What whistles do famous musicians play? part 2

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:18 pm

Well, since the original thread has been hijacked by the "it's the player not the whistle" crowd, perhaps this thread can continue the original discussion?

I'm compiling a list of what whistles are used by famous musicians. If anyone would like to add to the list (which will eventually be put on my website) please post what you know here. I am aware that this list will be somewhat apocryphal.

Thanks!

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 2:41 pm

Alright. You're right the other thread got hi jacked. Here are some common ones: Burkes, Gens, Cillian O'Brians Modified, and Grinters for lower Keys. Of course there are a lot more these are just the ones some of my favorite players use.

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:01 pm

Unseen122 wrote:Alright. You're right the other thread got hi jacked. Here are some common ones: Burkes, Gens, Cillian O'Brians Modified, and Grinters for lower Keys. Of course there are a lot more these are just the ones some of my favorite players use.

Slan,
D.

Bretton · Post by **Bretton** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 6:35 pm

I think I mentioned this before somewhere, but for the most part Grey Larsen plays Copelands:

- high D nickle
- low D brass
- Bb brass with 7 holes (goes down to A)

I believe he used to play Abell whistles at some point and still has some (Eb-D-C set I think) and he has an Overton (Bernard, I think) low D too.

-Brett

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:36 pm

I'll pay for my sins in the other thread by pointing out that Mike Burke's Reviews & Comments page says:

"Many top musicians in Irish & Celtic music are playing my instruments. Among these are Joanie Madden, Mary Rafferty, Paddy Kennan, Larry Nugent, Mick O'Brien, L. E. McCullough, Linda Hickman and a host of fine, lesser known musicians."

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:34 pm

Tom Doorley plays and recommends Burke whistles.

I also saw him fall in love with Jen F.'s little Elfsong, wouldn't be surprised to see him play one of those next time.

--James

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 12:19 am

Seamus O'Geezer, may he rest in peace, almost exclusively played a beat up old-style Waldentone, in C#.

Will O'B · Post by **Will O'B** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 12:55 am

The Cottars play Burke whistles (and possibly others as well).

Will O'Ban

Will O'B · Post by **Will O'B** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 1:11 am

Following an Irish Rovers' concert, Wallace Hood told me that one of the whistles he played in concert was an O'Brien.

Will O'Ban

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 1:26 am

Will O'B wrote:Following an Irish Rovers' concert, Wallace Hood told me that one of the whistles he played in concert was an O'Brien.

Will O'Ban

And I seem to remember that Will Millar plays a Copeland high whistle.

Jim McGuire · Post by **Jim McGuire** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 7:31 am

Don't many touring musicians play whatever is given them by some of the top whistle makers? Tin whistle makers understand the importance of product placement (just like in the movies). Even in the uilleann pipe world, the best touring players are comp'd all sorts of things like chanters, etc.

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:21 am

Jim McGuire wrote:Don't many touring musicians play whatever is given them by some of the top whistle makers? Tin whistle makers understand the importance of product placement (just like in the movies).

It's absolutely true that at least some of the makers try this. I don't know how often it works -- in the examples I can think of at the moment, the whistle players didn't want anything to do with it.

Jim McGuire · Post by **Jim McGuire** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:52 am

[quote="colomon] I don't know how often it works.[/quote]

I'll bet every touring flute or whistle player from Ireland has been given a whistle or two at one time or another. The courtesy would be to try it out on stage once (or more). Whether it sticks as a product placement is a separate issue but, nonetheless, product placement was achieved ('So-and-so plays one of my whistles').

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 9:06 am

I remember one instant where a low whistle was almost forced on a piper, he didn't really want it. Within no time the whislte was advertised as 'owned by so and so'. We had a good laugh at that.
The last times I played with Mick O Brien and Caoimhin Mick didn't grab into the full case of Burkes he had, he played the old reliable staple whistle.
Not that it all matters. (and before you know it , this thread goes into part 3)

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 9:17 am

Brian McCoy of the Kells isn't really famous in large terms, but he's an up and coming player. He plays Burkes. He prefers the aluminum ones.