I.  Whistle Player Slammed for Incident with Baby

From the AP. (Brooklyn) A 33-year-old musician in Brooklyn was questioned by authorities for allegedly endangering his infant son by holding the baby under his arm and playing a tinwhistle on a street corner. The incident was coincidentally taped by a nearby television news crew, which apparently was drawn by the unruly crowd watching the spectacle. The tape shows several members of the impromptu audience calling the whistler names and berating him for putting the child in danger. This incident has been compared to the famous incident in which Michael Jackson fed a crocodile a dead chicken on the Neverland Ranch while holding his infant son.

 

II.  REST IN PEACE JOHNNY CUNNINGHAM

Johnny Cunningham passed away on the evening of December 15th 2003. He died at home from a heart attack.

Born in Portobello, Scotland in 1957, he was a founding member of Silly Wizard, the group that spearheaded the Scots side of the Celtic revival in the 70’s and 80’s. He toured with his brother, Phil Cunningham, both as a duo and with the Celtic "supergroup" Relativity.

 
III.  L.E. McCULLOUGH PAYS TRIBUTE

Hey, Dale!

Sad news about Johnny Cunningham. Sometimes all you can do is express the sentiments in melody. Here's a tribute tune I composed, which sort of sounds like a fiddle tune but works well on whistle.

T:The Wizard of Portobello (Johnny Cunningham's Fancy)
R:reel
C: L.E. McCullough ©2003
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:D 
FG|:A~D3 F~A3|G~B3 AFED|~B3B {c}~B2de|~f3e ed(3Bcd|
A~D3 F~A3|G~B3 AFAB|d~B3 FBdf|1 eA(3cBA d2FG:|2 eA(3cBA d2de|
|:~f3e edBA|(3fgafd ed(3Bcd|~e3f eAce|gAfA egfe|
~f3e edBA|FBdf gfed|eAce gfed|1 eA(3cBA d2de :|2 eA(3cBA d2FG|



Very best,

L.E. McCullough

Note:  For those of you unfamiliar with the ABC notation system, see Henrik Norbeck's Abc Tunes website at  http://www.norbeck.nu/abc/

 

IV.  L.E. McCullough & Joanie Madden Workshops

Other news: L. E. McCullough and Joanie Madden will be teaching whistle workshops at the big annual North American CCE Convention in Parsippany, New Jersey, April 15-18. Check details at: 
http://www.ccenorthamerica.org/sites/Convention2004/default.htm



V.  MORRIS OPEN WEBSITE

I'm interested in doing all I can to promote and educate people about all the great bands:  The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Morris Open.  Check out the latter's new English version website at www.morris-open.de

Morris Open's CDs are impossible to find in the USA.  So I am promoting this new slogan for Morris Open Fans in America:

"Morris Open: Worth the Trouble."

 

VI.  El McMeen Is Back In the Building...

...with another fabulous finger-style guitar album.  He continues his Celtic-Motown groove.  Don't miss it.  http://www.elmcmeen.com

Meanwhile:

El McMeen has been selected by the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England, as an International Musician of the Year 2003. He is one of only 200 musicians world-wide so honored. The description of the honor provided by the IBC reads as follows:

    El

"This prestigious award is made available to only a few illustrious individuals whose achievements and leadership stand out in the International Music Community as decreed by the Research and Advisory Board sitting at the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England ... Over the course of the publication of our leading biographical directories ... tens of thousands of biographies have been reviewed and from these only a select few have been chosen for this impressive new accolade."

 

VII. TWO MINI-REVIEWS BY JessieD 

(A)  Lon Dubh Wooden Whistle 

I just got this "Little Blackbird" d whistle (made in Ireland by Pat O'Dwyer - I wish I knew more about the maker) today, but it was sitting outside my house since probably Friday afternoon (three days ago - geez - UPS). I let it thaw in its case before taking it out. Before I go into my opinion, I will mention that I ordered it from Whistle and Drum. Blayne said I'd be the first, other than himself, in America to have one. They are not cheap ($299), but this is a unique whistle, different from any other I have played (and that's a lot), and, though very lightweight (I will be careful with it), it is simply beautiful to look at. The holes are sanded very nicely, as if played for years. It is dark rosewood, which surprises me - I thought rosewood was heavier than this whistle is. I was enchanted by Blayne's recording (posted on his site on the page for this whistle), and I listened to it a whole bunch of times before ordering one, because my priorities have changed, blah blah blah, I am getting ready to have a baby and all that. But I went ahead anyway, and I am glad I did. I agree with everything Blayne wrote about the whistle except one thing: I think it is NOT loud enough for a session. It is a quiet whistle, perfect for a living room or for recording (and, hopefully, for putting babies to sleep - the cats sure love it). You can hear the tone on Blayne's site - http://www.whistleanddrum.com - in his recording. It is simply beautiful. It has, seriously, the easiest and smoothest second octave I have ever encountered on a whistle. The first octave is not as rich as some other whistles, but it's fine, and better than many. The volume is extremely well balanced between octaves, and I really enjoy the sound and ease of the high notes. One has to hold back less on this than on inexpensive whistles, but it's kind of similar, and, as demonstrated by Blayne, the tone is much less finicky. The volume is similar to a Rose whistle, maybe a little quieter, but better balanced (the high octave isn't much louder than the low). It feels a bit more woody (I don't know if that makes sense) than most other wooden whistles. The tone has a pleasant graininess (I made up that word) - not breathy at all, but, um, woody. I am going to take some time to get to know it better, but I am impressed, especially by the fact that someone has produced something different from anything else out there.

