October 13, 2004
Chiff & Fipple Shut Out of Debates. Again.
Sorry this issue is a little late. We had to relocate one of the top-secret publication prep sites for 6Hole Theory due to a geological disturbance.
We're in the market for a new secret lair.
Thanks also to everyone who called with their regrets about the little mishap with DaleSpaceOne. We have this grainy photo taken by an amateur photographer:
Fortunately, the quick-thinking co-pilot intern hit the eject button just in time to eject me. I still have high hopes that the search teams will locate the intern in the Mojave. He will always be my hero. His name was, I think, Gerald or Gerrard. Might have been something with a "J" like Jeremy. Anyway. Seemed like a nice kid.
Hi, I'm Dale Wisely and this is Chiff & Fipple's 6-Hole Theory.
I. THERE ARE CHIFF & FIPPLE READERS WHO HAVE ODDER IDEAS THAN CHIFF & FIPPLE
Dale
Thank you for your continued enlightening publication.
I could not help but note a striking resemblance between the David O'Brien Whistle and the armour worn by a certain Irish Australian outlaw. See attached. I never realised he was making a stand for Irish whistle players. Or was he just a walking billboard for someone's product?
Phil Coldwell
II. CORMAC & MARTIN
CORMAC BREATNACH AND MARTIN DUNLEA’S SHORT TOUR OF THE NORTH-WEST AND EAST-COAST OF THE U.S. 2004, NOVEMBER 16 – DECEMBER 6.
Cormac Breatnach has been on my very short list of favorite whistle players for years. His work with guitarist Martin Dunlea is extraordinary. November 16 – 21 sees Cormac and Martin performing as a duo in the West Coast of the USA while from December 1 – 5 sees them performing with Vanessa Williams as her guests.
Vanessa Williams (With all due respect, I think Vanessa is prettier than Cormac & Martin put together)Performing with Vanessa Williams (2 shows per date)
In April, 2004, Cormac and Martin recorded with the celebrated U.S. actress/singer, Vanessa Williams on two tracks on her forthcoming Christmas 2004 album with Lava Records, entitled "Silver & Gold". Their contact with Ms. Williams goes back to their first trip to the States in October, 2001, one month after “9/11” when many of their engagements were cancelled but they nevertheless decided to make the trip. One of their radio interviews on Kathleen Biggins’ “One Hundred Thousand Welcomes” broadcast on October 6, 2001 from Fordham University was heard by Ms. Williams who was much taken with their music. She made contact with Cormac and the result of this contact was a music collaboration involving the duo, Ms. Williams and her Producer, the celebrated Rob Mathes on “The Holly and the Ivy” and “Silent Night”.
III. FLOOK Dates
Why haven't you seen Flook yet?
IV. THIS MONTH'S FAVORITE NAME FOR AN IRISH TRADITIONAL TUNETM
O'Carolan's Maggot by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738)
Submitted by David Armstrong
V. CHIFF & FIPPLE: DON'T BLOW THE VOTE
Vote.
VI. LATEST COOL THING BY L.E. McCULLOUGH
I don't think we can ever say enough about what L.E. McCullough has contributed to the world of our little instrument. A few years ago, he sent me the "St Patrick Was a Cajun" book and CD of his (L.E.'s) original tunes, which caused me to scream at people to buy it for years.
(At this point, I'd like to apologize to L.E. for the ones he didn't sell because I...you know...thought screaming at people would sell the product0. I still think it is one of the most amazing accomplishments ever in whistleworld. A tune from that collection, ("McCullough's Farewell to Philadelphia") is, to this day, one of my favorite tunes to play.
So here's another stroke of genius from L.E. and the people at Oak Publications. Whistle Around the World is a very attractive, large format book of sheet music--48 pages, with a terrific cover painting
and terrific folk songs, from all over the world, transcribed for D whistle or flute with standard notation and chord symbols . 2 from Canada. 4 from the U.S., 2 Native American, and one each from Australia, Bosnia, Brazil, Brittany, Bulgaria, China, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland ("Haste to the Wedding"), Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Scotland, S. Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Trinidad, Turkey, Uganda, Wales.(I'm a little aggravated that there's nothing from Greenland which, as you know, is the location of the #3 Satellite Relay Station for 3Fish Productions. But, all is forgiven.)
