Burke session - brass for warm tone or aluminum for bright and pure. Mack Hoover makes a great whistle that requires very controlled breathing. I had one but was not ready for that level of delicate, sensitive breathing.
I have an Alba High D for sale. It even has the benefit of being nearly clog proof!!! Even my wife canāt clog it and she clogs ever other whistle we own.
Burke session in brass. Jen has one and itās a wonderful, warm whistle.
If you donāt want to spend that much, also consider either an aluminum Syn (if you want more resistance) or a Hoover (if you want a bit less resistance like the Burke).
The Burke brass black tip is a great whistle - my everyday player. However, I donāt know how it is āin the wind.ā The best whistle Iāve ever played outdoors is the Copeland, perhaps having something to do with its conical shape (and raised windway on models lower than soprano D). However, the cost is considerably more. Although the air requirements are a bit more than most high D whistles (certainly including the Burke), I think in that key whistle especially itās more to do with learning where itās appropriate to take a breath and doing it often enough throughout a tune. You can certainly push it and it has ample volume in both octaves, $300+ pricetag notwithstanding.
Finally, the Burke is pretty pure although you get some nice overtones in the lower octave in the latest models. The costly Copeland is generally rife with resonance and overtones.
Wind Resistance: Practically none. This whistle doesn't even like my car's air conditioning set on high. Slight breezes knock it out. Definitely an indoor whistle.
I have no idea if the Burke brass whistles are any different in this respect.
I vote for Silkstone aluminum. IMO, Paul Hayward is a genius. Hoovers and Burkes are great, too. In reality, there probably arenāt many high end whistles that would be BAD choices. Youāll probably find Silkstone to be edgier than Burke.
To be fair, my review is of the Burke Al-Pro, and Michael may have made improvements in wind resistance in his newer models. I canāt say one way or the other.
I second Monkeyās vote for the Silkstone alloy..itās a great whistle, and will probably satisfy the ānot too pureā requirement. It has itās own complex sound. The Copeland, of course, is a given..and I used one myself extensively performing outdoors at the Texas Renaissance Festival. The one I have is a little on the pure side, though (which I like just fine). Perhaps the Sweetheart Pro would make a good choice, too..itās pretty wind resistant.
Of all of these, the new Sweetheart Pro has the lowest breath requirements. Itās difficult to find a good wind-resistant whistle that doesnāt require at least average breath requirements, though. My recent Hoover PVC is the surprisng exception that Iāve run into..it worked fairly well in a decent breeze, without requiring a lot of breath.
I have to say that the best whistle I have for playing outdoors is my Sweetheart Pro. Nothing knocks that baby out. Might be a bit purer in tone than you want, though.
I havenāt played the Burke outdoors much, because itās a bit quiet for Morris Dancing, so I canāt say how it might handle wind.
Iād say a Burke would be a great pick too. It has all the requirements you listed. Well, itās light on the ābreathiness and a bit of funk in the sound.ā
If the Breathiness and Funk are important to you, and youāve got the air to play a classic Shaw or Clarke, you may consider an OāBrien instead of the Burke. The OāBrien will out funk the Burke, but you need more air to play it. I donāt know how the OāBrien plays in the wind.
