A few months ago, I was told, “A whistle would make a beautiful companion to the dulcimer.” Since then, I have taken that advice and ordered some aluminum whistles from Colin Goldie in Soprano D and Tenor D (soft-standard blower strength). We decided we liked these whistles but needed a bit more back pressure, so I placed a second order for the same Goldie whistles but with medium blower heads.
Those two whistles were made of aluminum, which produces a beautiful sound. Yet, I wanted to acquire a pair of brass High D and Low D whistles that would be equally enjoyable and offer a different warmth and tone.
I delved into the Chiff and Fipple Whistle Forum and found a discussion about Ronaldo Reyburn, a master craftsman quietly creating world-class brass whistles in Ashland, Oregon.
Ronaldo’s whistles are known (generally) for their higher backpressure, air efficiency, and consistency across the full range of keys, which would be nice for slow airs. After receiving our first High D and Low D whistles from him, I was so impressed that I commissioned an extended set of brass whistles.
But this is not just about whistles—it’s about the man behind them. Ronaldo is 82 years old and still passionately active, but he is also winding down his whistle-making days. So, I feel fortunate to have convinced him to take on this last project before he retires his tools.
In every message, he has been generous with insight into his designs, full of stories, and gracious with his time. Getting to know him has been a joy. The project we’ve started has enriched my life more than I expected.
If you’re curious how Reyburn’s brass whistles sound, here are two examples that speak for themselves:
Brass HI Session D Whistle: https://youtu.be/VyH8pPkE1ng?si=4Uw7opYPioYqOv4F
Brass Mezzo A Whistle: https://youtu.be/E2L3Wdm7JEQ?si=AqV0Vx8g8LqE28GZ