Ok, so I'm not really going to comment on the additional $87 billion dollars that President Bush has asked from Congress for Iraq. There's really no place for politics in this newsletter. I only want to help inform the reader by trying to make it clear how much money $87 billion is. That's a lot of money, and it can be hard to fathom. If I do say so myself, I have a little gift for explaining or illustrating this kind of thing for people. So, maybe this will help:
If you had 87 billion one-dollar bills, and you laid them out end-to-end, that line of bills would be worth...$87 billion dollars.
There you go.
Chiff & Fipple is, of course, not in a position to ask Congress for $87 billion dollars. But, in honor of this pending transfer of serious fundage, Chiff & Fipple is now asking its readers for 87 cents.
If you care to contribute, you can
the funds to me.
Or you can just mail me a check or 87 cents in change. Dale Wisely; 1025 Montgomery Highway, Suite 200; Birmingham AL 35216.
Thanks.
I. BILL OCHS: NYC WORKSHOPS
Tinwhistle lessons just don't get any better than those offered by Bill Ochs in New York. Furthermore, these will go on even in the case of another major blackout. Get a move on if interested. These begin THIS WEEK.
Dear Dale,
I wanted to let you know about two advanced tin whistle classes I'll be giving this fall -- one on Mondays at 6:30 and one on Thursdays at 7:30,
beginning the week of Sept. 15th. The classes will meet at my studio/apartment on 46th St. and 10th Avenue in Manhattan.
The theme of these classes will be "The Music of the Great Tin Whistle Masters." Over the course of the year, the groups will learn tunes from
recordings of such seminal players as Mary Bergin, Paddy Breen, Willie Clancy, Jim Donohue, Carmel Gunning, Josie MacDermott, Joanie Madden,
Johnnie Maguire, Cathal McConnell, Micho Russell, Sean Ryan and others.
Bill Ochs holding a tinwhistle class during the recent blackout in NYC. (File Photo)
Students will learn to analyze these players' styles and techniques with an eye towards enriching their own playing.
I haven't given this class since 1998, so I'm quite excited to be teaching this material again. It's very rich and varied. All dialects of
tin whistle playing will be covered, drawing on commercial and field recordings, including field recordings that I've made myself over the
last 30 years.
The entire course runs for 30 weeks, divided into three 10-week terms. There are still a few spaces open in each class. Students must be comfortable playing jigs and reels, have a good working knowledge of basic tin whistle ornamentation, and be able to learn tunes by ear from slowed-down recordings. If you're interested, please contact me for further details at bill@pennywhistle.com or 212-247-3231.
Best,
Bill Ochs
www.pennywhistle.com
II. COLORFUL FAN MAILDear Dale:
Holy Moley. I'm an Irish trad fiddler and I am (against all advice, even from maker-player-friend, Patrick Sky) going to begin learning the Uilleanns. And I hit your page.
What a freakin master piece of a site.and I've just started scratching the service of it. Whistle people must love you for this contribution.
- Jerry JacuzioP.S.: I love the Tony O'Soprano photo - not many people know of this famous New Jersey whistler.
Jerry,
Indeed the whistle people love me. This is because of (a) the grand and sweeping nature of Chiff & Fipple and (b) almost none of them have heard me play.
Dale
By the way, readers, here's the photo Jerry refers to...
Over Ireland: Photo by Chiff & Fipple special correspondent avanutria, on a recent trip to Ireland. We loaned her DaleForceOne for the trip, and she took the photo from the window.
III. HEARTWARMING FAN MAIL
Dear DaleDo you want to hear a Readers Digest version of my story - and how C&F literally changed my life?? If you don't, stop reading now.
I began drinking in high school and was in an alcoholic stupor for much of the 70s. During that time, apparently being a very fun drunk, I was married (and, alas, divorced) three times. When I had my daughter in 1982 I stopped drinking (which does not, even after 20 years, stop the temptation) and raised her. Over the years I became more and more introverted (I guess I believed I was a waste of skin and air), so that by about 3-4 years ago I had become almost completely isolated (except for work) and was diagnosed with Avoidant Personality Disorder. I rarely left the house and wouldn't do anything that might call attention to me. I managed to find a fantastic therapist who helped me get started on the road to recovery...she challenged me and gave me homework at every session we had. She's amazing.About 18 months ago, I got very brave on my way home from her office one day and stopped at a music store, where I picked up a whistle (I'd loved Irish music for years). Then I started surfing the internet and reading everything I could about the whistle and ITM. Of course, that led me directly to C&F. It's been the most therapeutic place I could have ever found. The board members (for the most part, as you well know) are accepting, helpful, and encouraging.I attended a session at our local pub a couple of weeks ago and suddenly the changes in my life and in me just leapt out at me. I was playing tunes (even solos), laughing and talking with the other musicians and strangers in the pub. It's like I'm finally myself again. I've traveled to California and Wyoming to go to concerts and meet other C&Fers and play music. My daughter says this "whistling stuff" has been the best thing that ever happened to me - and I agree.So, there you have it...one of the reasons you hopefully put up with (here our writer names some of the more notorious Chiff & Fipple message board posters)... Because where would I be if you didn't?
