I have a question on playing the instrument; some one told me that I should articulate the notes (using my tongue to break the notes apart) as I play them (unless there is a slur there). But a few days ago some else told me that, that was a “cardinal sin” on a Tin Whistle. So my question is what way do you all do it
If it was classical music usuallly one is supposed to articulate the notes unless a legatto is indicated but in ITM it seems the opposite is more common. Usually the ‘slur’ is more common and tonguing is used to accentuate the rhythm. Some tutorials indicate where to stress the rhythm or articulate the notes, but one can’t make rigid rules for a folk tradition…
Like many people say one of the best ways is just listen a lot to ITM, then we can absorb and learn naturallly where to articulate or not.
The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle, by Grey Larsen, goes into great detail about this. For the longest time, I played with no tonguing. I used cuts instead. After seeing his transcriptions of great whistle and flute players, I’ve started using cuts and tonguing. His book is well worth the price. He breaks everything down like no other.
I’m really into pure legarto at the moment. It’s great fun.
Last year it was lots of tongue. Who knows what i’ll like next year.
I think that it is generally agreed that tonging should be treated just like another articulation. Although some well known players always articulate every notes (albeit with a variation of style, i.e. t,k,d, tonging vs throating), and others never articulate, the great majority by far use tonging to emphasize rythm in lue of and sometime combined with other articulations (for e.g. you can tongue a cut).
Some folks have indeed told me that it is a sin, and I tend to disagree with this stand as much as the opposite, i.e. slurring everything (and mis-using articulation on top of that), which can also result in a lack of rythm.
My approach… learn to tongue properly ( t-k-d, etc. etc.) and use it where and when the music demands it but don’t over do it as for any other form of articulation. You wouldn’t cut, tap or roll every notes; same for tonging.