter to other professional woodwinds. What “serious woodwind” can you buy for $10.00? The moment the whistle comes to be considered a serious woodwind instrument is when the prices will go up! The whistle is one instrument that, because of its simplicity and low price, makes music accessible to one and all. OTOH, if some people want to consider the whistle as a serious woodwind, that’s fine too. Nice pictures!
We want our instruments to be viewed as serious contenders to other professional woodwinds,yes?
I think part of the appeal to a lot of whistlers is the simplicity of the instrument and it’s humble image. So, I’d have to say “no;” we don’t want the whistle to be taken as a serious contenter to other professional woodwinds. What “serious woodwind” can you buy for $10.00? The moment the whistle comes to be considered a serious woodwind instrument is when the prices will go up! The whistle is one instrument that, because of its simplicity and low price, makes music accessible to one and all. OTOH, if some people want to consider the whistle as a serious woodwind, that’s fine too. Nice pictures!
All of the above AND, Boehm did it to the flute and do I ever come across a Boehm flute player in the music I play ? No. Well.. rarely.
We want our instruments to be viewed as serious contenders to other professional woodwinds,yes?
I think part of the appeal to a lot of whistlers is the simplicity of the instrument and it’s humble image. So, I’d have to say “no;” we don’t want the whistle to be taken as a serious contenter to other professional woodwinds. What “serious woodwind” can you buy for $10.00? The moment the whistle comes to be considered a serious woodwind instrument is when the prices will go up! The whistle is one instrument that, because of its simplicity and low price, makes music accessible to one and all. OTOH, if some people want to consider the whistle as a serious woodwind, that’s fine too. Nice pictures!
All of the above AND, Boehm did it to the flute and do I ever come across a Boehm flute player in the music I play ? No. Well.. rarely.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
oops, excuse me! That was just my Joannie-Madden meter going off…
I posted these modifications because I see a lot of postings that complain about
1)The inaccuracy of tones between octaves.
2)The excessive amount of wind needed to sustain tone(mostly on Low D’s)
3)Spit clogging
4)Too quiet low tones with too loud high tones.
5)Uncomfortable finger positions of Low D toneholes.
Most of the above complaints are the product of cheaply made whistles. Players of these “cheap” instruments are constantly looking for new ways to “Tweak” them. Those that become advanced players of the whistle lean more towards professionaly “Tweaked” mass produced whistles or they opt for sets of more expensive and highly crafted models.
My attempt was to offer some inexpensive modifications to make a single whistle more accurate and versitile. With a little forgiveness of simple keywork,that low D (or even a Bass D)could have a single low E key for comfort. The addition of a speaker key or just the tonehole, would make the octaves more accurate and allow for a fast,non-cross fingered C natural.
Keeping the Whistle’s simplicity was uppermost in my mind,I only wished to discuss alternate improvements for versatility. Maybe I was wrong(?)
I’ve been reading your learned contributions on whistle-making theory for about 18 months now. But recently I’ve been getting worried. A sneaking suspicion has been growing in my mind to the effect that you don’t actually like whistles all that much. Little comments about the desirability of adding thumbholes and pinching them, and other little warning signs. Individually these comments don’t amount to much but taken together, I think there is cause for alarm.
So here’s my challenge to you:
Hasn’t the time come for you to put all your learning into practice? When do we get to read a review of a Hastay whistle?
Thomas,
Steve has raised some interesting points and I am also curious as to the direction your whistlesmithing is taking.I guess I feel that the problems with whistles you have mentioned are being successfully dealt with allready by makers and tweakers in ways that allow a whistle to still play like a whistle,and remain essentially unchanged tonaly. Peace, Mike
Thomas,
I kind of shy away from keys on a whistle, because I see them as making the instrument more complicated. That complication, for me at least, would impact the ease at which I could play things at speed. (Yes, that assumes that I’ll ever get to be able to play anything ‘at speed’, small chance, but a chance).
However …
The idea of an adjustable fipple I think is interesting. It would be great to have a whistle with adjustable volumn. Playing the same whistle in a large session, small session, or late a night in house full of sleepers, would be intriging. A whistle I could play louder when I lead a tune and quiter when I follow would have my interest. Especially if it was able to stay in tune at both settings without adding complexity to the fingering.
\
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
PS. Is AFLAC => Apologies For Lack of Audio Content?
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-05-06 15:54 ]
I find the mention of Boehm system flutes curious and slightly incongruous (sp?). It is funny because many people complain about the quiet low register and loud high register on whistles, but what you don’t realize is that that is the same for EVERY flute, be it irish, boehm or fipple! One of the nicest aspects of a Boehm system flute is this lower register (I really love it). THe problem with a simple system (read: irish) flute is that it is designed (mostly) to play in the first two octaves, where M. Boehn developed his fingering system to use as many registers as possible (my friend can play 3.5) So basically you can’t complain about the whistle’s volume because it isn’t really fully balanceable (nice word!!). On the otehr hand, the nature of a fipple flute (with a fixed windway) is such that ANY volume control is practically impossible (while staying on the same note, + or - 5 cents). So dont sweat it.
If you really want a versatile instrument, don’t go looking at a whistle. Get a flute. Or better yet: get a french horn
Thomas, how would the flared end effect volume and breath requirements. Would it be possible to design a separate flared end that could be slotted onto existing whistles?
Thank you all for your instructive input.Each one of your opinions are important and valuable to my research.
SteveJ I must admit that I have been playing "Devil’s Advocate"here at C&F in comparing whistles to other woodwinds,including Recorders. Please don’t misconstrue my intentions.
I love whistles and their simplicity,but as a “closet” whistlesmith, I’m always looking for bridges between instruments because each individual should have an instrument that is “made for them”. It is diversity between craftspeople that keeps player and maker on their toes,yes?
As for when I intend to “come out of the closet”(he he)I must leave you in suspense. I already make and sell instruments (under an obscure company name)at Renfaires,Rondevous and major flea markets. I’m an Electronic Engineer by trade but intend on making instruments as an early retirement business.I have many other irons in the fire as well.
I learn a lot from all of you and try to share with you what was difficult for me to acquire. Please forgive my “testing”,I only wish to push the envelope for the sake of our mutual whistle obscession.
