I just wanted to post this somewhere where people might appreciate it.
So, last week I received my Blackbird, which is such an amazing piece of work. I’ve been playing it like mad and it treats me very well! Then, yesterday I received my Domnahl na Gruen low D whistle, my first foray into the low whistle arena, and I’ve been having a blast with it. It requires a bit more air than the Blackbird… Now, today, my full set of Syn whistles arrived.
Safe to say that I’m in whistle heaven right now. That is all.
Whooo hooooo… great start on your collection. Guess you realize there is no stopping. There is another whistle out there calling your name. FWIW… I found the Syn whistles very nice and play similar to a Snidt whistle.
I make a Los Angeles salary in Pensacola. That’s pretty much what it boils down to. That and the huge tax refund I got this year. I didn’t even mention the other things I picked up, such as a Susato (wanted to try out the S series and I needed a backup plan in case the Syns didn’t arrive in time) or the Xaphoon (still waiting on that one to come in). That’s just in the world of music. I also picked up a lawn mower, which I am now semi-regretting. Lawn looks better, but man does it suck to cut grass…
I remember a time when I ordered a Clarke Meg tinwhistle, and somehow almost forgot it.
One day soon after, I was whistling in my basement “practice room” (you know, where the furnace is)! My wife and kids had climbed into the car to go shopping, but she came back into the basement with a big grin, and handed me a box. There was the Meg! I happily played and played until, two hours later, I heard her car come back into the driveway.
Can you tell us anything more about your Domnahl whistle? I have seen very little about him on the web. He will be making a low D for me shortly, once he gets my size requirements. I haven’t been able to play since a poorly-healed hand injury. I still manage to struggle along with the flute, but the D whistle became a lost cause. He told me he specializes in these types of situations, and I am very hopeful about it now.
I haven’t played any low whistle but my Domnahl, so I have nothing to compare it to. I can only tell you what I’ve observed.
The whistle is very breathy, though I think that may be largely from me simply providing too much breath. If I really focus, I can get a pretty clear tone out of the lowest few notes. The whistle is much larger (diameter) than I expected, but again, not having any low whistle experience, it may be average size and I just wasn’t expecting it. What shocked me the most about the whistle is how light it is! It’s a relatively thin-walled whistle, and being aluminum, not very dense. The finger spacing is, of course, larger than a high whistle, but nothing that I can’t handle. I don’t even bother with piper’s grip. It requires a moderate amount of breath control and I find myself overshooting the second octave sometimes. It’s got a beautiful tone and it a blast to play. It’s also gotten some funny reactions from people who don’t know that low whistles exist and are used to seeing me with my high D’s.
Thanks! I’ll let you know how I like mine…it’ll be a while though! He’s a very friendly and re-assuring individual, so I am confident it will be worth the wait.
Hey Protean, could you tell me where you got the full set of Syn whistles and what you think of them? I’ve just started looking at getting a full set myself, but haven’t found a full set to buy yet.
I sent elwati a PM about the whistles. You can also reach Erle via e-mail at “synwhistles (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) au”. I ordered mine directly from him. (His e-mail address is actually listed on C&F – http://www.chiffandfipple.com/Expens.html)
I would recommend Erle’s Black diamond whistles as well. A little more expensive,but oh what a beautiful sound they have. When I was talking with Erle on the 'phone a couple of weeks back, he told me he also makes Low whistles (Low D’s anyway, didn’t enquire about other keys). I will be ordering one of those for myself a little further down the track. Since the arrival and subsequent playing of his B.D, it has not been far from my reach at all. A truly wonderful instrument. The syn, I believe has a more pure sound compared to the more ‘traditional’ sound of the B.D…But don’t quote me on that, as I don’t own a syn…Yet!
Now, today, my full set of Syn whistles arrived.
Lucky man.
great start on your collection.
