Danny Boy

Whistle
1

I heard many people played Danny Boy using Low D whistle. It is beautiful. I tried to play G tune “Danny Boy” using D whistle and I had a hard time to play the high 2nd Octave. Anyone tried the same way I did without the problem that I encountered, or there any other techniques to play “Denny Boy” using D whistle. Thanks.

2

The lowest note in the tune is always the “D” no matter what key it is in so just transpose from there

3

Speaking of “Danny Boy” I found this page that has some really interesting information about the origins of the tune–


http://www.sirius.com/~ststones/dannyboy.html

4

If you can get a hold of a Bb whistle…you can use the same fingering as you do on your D but a little easier to play…especially when you come to that high note. I’ve also played it on the C whistle…works for me. Gm

5

You know, in a way it is too bad that Danny Boy has been played so much in public and on television. As a result of overexposure, it can be a little hard to take, I think. It’s a shame because it really is a beautiful tune. Therefore, I think at this time I’ll go ahead and impose a three-year moratorium on Danny Boy. Violators will be chewed out.

Dale

6

This makes me remember years ago when I heard a recording of Paul Robeson singing it. I don’t care how often it’s recorded and how many people maul the poor song by trying to get a bravura performance out of what is essentially a quiet and intimate tune, the mere memory of the beauty of Robeson’s performance will always send chills down my spine.
Jon Michaels

7

It is - without doubt - the tune that most US visitors to the Shanna Quay shop, here in Ireland, want to have either on a CD collection or in a tune book. It’s usually described to me as ‘my favourite Irish tune’. I have a little smile to myself at that - knowing that it was written by an Englishman .

Enjoy the Yuletide season.

Steve

8

Well-known IRTRAD jester Bill “Zouki” Black did some research on Danny Boy a while ago, and ended up with this:

http://home.capecod.net/~zouki/HELPFUL/dannyboy.html

at which one can find Irish lyrics, on which Bill notes:

As I suggested, the effort of learning the Irish words allows you the double pleasure of continuing to play the wonderful tune while bypassing the incredibly maudlin lyrics.

-Rich