I’m new to whistling. I’ve played the flute for years, but I have recently been given Feadog whistles in D and in C from friends who brought them back for me when they visited Ireland.
I’ve been trying to noodle along to my Irish music records, but I was wondering whether there were any written guides to whistle technique. I’ve asked at my local music store; the fellows behind the counter just gaped.
The C&F website is very helpful, but what about cutting and running? Am I missing something? Are these mythological techniques, or do they actually exist? Have I just not looked hard enough?
I apologize for my rank newbieness. Any help would be appreciated.
Br. Steve’s site will give you a ton of great info, but just for quick reference, a “cut” is a grace note (or series of grace notes). Specifically, it’s a grace note ABOVE the main note (a grace note below the main note is a “tap”). Cuts and taps are used a lot in Irish music, both as a form of articulation and as a form of ornamentation.
A “run” is pretty much the same as in vocal music (or, I suspect, flute music)…a melismatic “run” up or down the scale. Most of the runs I’ve encountered are really just triplets, but you’ll see longer ones occasionally.
In addition to Br. Steve’s site, there are some pretty good whistle tutorial books out there, though you may have to order them, if your local music store is clueless. A lot of people here like Bill Och’s method, which I believe is available at The Whistle Shop (www.thewhistleshop.com). My personal favorite is Robin Williamson’s “The Pennywhistle Book” (out of print, but available used at a pretty good price from Amazon.com).
Welcome to the wonderful world of whacky whistlers!
Redwolf
[ This Message was edited by: Redwolf on 2003-01-09 16:10 ]
Lots of instruments can do cuts and runs. Why, the local bodhran player performed an excellent cut and run when he saw the session leader glaring at him…
Welcome to the board, please check your sanity at the door.