Jessie Driscoll

Note from Dale:  Always take note of Jessie's reviews. She is one of the great whistle collectors and has played 'em all.

(B) David Boisvert Whistles by JessieD

David Boisvert has been making uillean pipes for a few years. He put his first batch of whistles on the market in late May. 

Davey's whistles (I have two) are beautiful instruments. They have a full and sweet tone that is not breathy. I think the volume is just about perfect. They can be heard well with lots of other instruments but are not too loud to play comfortably in more intimate musical settings. They are thick, much like O'Riordan concert whistles (though not as loud as O'Riordans), but easy to get used to holding. They are (or were when they first came to the market) slightly rugged in finish, but one would expect that, as he isn't charging the $300 that many makers of other fine wooden whistles are charging. Actually, I had some communication with Davey since I got my whistles and he said he is now sanding the holes more than he was then. This is good news. I predict that if Davey sticks to making whistles, which I hope he will, he will build up a considerable waiting list, as his whistles are one of the best kept secrets in whistledom.

~Jessie


The whistles are available from Greenwood Pipes:

www.greenwoodpipes.com

The prices are as follows:

cocobolo/ebony: $125
blackwood: $150
boxwood: $200

 

VIII. Merlin Low Whistle

hey dale,

i just got this new low D whistle for christmas, it's made by a company called Merlin
i think it sounds rather nice and could you consider reviewing these whistles?
here's the website  Merlin Music - Whistles

sincerely
Leland Moore

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The following is a Public Service Announcement brought to you by Chiff & Fipple

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IX.  CASEY BURNS' NEW FLUTE

Review by jim stone.

Here's a review of the new Casey Burns beginner's flute, which sells for 250 dollars. A couple of weeks ago I asked on the flute board if anybody could review it. Immediately Casey asked me to review it and sent me one to keep. I've checked my opinions with others, including an excellent flutist, to be sure that I'm uninfluenced by gratitude. My chief credential is that I'm as close to a beginner as someone could be who might write an informed review, having played flute for about a year. Also I own most of the other beginner's flutes, including a Dixon three-piece polymer and a Sweetheart maple, both of which I like very well. I'm writing this review with beginners in mind.

The flute is made of mopane, which looks good and has a warm, rich, woody sound. The flute is made simply and in two pieces, with good craftsmanship throughout. It's entirely made of wood,
except that the tenon is thread wrapped. It has the weight and heft of an expensive blackwood flute (it's about as heavy as the Dixon), along with the look of something made well and simply of a brown wood with a flowing grain.

Two features are especially notable. First the flute sounds warm, full, and woody in both octaves, with good volume. It's easy to play and it goes easily into the second octave. It's well in tune. There is a strong low D. One can press on the flute, get a 'dirty' or 'hard' sound; it plays like an Irish flute. The sound compares favorably with anything in its price range.

Second, the finger spacing is significantly closer than on the Dixon and the Sweetheart, especially for the right hand. Beginners nervous about the hand stretch on an Irish flute will find this welcome. Also, the G hole on the left hand is rotated slightly outward. Casey is very good at making flutes people can play, and this will be a blessing for many beginners. The flute is uncommonly comfortable in a way that facilitates playing it fast.

Casey points out on his website that this flute isn't meant as a replacement for a performance-level flute. I've compared it to his 450 dollar mopane flute. The beginner's flute sounds less good, but it's a close second. Mopane isn't blackwood, to my ear; I prefer the latter--though mopane flutes are fine. But taken for what it is, the beginner's flute is remarkable. Here is a good looking, strong sounding, easy playing and handling wooden Irish flute for 250 dollars. A great idea, well executed, and worth more than its price.

From Dale:  Thanks to my friend jim stone for this nice review.  I'd just like to add that Casey was kind enough to send over one of these flutes to be included in the Chiff & Fipple collection.  

I think it is an amazing instrument and a genuine bargain. Whistle players are often looking for a good beginner's flute and you can't go wrong with this one.

(The C&F collection, by the way, is now under armed guard.  I hired a guy who spent 20 years guarding the smallpox samples at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta.)  

Casey's website address is www.caseyburnsflutes.com.

--jim stone

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Guess his IQ.

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X.  Doug Tipple Polymer Flute

If you are on a still tighter budget, you might consider a Doug Tipple Polymer flute. (Tipple is no relation to Fipple).

Doug sells these on ebay. His listings there include a lot of detailed information, pictures, and a sound clip.  

Doug sent a tunable ($50) and nontunable ($35) model to me and I have to say I was most surprised at how playable the flutes are for the money.  The prices of the  flutes are beyond reasonable, perhaps bumping up against preposterous! I mentioned the Olwell bamboo flutes because it seems to me that Olwell has always offered a really fine first flute for whistle players, because of the nice matrix you get of quality x price.  But, I think that the Tipple flute would make a popular alternative for the budget-conscious. I admire Doug's efforts at putting nice flutes in people's hands for so little money.  These, of course, are not professional-grade instruments, but that's not the market he is going for.  The tone reminds me a bit more of a low whistle than a professional-grade Irish flute, but it is quite easy to blow, has comfortable fingering, and the tuning is excellent.  Check out Doug's ebay listings.

 

XI.  GREY LARSEN TUTORIALS

Big news on the book front:

I have a copy of Grey Larsen's new book (with 2 CDs), The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle (Mel Bay).

We'll have a full review or two in conjunction with a planned interview with Grey.  Let me just say that this is a massive undertaking by a master musician:  480 pages, with two companion CDs. I don't know of a more comprehensive text regarding these instruments. I couldn't be more impressed with it.  Full review to follow.  In the meantime check out: http://www.greylarsen.com