Hello all, I’ve been learning on the soprano and low whistle, and the irish flute. I am having trouble deciding what I want to play, or if there is an alternative that I have not yet considered.
When playing the flute, I love the expression I can get with the embouchure and airway manipulation, and it frustrates me when I can’t seem to get the same flexibility out of my whistles.
It seemed to me that I was going to be playing more on the flute based on this, but I am in love with slides. Try as I might, I cannot seem to get a good slide from one note to the next on the flute, the sound just dies midway, while on my whistle I get an incredibly satisfying feel.
I also strongly prefer the endblown hold to the transverse hold, just my personal preference. However, I could deal with this
My question is, I would like to be able to get the expression that comes with the flute, and still play the slides that I’ve come to love so much. It feels though that I may not be able to have both. Is there an option I haven’t thought of? Or am I not playing the slides on the flute correctly? Any advice would be most appreciated. Thank you
Thanks for the reply. This is similar to the end blown shakuhachi, which also seemed to be a good option. My problem is that I want to eventually play Irish traditional in sessions, and I’m not sure that Quena or Shakuhachi would work for that, sadly
I play whistle (high and low) and I’m learning irish flute too.
I can understand you. They’re different instruments, and IMHO none is better than the other.
Which low whistle do you have? I have a Susato, and I prefer to play the irish flute instead of the former one. I find that I’m not using the low whistle very much.
Anyways, I’ve tried a Chieftain low D whistle from a friend, and I completely fell in love. The high air requirements and the “breathiness” tone makes it wonderful. If you have the possibility of trying one, it’d be nice.
I agree with the previous posts, in that flute and whistle are a bit of “apples and oranges”. One does not adequately fill the role of the other.
Your assessment of the versatility of the flute is quite correct, but those of us here, including myself as a ‘closet’ flute player, would say that you play the whistle for what it is, and the flute for what it is.
Getting a ‘flute-like’ quality from a whistle is another whole world of discussion!!
I think if you seek out recordings of slow airs played on flute, you’ll find plenty of examples of slides used very expressively and effectively. Kevin Crawford’s playing of January Snows on Lúnasa’s Otherworld album is just one accessible example that comes to mind. I’m sure the cross-fluters here can point to many others.
You’re right … quena or shakuhachi are not the pure drop. Though among good friends at an established session, stranger things have happened.
