Why all the hate?

[Craig Stuntz]

I mean, look at the string family . . . violin players are constantly, constantly bashing viola players!! There are probably more viola jokes out there than any other instrument. As you probably guessed it, I also play viola:( But again, it is all in fun.

That's unfair to violin players. Everybody bashes viola players.

[amar]

ITM stands for Irish Traditional Music.

For what its worth, I think recorders sound fine if they're played in a group or in an early music consort. Of course, the players need to be good and they need to be played in tune. Amateur players are not always in tune. There was (stil is?) a Scottish band called Capercaille (sp?). They had a recorder player who was very good but I still didn't like it for traditional tunes.

they had a recorder player??
well, they have a whistle player now, none other than Mike McGoldrick!

[MacNeil]

Nah, for REAL abuse surely it has to be bodhran.

Playing one? Or having to listen to one?

[Kelhorn Mike]

I agree that 80 to 90% of the recorder bashing going on here is in
jest but I also think the other 10 to 20% are totally serious and that
it's mostly a prejudice based on ignorance and/or a very limited
experience from their youth. For those individuals that's sort of sad.
The relationship between the two instruments is very close so
when you dismiss one it's the same as talking trash about a
goodlooking, talented cousin out of jealousy. I've been priviledged
to know personally and hear many times live some of the better
recorder players in the USA and abroad. It's not just for ensemble
playing and not just for Medieval, Renaissance, & Baroque Music.
Just this past weekend I heard a early music ensemble tastefully
play nice arrangements of O'Carolan, Klezmer, Early 20th Century
Pop tunes and comtemporary music on recorders as well as the
standard Early Music fare. So, I say let's convert the remaining diehard
recorder haters and form an everlasting and fruitful peace.

Long live fipple flutes!

Kelhorn Mike

[S.B.O'Gill]

I wonder if people on recorder message boards go around "dissing" people who play whistles?!

Hah hah hah!! Anybody know?

My guess is that they don't...

I could be wrong though...

[Cynth]

They might not know that there are serious whistle players out there to diss. I really didn't until I just happened to get a whistle and then looked around on the Internet and found this place.

[Lambchop]

Sigh.

Look, this is all very simple when you look at it from the correct angle (mine, obviously).

Re**der players are like my college roommate, who had this high-end exotic wood treasure--I was prohibited from coming into her half of the room when it was out for fear the vibrations would affect it in detrimental fashion--upon which she'd hoot out antiquarian bits in rarefied venues to enthrall the sort of people who eat crustless cucumber sandwiches and drink coffee with their pinkies stuck out. You couldn't loosen those people up with Ex-Lax.

Whistle players, on the other hand, create the substance of life from pieces of rolled up metal, hunks of plumbing pipe, and the occasional whittled chunk of wood. And they do it in festive venues, homes, and even automobiles, while hearty, fortifying noshes are passed round and pints quaffed. Playing things called "An Phis Fliuch."

Whistle is a social activity, not a "society" activity.

It's a matter of style.

[mvhplank]

Whistle is a social activity, not a "society" activity.

It's a matter of style.

Here, here!

Way to go, Lambie!

M

[amar]

Sigh.

Look, this is all very simple when you look at it from the correct angle (mine, obviously).

Re**der players are like my college roommate, who had this high-end exotic wood treasure--I was prohibited from coming into her half of the room when it was out for fear the vibrations would affect it in detrimental fashion--upon which she'd hoot out antiquarian bits in rarefied venues to enthrall the sort of people who eat crustless cucumber sandwiches and drink coffee with their pinkies stuck out. You couldn't loosen those people up with Ex-Lax.

Whistle players, on the other hand, create the substance of life from pieces of rolled up metal, hunks of plumbing pipe, and the occasional whittled chunk of wood. And they do it in festive venues, homes, and even automobiles, while hearty, fortifying noshes are passed round and pints quaffed. Playing things called "An Phis Fliuch."

Whistle is a social activity, not a "society" activity.

It's a matter of style.

very well put!!

[Denny]

Whistle is a social activity, not a "society" activity.

It's a matter of style.

Now you've done it Lamby!

That was brilliant.

[IDAwHOa]

Sigh.

(recorder is) a "society" activity.

It's a matter of style.

I don't know, maybe in the general sense. If you would have seen this guy from RP squirming around on the floor playing, pulling fipples from out of his jockies (to keep them warm) and other vague remembrances of silly, crazy actions you might think otherwise!!!!! Even the audience was dressed in casual clothing and various bodily sounds other than nose raised sniffs and snuffles were heard.

[I.D.10-t]

I mean, look at the string family . . . violin players are constantly, constantly bashing viola players!! There are probably more viola jokes out there than any other instrument. As you probably guessed it, I also play viola:( But again, it is all in fun.

That's unfair to violin players. Everybody bashes viola players.

Strange, I didn’t realize that there was a difference between violin and viola players' instruments. I just thought that the violin players’ heads were bigger.

[RonKiley]

I have heard recorder players playing folk music that were very good. I have heard recorder players who were as stiff as board and played with no style at all very mechanical. I have heard recorders that sounded great. They were wood and not cheap. I think the "I don't like the sound of them" comes from the $2.95 plastic ones that are typical for school kids. As for me I prefer to play a whistle. A $6.00 Gen can sound beautiful. They are relatively easy to learn. The recorder has too many holes and a weird fingering.

Whistles Rule!

Ron

[Lambchop]

Whistle is a social activity, not a "society" activity.

It's a matter of style.

Now you've done it Lamby!

That was brilliant.

Thank you! Thank you, all!

Shall I submit this for the FAQ, do you think?

[Denny]

Whistle is a social activity, not a "society" activity.

It's a matter of style.

Now you've done it Lamby!

That was brilliant.

Thank you! Thank you, all!

Shall I submit this for the FAQ, do you think?

yep! I think you should.