Since I study mediaeval history, I had a closer look at Colum Cille (Columba of Iona, died 597). Of course for you IRISH folks there needn’t to be explanations.
It was quite a time ago, since I read this, but is it true that he played some kind of whistle or even the Tin Whistle? I can hardly remember and don’t know where I read this.
But isn’t the Irish Tin Whistle - as we have it nowadays - from the 18th century?
(I don’t want to blame to much.)
Maybe it’s because no-one else knows. I never heard of Columcille (that’s how it’s usually spelt in English, the alternative modern Irish spelling being Colm Cille, if I remember correctly) being a whistler, but I’m no expert.
If he did play a whistle, it was probably made of bone (sheep’s shinbone, I suspect). But that’s just a guess, so let me not be the cause of a new erroneous myth.
When the EU programme to support the peace process in Northern Ireland was being legislated for, I suggested that it should be called “Columba” (which is the latin version of his name). This seemed appropriate as the name means “dove” and is full of associations with peace, and with Derry/Londonderry which is the home of John Hume who really deserved the Nobel Peace Prize because of his incredible commitment to non-violence. The idea wasn’t taken up because the decision-makers weren’t sensitive to this line of reasoning.
It was only afterwards that I read up a little more about Columba, and found out that he was actually a very hot-tempered individual and that his temper caused a war (over a bible manuscript) and led to his being exiled to Iona by his abbot.
Very little is known about Colm Cille’s life. There is only the Vita Columbae by Adomnán to go on and that is undoubtedly a ‘massaged’ account of his life. I have never come across any reference to his skill as a whistler. It’s interesting that the modern Church often latches on to Colm Cille to develop the myth of the pure ‘Celtic Church’ that apparently existed in Ireland prior to Roman involvement.
Hey Frodo:
I went home and checked How the Irish Saved Civilization because thats the only place I ever read about him but it didn’t mention whistles.
He was quite a guy though who as a prince, supposedly fought a battle in which 3000 enemies were slain but he only lost one of his men. He was a “fighting monk” I guess. And his line, the Conaill clan, had the distinction of its unique succession rite, in which the new king copulated with a white mare in public!!! Gee, I wonder if there is a jig or SET DANCE associated with that one (rimshot). Hey, maybe that’s where 'Pin the tail on the donkey" got its start (a Weekenders exclusive revelation)…
Cahill also mentions the Irish innovation which I had forgotten about: the private confession.Allowed people some slack in case they repeated a sin that if known in public would insist upon excommunication. Very interesting.
Anyway, several of us tried but no whistle mention.
Also, from everything I have ever read, no one has found an old six-hole whistle in various excavations. I know they found a bone two hole one somewhere from the 11th century. But like the violin and the way it has become the folk instrument of choice of many cultures, does it really matter?
[ This Message was edited by: The Weekenders on 2002-05-17 12:52 ]