Looking for a whistle

infantpiper · Post by **infantpiper** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:42 am

I'm looking for a whistle to accompany my brother as he plays his parlour pipes. His pipes are in the key of A. Any suggestions on a complimentary whistle/brand? I've been playing a Clarke pennywhistle in D for a bit, and would like to try something that stretches my fingers a little more . . . something in the realm of fingering distances for an Uilleann chanter?

Thanks!

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:55 am

An A whistle would suit well I would think, but to come close to the stretch of an uilleann chanter, you'll probably want to look at something closer to a low D or E whistle. Mack Hoover can make you a killer low A or D or whatever you need - give him a look...

infantpiper · Post by **infantpiper** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 9:12 am

Thanks very much for the advice . . . I'll take a look.

Wormdiet · Post by **Wormdiet** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:20 am

I duplicated this post on the other thread, but here goes.

Do parlour pipes play in A?

A low D or High D will play in A mixolydian very easily, which is (I believe) what you need for parlour pipes. If you want a flattened seventh below the bottom A on your scale (which is required in a zillion Scottish tunes) yer better off with a D whistle than an A whistle.

I think Overton makes so-called "Modal" whistles which add an extra hole for your bottom hand pinky. On a D-flute, this would be C. But for your needs, the ultimate whistle for playing along with scottish pipes would be an "A"modal whistle with an extra hole for low G.

Did that make any sense?

If parlour pipes play with a major seventh (ie a semitone below the tonic), then forget everything I typed out above.

infantpiper · Post by **infantpiper** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 12:35 pm

Thanks all for the advice.

Upon sharing your post with him, my brother agrees that the 'Modal' whistle in A with an extra hole for the low G would indeed be best . . . after spending some time looking for that particular model, however, I've come up empty handed.

Advice on makers of that particular key and model?

Thanks in advance!

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 5:30 pm

Try asking Colin Goldie (since he makes the Overton Modal) to make you one in A. He might be able to make you one special order. Are you sure the Pipes play in A not just written in A and play in Bb here is a link to his site http://www.overton.de/

Wormdiet · Post by **Wormdiet** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 5:33 pm

Hrrmmm do parlour pipes play sharp like the big 'uns? Hadn't considered that.