Some recommended recordings please?

Having just recently taken up the whistle, I want to buy some recordings of artists in this field. I have some Irish and Celtic recordings that included some whisle play, but would like to buy some “solo” albums. I’d like to hear both traditional and non-traditional whistle play, but don’t even know the names of artists to look for. So any recommendations of artists or actual CDs to look for would be appreciated.

Well, the obvious ones would be Mary Bergin’s Feadoga Stain 1 and 2.

I would also get your hands on Donncha O’Briain’s album and Brid O’Donoghue’s http://www.bridodonohue.com/

That should keep you going for a good long time.

As you’ve just started, I’d also suggest reading through and listening to all the recordings at: http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/

Good luck.

One I particularly like is “The Schoolmaster’s House” by Mike McHale, MKM 7590 produced in 2000. Mr. McHale plays both flute and whistle backed only by guitar on some cuts, otherwise solo. It was a gift so I don’t have a source but the wonders of Google might find one.

Best wishes.

Steve

Good suggestions!

Although not strictly ITM, I would suggest the solo CD’s from Joanie Madden: Whistle on the Wind, Song of the Irish Whistle and Song of the Irish Whistle II.

Feadoggie

A couple of my favourites are -

Michael McGoldrick - Fused
Cormac Breatnach - Whistle & Guitar

The CD I’ve got in the car now and my fav,

Joe Burke’s ‘A Taylor’s Choice’ a good mix of solo whistle & flute :thumbsup:

Nick

He’s better known as a box player, but his is a very fine flute album, IMO.

Does ITM = Irish Traditional Music?

Si!

Joe McKenna … The Irish Low Whistle

Carmel Gunning - “The Sligo Maid”

Kevin Krell

Paddy Moloney And Sean Potts “Tin Whistles” is lots of fun.

Since this topic comes up often enough, I’ve put up a rough personal “discography” of whistle albums as a sticky thread, which may be of interest to others.

https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/whistle-recordings/68189/1

You forgot Vinnie Kilduff, MTGuru. :smiley:

The biggest problem with the list is that a newcomer would be hard-pressed to distinguish the ITM from the ITM-influenced, and of course there’s no quality control.

But it definitely puts into stark contrast the sheer dearth of solo whistle albums, compared to other instruments. It should be pointed out, I think, that whistle is quite often (ie, usually) a first instrument amongst traditional irish musicians, or at least not often considered the main instrument. So you get a significant number of tracks of musicians playing whistle, but only one or two per CD. Especially with pipers and flute players, but not insignificantly amongst other musicians too.

My conclusion is to strongly suggest that beginning whistlers not shy away from other instruments, especially pipes and flute.

Another one that comes to mind is Sean Ryan’s “Take the Air”

Best wishes.

Steve

Oops. :blush: Thanks, Nico! :slight_smile:

I added Whistle Wizardry, the 50 whistle tunes thing. Is Boys from Blue Hill also whistle-centric, or a mixed bag?

Added … Thank you!

Can anyone reccomend a good mail order firm that will take orders over the phone? My local record stores, Tower Records and Olson’s Books and Records, have gone out of business and I’m a little leery about giving out my credit card number over the internet.

MT - No idea, but I think that’s the only one I have, and I think it is. I’ll have to check later… to be honest, he was the only other whistler I could think of.

John Skelton’s “A Few Tunes”, “A Few More Tunes” and “Yet More Tunes” are great for learning tunes and for getting a good listen to John’s style of playing. ETA: They’re a good mix of whistle and flute.

www.ossianusa.com