I’ve seen the concept a few times, so I taped over the top three holes of a high D and played both it (with my left hand) and another high D (with my right hand) at the same time. A cool pseudo-ye olde timey effect 
Once the coolness factor was through, though, I got to wondering - any good tunes that I can really play this way?
Those of you who have tried this - any suggestions?
In his book and tape/CD tutor, Cathal McConnell teaches how to play “The Blarney Pilgrim” on two whistles. He does harmonies and everything. He also teaches how to play some air (don’t remember which) on a Bb and F double whistle.
I’ve not really experimented much with double whistles, but I’d love to. There’s got to be some really cool harmonizations one can do on a double whistle. The big problem, I would think, would be learning how to control two whistles at once.
Try this… http://www.irishflute.info/mp3/Danny_Boy_with_harmony_for_1_eng.pdf
and the video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMjiiwwjutY
Best wishes for the holiday season.
Steve
Thank you
Forgot to mention that “pancelticpiper” who posts here occasionally has worked up a bunch of arrangements for double chanter bagpipes; most of which could apply to double whistles. Here’s a sample of his tunes as played on smallpipes Drop him a note and see what he has to date…
Best wishes.
Steve
Big Voice Jack recorded Kgaitsedi Rebecca on double whistle.
http://www.amazon.com/Kgaitsedi-Rebecca/dp/B0012EHKD8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324590941&sr=8-1
I’ve a friend who plays “William Tell Overture” on a double whistle. Harmonizing on them is not hard. Thirds are easy and oddly enough overblowing only one whistle is not as difficult as one might think. See
http://www.eriktheflutemaker.com/Double_Flutes.htm
For a source of a prebuilt instrument and some videos.
I was just thinking about that! The difference is that, on my doublepipes, due to the partially-closed nature of the GHB fingering system, you can play up and down the scale normally and one chanter or the other is always playing the tonic or drone note (what would be Bottom D on the whistle).
Due to the whistle’s open fingering, I think that it’s G rather which becomes the tonic or drone note.
My old friend and first Irish music teacher, Chris Moran, used to do the double-whistle thing on McLeod’s Reel. He said the trick was in finding the right tune.
Obligatory nod to Rahsaan Roland Kirk:
You could try this, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJf1IK_9d9o&feature=related
(Seonachan beat me to it…)
I had a great tune for double whistle - its on the tip of my tongue - maybe I’ll remember…