Whistle techniques

jbarter · Post by **jbarter** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:10 am

"I shall accept no limits to my instrument save those that God and nature demand"

Seriously though, the best advice given here was that bit about it depending on just what session you're playing in. Even around the different parts of Ireland you will find regional variations in the amount of tonguing used. For myself, though I play an awful lot of Irish tunes, I've never claimed to play ITM. Sometimes I use a lot of tounging and sometimes none at all.

Leel · Post by **Leel** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:25 am

TonyHiggins wrote:Listen to some recordings of accomplished whistle players like Laurence Nugent, Mary Bergin, Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts, and you'll hear plenty of tonguing. Yes, it sounds terrible if over done. If done in the right places, it sounds great.

Then there's the thing about hard and fast rules regarding ITM. Phttttt! Individual style is encouraged within ill-defined parameters. It sounds 'right' or it doesn't. Record yourself playing with more and with less tonguing and see what it sounds like. You can't be as objective while you're playing.
Tony

Right on, Tony! This is very well stated, and superb advice.

Pete D · Post by **Pete D** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:26 pm

IMO, tonguing is almost necessary. It shouldn't be overdone but when used appropriately it can add great lift, bounce and rhythm to a tune. Sometimes I feel a tune to get boring if no tonguing is employed.

One more tonguing master to add to the list (Laurence Nugent, Mary Bergin, Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts) is Micho Russel. I've never heard anybody play as "non-legato" as he.

piperdoc · Post by **piperdoc** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:36 pm

richard, tell the guy next to you, politely to mind his own business.

it is true that pipes can't tongue. but the most important note on the the pipes is the rest, silence, stacatto or closed note. that, uillean pipes (and northumbrian smallpipes, but no other pipes in the world as far as i know) can do very well. tonguing is one was to stop a tone, just like stacato notes on the whistle.
there are some great whistlers out there who tongue.

when it comes to any "rules" in trad, someone with a name is breaking them.

what is very traditional is variations from repetition to repittion. so you could play a tune with cont blowing (no tongue) and play it again with the tonging.

meir

Richard Katz · Post by **Richard Katz** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 11:59 am

Thanks to all for the great comments on my question about whistle technique. I took the comment by the flute player as a constructive criticism and was just curious what the whistle community would have to say regarding tonguing. I also play uilleann and highland pipes and I know about legato playing for sure.
However, I have played many sessions with some pretty accomplished players and I have heard a lot of tonguing in their whistle playing. I also feel either technique is acceptable and interchangable.
I will continue to learn from comments as I have always done.
BTW: I play a Chris Abell blackwood/silver D , a Burke brass session D, and a Copeland brass low D. All great whistles!

cowtime · Post by **cowtime** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 7:44 pm

If you look at the book "Dossan of Heather" you'll find plenty of tounging and if that music is not ITM I sure can't imagine what is........

http://www.rogermillington.com/dossindex.html

tim-hart · Post by **tim-hart** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 8:14 pm

Of course you can tongue on the whistle. It's a legit part of your repertoire and I use it quite a bit, along with my fingerings. I find it helps punctuate phrases and can help things "pop" in a unique way. Come sit next to me next time...

StewySmoot · Post by **StewySmoot** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 10:13 pm

Anytime I receive unsolicited advice on my playing I diplomatically point out that my playing is infinitely better than finding a huuuuge key scratch on the side of one's car.

fiddlinviolinin · Post by **fiddlinviolinin** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 10:27 pm

Hmm.. Interesting..

Well, I play pipes and I also tongue on the whistle. I like to think that I'm emulating the pipes by tongueing [Is that spelled correctly...?] because it's similar to the tight style. Although I'm kind of both. Well, anywho, that's how I do it.

feadogin · Post by **feadogin** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:19 pm

fiddlinviolinin wrote:Hmm.. Interesting..

Well, I play pipes and I also tongue on the whistle. I like to think that I'm emulating the pipes by tongueing [Is that spelled correctly...?] because it's similar to the tight style. Although I'm kind of both. Well, anywho, that's how I do it.

How was Willie Week?

J.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:44 am

I'll tell you about Willie Week if "Murphystout" tells us how he got on with Kevin Henry !!

feadogin · Post by **feadogin** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:50 am

I'll pass that request on to the man...

J.

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Whistle techniques

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