Where does "Low" begin?

BillG · Post by **BillG** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 2:46 pm

I've been checking whistle sites for an F whistle when it occurred to me that there may be a Low F and a Regular (whatever that is" F. Is there a point at which one would call a whistle Low? OR is the F key a low whistle by default?

BillG

TelegramSam · Post by **TelegramSam** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 3:19 pm

there is an "F" whistle which is above the pitch of the "D" and also one below. I suspect the one below is the one considered a low whistle.

Post by **Dale** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 3:25 pm

This question was settled at the Chiff & Fipple Standard Whistle Terminology Summit that was held in Geneva in 1997. This agreement was hammered out over 9 days, in spite of frequent protests by Finland. The standard terminology is below. I'm not including ALL the available keys:

"High" whistles, from highest down: (When no "High" or "Low" designation appears, one assumes the whistle in question is a high whistle.)

(High) G
(High) F
(High) Eb
(High) E
D (the standard whistle)
C (not related to the popular beverage)
Bb
(Low) A (the Low designation is optional)
Low G
Low F
Low Eb
Low E
Low D
Low C
Low Bb
Double Low A
(which is really as low as anyone dare go)

Ok, then.

Dale

BillG · Post by **BillG** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 3:53 pm

Yoweeeee Zounddddssss -- Oye think oyve gottit now.

Thanx, BillG

ThorntonRose · Post by **ThorntonRose** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 4:05 pm

In music terms:

(High) G
(High) F = sopranino
(High) Eb
(High) E
D (the standard whistle) = soprano
C = soprano
Bb
(Low) A = mezzo-soprano
Low G
Low F = alto
Low Eb
Low E
Low D = tenor
Low C
Low Bb
Double Low A = bass

~ Thornton

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 4:58 pm

I believe it is often said that
the first low whistle is a low G.
I think that's what the above means,
really.

Post by **Dale** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 8:02 pm

I agree, jim, that, really, the low whistles begin at G. One practical reason for that is that although the A whistle is often called "Low" there is no "high" A. Highest key that has both a high instrument (albeit rather rare and of limited usefulness) and a low instrument.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 11:30 pm

That makes sense, Dale. The high G
is barely playable for me, cause
my fingers are touching each other.
I can't imagine a higher whistle
playable by non-elves.
I also confess, less rationally,
that the low G is the first whistle
that actually feels like a low whistle
to me--it has the heft and sound
of a different sort of creature from
anything higher, the beginning of
the bigger beasts.

Daniel_Bingamon · Post by **Daniel_Bingamon** » Mon Dec 17, 2001 6:26 pm

Double Low A
(which is really as low as anyone dare go)
Ok, then.

Dale

Ok, I dare. Dale knows about this also.
The secret is out.

Whistles below low-low-A.

The Basswhistle - 6 holes controlled by lever keys. As of Dec. 16 2001, the basswhistle prototype played its first C major scale.

This whistle plays one octave below a Low-C whistle - it is about 4 foot long.
<img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepage ... histle.jpg" width="550">

[ This Message was edited by: Daniel_Bingamon on 2001-12-17 19:28 ]

TelegramSam · Post by **TelegramSam** » Mon Dec 17, 2001 6:34 pm

Oh no! It's "Frankenwhistle!!!!!!!!"

No offence, but isn't that a tad excessive? Why not just buy a tuba or contra-bass clarinet (those things are also quite odd looking...) or something???

[ This Message was edited by: TelegramSam on 2001-12-17 19:34 ]

Daniel_Bingamon · Post by **Daniel_Bingamon** » Mon Dec 17, 2001 6:48 pm

Excessive, yeah. But that don't matter.

I wanted a really low whistle - besides it's much cheaper than the equivalent "Great Bass" recorder that I always wanted.

It's also a learning experience - working with big fipples - they're very challenging in getting to sound, maybe the things I learn from them can apply to small whistles - that or I could build a pipe organ.

I you notice the floor tiles in the picture, 12 inches each for a reference to it's size.

I'm putting the information on the Basswhistle group at yahoogroups.com if anyone is interested.

Post by **Dale** » Mon Dec 17, 2001 11:42 pm

On 2001-12-17 19:48, Daniel_Bingamon wrote:

Excessive, yeah. But that don't matter.

See, that's why I love Daniel Bingamon.

Dale

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Tue Dec 18, 2001 6:19 am

Now there's something you just don't see every day!

Daniel, Hats off to you for taking a whack at the keyed flute thing, very interesting indeed.

Question: Did you make the keys yourself, use something prefabricated, or a combination of both?

Loren

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Tue Dec 18, 2001 6:55 am

Daniel,

you must feel like Edward Scissorhands with that beast!

Does it come with a Government Health Warning?

curioso · Post by **curioso** » Tue Dec 18, 2001 11:10 am

Daniel,

Please don't play it anywhere near the San Andreas fault... at least till I can buy some cheap future beachfront property...