Thanks, Dale.Name withheld for privacy purposes
IV. HOWARD LOW D--READER REVIEW
Dale,
Since you were so kind to answer my questions
regarding the selection of a low whistle, I thought I would write you back with a critique of the Howard Low D whistle which I purchased recently.
I bought a nickel plated whistle with the matte finish black plastic head. I find this instrument very attractive in a somewhat severe post modern way. The Howard logo is stamped into the instrument along with the key. The fipple, although firmly on the body of the instrument seems to offer a limited degree of tuning to the player, since it is movable. The whistle came in a clear plastic semi-hard case which should be more than sufficiently protective when gadding about.
The mouthpiece is very slender and comfortable.
Although it is a big whistle in length and diameter, I found it very easy to play with low to moderate breath requirements. The finger holes are large, but I play flute already, so they were not particularly difficult for me. That said, I do play this instrument with a "piper's grip" (that is with the fingers laid flat on the right hand), and if a player is cursed with short fingers or slender, narrow fingers, this instrument might present some difficulties.
I own a Susato low D, and have been loaned a Brass
Copeland Low D (which I should probably give back, but can't force myself to pick up the phone and call the guy). I also have a bamboo flute by Mr. Olwell in low D which I enjoy along with a host of other bamboo flutes and high whistles. The Howard whistle has an extremely solid low D note...I think better than the other two whistles and almost equivalent to the flute. This note requires a bit more breath support to be really vibrant, but anyone should be able to obtain this sound and it is nice.
The low E is also very solid. The first tune I tried on the whistle was the Kerry Reel (The Fields of Rosbeigh) with all those nice low E rolls, and the sound was marvelous. Intonation seems quite good, and perhaps exceptional for a cylindrical instrument. One has to support the second octave with a bit more air, but when this is done, it seemed like the second octave intonation was also very good. It may not be
as spot on as the Copeland, but for a cylindrical
instrument, I was quite pleased.
The stretch between tone holes was shorter than I
anticipated. This said, the stretch between the
bottom hole and the "E" hole may give some players a challenge. The size of the holes seems to mislead the hand into thinking that the stretch is great. I found no discomfort getting fingers to any of the holes. The holes are large, and I think the most difficulty in playing this instrument is making sure that the holes are completely covered for any given note.
The octave break is very controllable. It does
require a little bit of breath support, but because of this feature, I never felt that any of the notes were tender enough to slip up to the second octave without my bidding. There seems to be a little less dynamic variation available in the second octave than the first. The sound in the second octave is full and easily produced, but as in most whistles becomes a bit more harsh as one ascends the scale. This doesn't even register on the scale once you hear the low notes.
The whistle really comes into its own in the first
octave with a very haunting full sound which still
allows for some dynamic control. Although the windway appears to be narrow (ergo the low breath
requirements) being made of plastic, there seems to be a relatively low amount of condensation going on.
Your regular chiff and fipple readers will perhaps be saddened that even when playing for awhile, I produced no drool from the other end of the pipe.
The bottom line: a very good low D whistle for a very moderate price. I am even thinking of ordering an unplated brass Howard low D whistle in the future.
Thanks for such a great website. Sorry, got to go...after writing this, I feel the urge to go play a tune or two. Thanks again.
Kelly Crumpley
V. SEPTEMBER FLOOK DATES
FLOOK DATES
Thursday 18 September
Kinloss, Morayshire, SCOTLAND
The Loft
01343 850 699
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/eastgrange/loft_intro.htm
Friday 19 September
Ullapool, SCOTLAND
Ceilidh Place
01854 612103
http://www.ullapool.com
Saturday 20 September
Carsphairn, Castle Douglas, SCOTLAND
HAIRTH O'KNOCHRACH SEPTEMBERFEST
01644 460662
http://www.geocities.com/goduha/lineup.html
VI. CHERISH THE LADIES RE-DESIGNED
CTL has an all-new website. Check it out:
http://www.cherishtheladies.com
VII. FAR EAST FAN MAIL or
COMING SOON: Chiff & Fipple East!
Hello Dale,
Cheers for the king of the internet whistle communities! :)
I'm enjoying your site very much, perhaps too much, that sometimes I just can't stop twitching my sides. What a great resource, and I'm always amazed at the soul and passion you put into searching for the world of whistles and
the whistlers!
By the way, I was wondering if you could please let me translate some of the articles on your site.I'm planning to put them up on my webpage, and of course the full credit will be given to you with the proper citation of the source, and will give
you the site's address soon as it is complete (I like to do things on Word, so..). Why I'm asking you is that it would be a great interest to the
fellow whistlers in Japan, or to Japanese-speaking whistlers all around the world. One Japanese, who may love Irish music instruments, could live in
Germany without slight info on, say, Overton!
