What Do You Call It??

[Unseen122]

I am interested to hear the most common word/s used for a Whistle. This is about higher pitched Whistles, none of those low things.

[Tommy]

Irish whistle or Irish penny whistle

[FJohnSharp]

When talking about it to people who already know what it is, I call it the whistle. When talking to the uninitiated, I call it the Irish Tin Whistle.

[peeplj]

Whistle.

By the way, as a delightful aside, a friend from Ireland pronounces it something like "fooshle." I don't know if that's just him or not, but I still think it's neat, either way.

--James

[Black Mage]

When I'm talking to those in the know, it's a whistle. When I talk about to anyone else, it's an Irish whistle. That way they get a better idea as to it's sound, uses, etc.

[Mitch]

I like "Tin Whistle"

There is nothing wrong with Tin. Tin was instrumental in the formation of civilisation; non-toxic, durable and malleable, it was easily mined and refined and could be fashioned into a plethora of useful objects using only rudamentary tools, it does not lend itself to use in weapons, it was the first safe and economic container for the mass preservation of foods, it is said to have been responsible for the rise and fall of Troy as wells as a number of other early western civillisations. Tin is an august metal with a deep history and tradition.

There is nothing wrong with Whistle. Whistling represents the most accomplished auditory expression of human beings that can be done without any kind instrument. To me that makes it noble. Transcribing this to a simple accessable instrument is a fundamental expression of the formality required to build a society in its most pure form. It seems to me that the more technology one places between the player and his social audience dilutes the expression accordingly and invites interference from the various ghosts we find in machines. The negative associations on the whistle seem to arise from the sneering "ghosts" of industry and the negative association of the refferree's whistle.

So, I'm actually kind of proud to be playing such an exhaulted instrument.

Now. About rubber chickens ...

[Key_of_D]

Forgive me if this is a silly question... But, do some people call it the IRISH tin whistle because of it's popularity with Ireland? Cause, I've heard the whistle used in Scotland, England, even some Asian countries. I don't know the complete history on the tin whistle, so forgive me.

[Sylvester]

Whistle.

By the way, as a delightful aside, a friend from Ireland pronounces it something like "fooshle." I don't know if that's just him or not, but I still think it's neat, either way.

--James

Whistle is ok for me as well.
Ah! you mean 'Oirland'...

[Loren]

Tune Cannon.


Loren

[Wanderer]

Bob

[FJohnSharp]

Forgive me if this is a silly question... But, do some people call it the IRISH tin whistle because of it's popularity with Ireland? Cause, I've heard the whistle used in Scotland, England, even some Asian countries. I don't know the complete history on the tin whistle, so forgive me.

I do it mainly because I play 99% Irish music on it. Plus, most people associate it with Irish music.

[ned o the hill]

Mebbe we should have another poll for pet or smartarse whistle names:

Burke viper = "silver rocket"
Howard brass = "howizter"
Jubilee aluminum = "plumber's nightmare"
Susato = "plastic not-so-fantastic"
Sarkar = "St. Patrick's snake charmer"

[Kar]

I say Irish whistle, because most people don't know what a "whistle" or "tinwhistle" is, but with "Irish whistle," they get the idea it's an Irish-music instrument.

Last night I saw a French film called Joyeux Noel (which is REALLY good by the way - all about music bringing people together) and the whistle was listed in the credits as "le tinwhistle.' There you are!

kar

[fearfaoin]

I've heartily endorsed "Coolmaphone" ever since Lark introduced it.
Lamentably, no one has ever asked after my instrument, so I've never
had a chance to speak it aloud.

[Nanohedron]

Feadóg stáin.

Whussle.

Fistula fippellata.