New original song “Irish Whistler” using two whistles: ChieftainV3 Low D and Burke Brass A.
Guitar is tuned to Drop D tuning.
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhangout/media-player/audio_player2.asp?musicid=21373&archived=
Sometimes… No comments make a louder statement than an occasional encouragement.
OK Guys, I hear you. I’ll keep practicing.
I liked it 
Being a heathenism follower from New Zealand, my opinion on “traditional” is limited, but nice tones, the song flowed nicely. I did hear a bit of country music in it, but for me twas good. When does the album come out, and do we get a discount
John 
Thanks John,
I’m getting a good response from song writers and musicians in general about the song. I think the Whistlers recognize that there is still room for improvement.
It would be a nice addition to this site if people were encouraged to post their music. I would love to hear it.
Greg: Thank you for posting your new song on the board. I enjoy hearing the different sound quality of the Chieftan and Burke instruments. The song is well mixed, and very pleasant. I have owned and run a recording studio for 40 years. I have a suggestion for you to try, on your next recording. Try band passing your whistle effect send or return, from about 250 Hz to 3500 Hz. Truncate anything above and below those frequencies, at around 12 db per octave. Dial in a reverb tail of about 3.8 seconds, and then add relatively little of the effect to the mix. I think you will find the result quite natural.
Your thread inadvertently skirts around an issue I have experienced for a whole lot of years, on C&F. With all of the good this wonderful board has accomplished, its record of support and encouragement for those who release their own indie recordings has not been stellar…
From time to time, board members release singles or full albums, and actually announce their accomplishment on the board. I have watched said announcements, for the most part, ignored. A few sparse, tepid comments, and the thread dies. I have attempted to parse the lack of support and reaction, but I have never quite nailed it down, in my mind. Is it a misplaced prejudice against using whistles for anything other than pure drop material? If the material is truly iTrad, is it not pure enough for some? Is it a gentle put down of those audacious souls that dare to release material, before they are concert-level players? Is it the reverse snobbery of a society steeped in auto-tune and the cult of ‘perfectionism’ in recording, reacting to the reality of a human performer, who does not depend on said technology? Is it simply the middle-school-level practice of attempting to blow out another’s candle, in order to help one’s own to burn brighter? I simply do not know.
You make the comment: ‘It would be a nice addition to this site if people were encouraged to post their music. I would love to hear it’ I agree, Greg. I know that back in the dawn of C&F, I posted a happy announcement concerning the release of my seminal band’s first CD. I don’t know if I waited 4 days - as did you - for any reaction, but the lack of interest was deafening. That band has long gone by the wayside, and our current band is such a fine group of people, and we perform a whole lot of concerts, each year. I have not announced our latest live concert CD offering.
As a retired public school teacher and college professor - and as a father - I understand the incredible value of well placed and deserved honor and recognition, in the development of an individual’s talent. I wish there were more of it on C&F.
The very best to you, Greg.
Byll
Thanks for the great comments Byll,
I’m going to try remixing, based on your suggestions. I really appreciate that. It’s nice to get a comment from someone with 40 years of experience recording music.
I chuckled a little when you mentioned the lack of support from fellow whistlers. It is a little unnerving, especially for me who is not the best whistler.
The lack of music being shared here, the bigger issue that you mentioned… well… that’s something I don’t understand. I suspect there is a lot of talent here, but we may never here it.
Maybe we should get the ball rolling. You mentioned you had a new CD. Is there a cut you might consider sharing? I write songs every week. I could post another one. Maybe we’ll excite a few more people.
Greg: I liked your song and enjoyed listening to it. Good arrangement, good playing. There’s no good reason that you didn’t receive many responses, but I think that sometimes people forget the reason we all do this in the first place. Music (playing and listening) is supposed to give enormous pleasure. It’s also about sharing. Keep writing and keep posting.
I tend not to comment 
as I don’t think I am enough of a muso to contribute much to the conversation. I can say what I like or not, but technical proficiency is beyond me.
I wonder if there are many others like me on thew board?
John
Thanks guys for the comments. It’s refreshing to see there is actually someone out there.
I’m not a very good whistler, but I enjoy it and I’m better now than I was a year ago. So to answer your question John, I think there are a lot of people out there in all different levels of development.
I have a 10 year old nephew that I’m planning to teach guitar to. Right now he can barely play 3 chords. I intend to build his confidence and skill level to the point where he, my sister, and I go to my mothers church and sing for the congregation.
I plan to sing among others, Amazing Grace, a song we sang at my fathers funeral. I’m going to give him my father’s guitar, and it will be his from that point on. He probably wont be the best guitar player in the world, but I hope he continues to play, and recieve encouragement, and self satisfaction from playing.
Thanks again for the great responses everyone!
Greg: In my profile is our band’s web site address. On the site, you can hear short segments from the live CD. This CD was recorded to 9 tracks, broken out to 14 tracks because we all play more than one instrument and sing, and was finally mixed into stereophonic format. All ‘alternate’ notes and missed words are offered at no extra charge, as this is a true live concert disc. The disc was recorded at 3 concerts, when the band was less than 4 months old. It is now almost 2 years later. If you are interested, please feel free to e-mail me, and I will send you an mp3 or two, from the CD.
Best to you.
Byll
Byll,
You are a good looking fellow but I think you have some serious competition from Erin and Sarah. I took a look at your website. It was a treat to listen to the music. Thanks for directing me to it.
Well, I must admit that I listened because you’re right up the road in Duluth (I’m in west suburban Mpls area), and I wondered what besides Willowgreen was going on up there. It is a nice laid back tune that is well recorded and well produced. You say you aren’t a great whistler, but you have the good musical sense to use the whistle in ways that enhance the music and don’t push you into technical things that might sound bad. I’d say well done!! I can’t find anything at all to complain about, and that is unusual. Drop a note if you come this way. Maybe we could get Nanohedron to join us. If we got three Hi D whistles I’ll bet we could drive everyone out of Tobie’s and have the caramel rolls to ourselves!!!
Thanks for the comments Cboody,
I appreciate you taking the time to listen and tell me what you think.
It’s nice to find a neighbor on here too. I’m going to be going past Tobie’s in a couple of hours on my way to Mpls. I’ll bring my high D with me and see if that caramel roll idea works. Heck… I have a high G that might clear everyone out even faster!
Let me know if it works. I’ve a Sopranino re$%rder that should work fine. And, give a hollar if you get down this way. I’m also a retired public school and college music teacher so we’d doubtless find things to talk about.
No Luck Cboody on getting my hands on any carmel rolls at Tobie’s. They just wouldn’t let them go!
It would be fun to meet you sometime. I get down to Mpls a lot. I’ll just warn you, Byll is the retired music instructor, not me.
I sell hot dogs. I’ve worked for 30+ years in the wholesale food industry. If I could play whistle as well as I can sell hot dogs, I think you’d be impressed.
I recently heard a new original song by another Chiff & Fipple member, Lisa D. I think this site could really benefit by offering more examples to enjoy, and learn by. That’s just food for thought.