L.E. plays through all of these tunes on the CD, included. Now, don't pop this one in for your next party. It's L.E. playing unaccompanied, one time through each of the basic melodies. Maybe an average of 20 to 40 seconds per tune. Really useful learning tool, but don't look for L.E. at the Grammy's.
Another fully cool feature of this book is that Dr. McCullough, (who is an actual doctor: He's either a neuroproctological surgeon or he has a Ph.D. in some musical field--I get these mixed up) includes little descriptions of the folk instruments-closest to the tinwhistle--for each country. L.E. knows a lot of esoteric stuff.
So we get, for example:
ROMANIA
Shplit-Zhe Mir Dem Nayem Sher
Romania shares flutes and whistles with several of its neighbors, including frula, from Serbia, kaval from Bulgaria, and the double-flute dvojnice from Croatia. Native to Romania is tilinca, a cylindrical end-blown flute without fingerholes, and fluiere, a six-hole wooden pipe. "Shplit-Zhe Mir Dem Nayem Sher" is a song that extols the popularity of the sher, an East European Dance similar to the American square dance.
What's so weird about that is that I briefly dated a girl in college named Shplit-Zhe Mir. I guess this was a coincidence. She was obsessed with Mork & Mindy.
Shplit-Zhe Mir today.
I digress.
This is a wonderful book that allows a whistle or flute player an instant resource of international tunes for our instrument. For example, if you need a tune for Iran, you can find one here. And, and many of you Americans out there know, there's a pretty good chance we will be going to Iran.
This book-with-CD is a terrific idea, beautifully executed.
VII. THIS MONTH'S FAVORITE NAME FOR A James Brown SONGTM
Mother Popcorn (You Got To Have A Mother For Me, Part 1)
VIII. DAVY SPILLANE'S SHOP MANAGER WRITES:
I've heard from Davy Spillane and his workshop manager in recent weeks. I agreed to post the following in this newsletter.
October 7 2004.
Davy is making a new tunable Low whistle that he is now playing exclusively for all his recording and live work.
This latest low whistle replaces previous models and incorporates what Davy finds are the best attributes of the "all metal type" low whistle and the stability of Davy's tunable plastic mouthpiece / hand made and tuned metal body combination.
In our opinion, the new mouthpiece helps to resolve the problem of condensation and clogging that occurs in some whistles, including some metal whistle designs. We find that this new whistle design enables a high level of consistency in tone and Performance.
The careful and considered blend of alloys for the low whistle body ensures for Davy the best yet in terms of pure tone and balance of sweetness and power.
The low whistle is easy to blow, and plays evenly through both octaves with good backpressure. The second octave in particular can deliver a lot of power and is capable of a wide range of tonal nuances and accurate high harmonics.
We are taking orders for the Davy Spillane new low whistle now.The price for the low D - €200 euro+ €10 euro for postage +p, Delivery 2- 3 weeks
Other keys of low whistle A, B, C, E flat , are available by special order. G and F will be available in 2005.
We are in the process of making a Davy Spillane low whistle Tutor dvd / cd / book, for 2005 all going well !
Thank you.
Best wishes,
John Mc Nicholas,
(Workshop manager)
instruments@davyspillane.com
(payment details if required)
bank draft, payable to :
d spillane.
burrenstone studio
liscannor,
co clare,
ireland
We assume that some day soon we will hear from someone who has purchased and played one of these whistles. We eagerly await their review.
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customer service
Having trouble with your whistle? Call
Jill at Chiff & Fipple customer service.
(Amy is on leave of absence.
We think she might be taking a job at concertina.net behind my back)
Lord, help us see how near is your kingdom.
