Hello! Out of curiosity about low D whistles, I purchased a Jubilee PVC low D whistle a few months back and play it for a few minutes at the end of my practice sessions with my high D whistle. I can understand when folks talk about the allure and difficulty of the low D whistle!
The air requirement of the second octave of the Jubilee low D seems quite large. I feel like I have to empty my lungs to reach the high B,C#, and D, and often times I can’t reach the high C# and D!
If I choose to continue learning the low D, I am wondering how the air requirements of the Jubilee compares to other low D whistles so that I can decide what style suits me. Also, is the air requirement in the second octave more a function of the whistle design or the embochure?
I just received a Hammy Hamilton Low D today and have to say I love it. I’ve had two others that I found wanting. Without naming them I can go as far as saying one took an obscene amount of air and wore me out. The other was just opposite in not demanding too much air, but couldn’t be pushed very hard in the low register and sounded too much like a recorder.
Hammy’s whistle has nice, moderate back pressure, does not require an extra large set of lungs and has great chiff and bite to the tone. It’s just what I wanted.
I know there are a lot of fine whistles out there, many I’ve not tried but I can certainly recommend Hammy’s. Besides, my bandmates and I dropped in on him in June and a nicer man you couldn’t ask for and I like playing an instrument from a maker I’ve met.