Thank you so much for your time, for reading my strange grammers...
Blessings,
Tak
VIII. TURLACH BOYLAN / GLEN ROAD
Hi from the guys in Glen Road,
We're about to embark on our biggest tour of the year, climbing into the mothership to inspect the asphalt of the Midwest. We're going to some new places but also revisiting some places we have been before, Sand Springs, Tishomingo, Houston and Mound City.
We hope to see some familiar faces (Play your cards right and we'll let you look at a Low G whistle which Dale gave Turlach!) and we'll be very bashful about selling our new CD 'Round The Bend'. We got our first review lately; It begins:
"From the opening notes of the first jig, this softly dazzling CD takes you in its embrace, and never lets you down. It's the best example I have ever seen of how to mix lovely tunes rooted in the
Irish world with brilliantly written and arranged songs about people and their quietly remarkable lives."
Many thanks to Paul Carr at The Irish Herald and Celticcafe.com for bragging about us much more eloquently than we'd ever dare ourselves.
The whole review is on the web at http://www.irish-herald.com/stories_jul_arts.html#14
You can also find out about the CD on our website at http://www.glenroadmusic.com/roundthebend/
See you on the road!
Mike, Turlach & Greg(...and be sure to look for the upcoming live Glen Road CD, "The Asphalt of the Midwest." -- Dale)
------------------------------------------------------
Sep 16 Tuesday
Sand Springs OK
Concert 7 PM
918-246-2509
Sep 18 Thursday
Fredonia HS Theatre
Fredonia KS
620-378-2052
Sep 19 Friday
Baker University
Baldwin City KS
785-594-6451
Sep 23 Tuesday
Concert 8 PM
Buffalo OK
580-735-2448
Sep 24 Wednesday
Woodward OK
580-256-7120
Sep 26-28 Friday-Sunday
Lawton OK
International Festival
580-581-3470
Sep 30 Tuesday Concert 7 PM
Tishomingo OK
Murray State College
580-371-2371
Oct 04 Saturday
Linden TX
Concert 8 PM
903-756-7115
Oct 05 Sunday
The Woodlands TX
Concert 8 PM North Shore Park
936-273-4990
Oct 07
Houston TX
Concert 8 PM The Mucky Duck
713-528-5999
Oct 10 Friday
Bedford TX
9:15 PM Celtic Heritage Festival SCMA Stage
817-469-6709
Oct 11 Saturday
Bedford TX
1:15 PM Celtic Heritage Festival FWICA Stage
817-469-6709
Oct 12 Sunday
Bedford TX
Festival 2:30 PM Celtic Heritage Festival FWICA Stage
817-469-6709
Oct 13 Monday
Austin TX
Concert 8 PM Cactus Cafe
512-475-6515
Oct 16 Thursday
Mound City MO
Concert 8PM State Theater Arts Council
660-442-5425
IX. EVEN THOUGH THIS GUY IS PROBABLY A MEMBER OF CHIFF & FIPPLE, I'M NOT BAILING HIM OUT OF JAIL
Special thanks to chiff & fipple readers who made me aware of this story.
German police nab motorist playing flute
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- German police caught a man playing the flute with both hands as he sped through traffic at 130 kph (80 mph) on a busy highway, police said on Wednesday.
"He was leaning back in the seat and steering the car with his knees and feet," said Johann Bohnert, a spokesman for police in the town of Traunstein near the Austrian border.
"He looked like he'd had practice."
He now faces a fine of 50 euros ($56).
The 52-year-old from Salzburg in Austria, birthplace of Mozart, the composer whose works include the opera "The Magic Flute," told police he was not actually blowing the instrument.
"He said he was just practicing fingerings," said Bohnert.
Right. Great excuse for when you're caught playing the flute and driving: "Honest, Officer, I wasn't blowing into the flute, I was just using my hands to practice the fingerings!"
I have told and told you people not to play your instruments when driving. (For more information, here's a special chiff & fipple link. Incidentally, I just discovered that if you use google.com to search for "knee driving" the first thing to come up is a page from chiff & fipple.
Hey! Idea: Maybe we can use the 87 cent donations to pay the guy's fine! --Dale)
X. Rest in Peace: Warren Zevon & Johnny Cash
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.
--Johnny Cash
Don't let us get sick
Don't let us get old
Don't let us get stupid, all right?
Just make us be brave
And make us play nice
And let us be together tonight
--Warren Zevon
XI. 9/11
photo by Tom Dowling, taken 9/11/2003
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1. Send blank email to chiffandfipple-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.
2. If that doesn't work, reply to this email and let me know you want to unsubscribe and I should be able to handle it for you.
Lord, help us see how near is your kingdom.