I think there is an art to whistle making as opposed to it being an exact science. Intonation and it's adjustment is a matter of asthetics not just frequency. The end product is an artist's instrument for painting sound pictures. The art shows through.
I seems to me that the difference between a craftsman, on the one hand, and a technician/mechanic/machinist is that the craftsman is tasked to add asthetic qualities to the product. The later produced a product to quantifiable specifications. The craftsman uses art and science to produce his product.
For whistles, the craftsmanship comes in when the whistle-maker, puts whistle to lips and adjust the intonation to meet the asthetic requirements for this individual whistle.
As in any craft, I think there are levels of craftsmanship: apprentice, journeyman, master. In our world of whistles we have mass production whistles and craftsman whistles both of which vary in quality.
So is it Art or Craft? A master craftsman produce works of art for any musician to play. I have at least a couple of these and hopefully someday will be musician enough to draw the art out these whistles.
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Enjoy Your Music,<br><br><b>Lee Marsh</b><br>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-02-20 17:46 ]</font>