I figured if anyone knows if this exists, it would be C&F folks! I love wooden whistles and I’m on a search to find a mezzo D (high D as second choice) large bore with very low back pressure (I play Bari sax and I can really move air). I like heavy whistles and extra points if it has recessed finger holes. The closest thing I can find that matches any of these specifics is a Burke Brass session D and it doesn’t tick enough boxes for me. Any thoughts/advice? US location preferred. Maybe I’m asking for too much!
Shearwater whistles would seem to tick the boxes pretty well, except for being wooden. It’s pretty large bore, thick aluminium, and very low backpressure. The finger holes aren’t recessed, but nicely smoothed over. Only problem is that John isn’t making these days, but you might be able to find one used.
Thank you. I will search for this. I think I’m asking for something that doesn’t exist, but what the heck? I love reading what fellow whistlers have to recommend. Much appreciated!
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What is a mezzo D? Is it closer to a high D or low D?
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I haven’t heard of many wooden low D whistles at all. I know iVolga made one, and so did HHFI. HHFI might make one to order, since they don’t have any whistles for sale at all right now. As for whether they meet your requirements for pressure and such, I can’t really say.
Key of A whistle will also play in the key of D.
Inbetween soprano D and low D. Would that be mezzo?
Honestly, if you play sax, I’d think you’d want high back pressure, not low back pressure. Sax has pretty high back pressure.
I ordered a Mezzo D from Lark in the Morning and they said it plays between high and low D. I’m intrigued, so I’ll have to check it out. I have never heard of it either.
I thought that at first too and then read conflicting comments. I’ll admit I’m a bit confused about how that works. I’ll have to investigate further to make sure I’m looking for the right thing.
I can’t manage the finger spread on a typical low D so I got a Carbony close hole fingering whistle and I like it. It takes a little bit of effort to play it but it is definitely manageable. I’ll just have to practice.
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Unsure…I am intrigued and it wasn’t too expensive so I went for it. They give a 7 day trial period with a reasonable cleaning/restocking cost so I decided to take a chance. I wrote to them about what a Mezzo D is and this is what they said:
"Thanks for reaching out to us about the Optima Mezzo D Tunable Whistle (SKU:WHS476). Yes, being a mezzo whistle, its pitch is lower than a high D whistle, yet higher than a Low D whistle. This is a very popular model whistle that customers love to play!
Here is a link to it on our website: Optima Mezzo D Tunable Whistle - Lark in the Morning"
I’m on a whistle adventure and I have succumbed to WHOAD, that’s for sure.
I genuinely don’t know what they mean by between high and low D. The bell note on a high D is a D5, and on a low D it’s a D4. That’s only one octave difference. I’m pretty sure Lark in the Morning’s email answerer is simply wrong. The mezzo D bills itself as a replacement for his previous Busker high D, and I’m pretty certain after listening that it’s still just a high D whistle with a large bore.
Anyway, if you’re looking for something in between high and low D, Low F whistles are pretty popular. You still do a bit of piper’s grip to play them, but it’s a lot easier of a spread. I really like mine and I’ll be getting several more eventually.
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Agreed. I was confused yet intrigued and since they have a trial period I bought one. I can’t figure it out either so we’ll see. I’m in an adventurous mood today
I have an F from Rui Gomez and I like it. It is a bit of a stretch but I don’t need full piper’s grip to play it.
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I think it means “mezzo forte” - medium loud - not “mezzo soprano” as in the soprano/alto intermediate high pitched voice.
The Optima Mezzo D is definitely a wide, quite loud high D but is advertised as taking very little air, as you’ll have seen.
Colin Goldie might produce what you want though more expensive of course. Excellent though.
Its a loud high D whistle with a fat bore profile that replaced their old busker model:
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I think you are correct about their Mezzo labeling. I couldn’t figure out what the email reply from Lark in the Morning was telling me so I took the leap and bought one, knowing that I can return it if I don’t like it. I live in the country and often play outside so no worries about volume. No one will care how loud this is! I play in a slow jam with a friend who has a Goldie and I am familiar with that whistle. Thanks for taking time to respond!
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I found that too, about this replacing the Busker, and the Mezzo label they have was a bit confusing, I have to say. However, I think I’ll like this one and if not, I’ll either return it or sell. I live in the country and there’s no one around to object to my volume, so that’s a plus for a loud whistle. Thanks for taking time to respond!
Yeah, it’s advertised that way, but that’s a load of BS lol. It takes way more air than most whistles, and about as much as a Busker (maybe a tad bit less, but it’s not a drastic difference).
All the same, it’s a very nice whistle and fun to play (if you like super-loud whistles). It’s very similar to a busker, but it feels slightly different to play and has a less raspy tone in my opinion.
Colin Goldie’s whistles all have very high back pressure, so if the OP want’s low back pressure (which, again, I don’t know why you’d want if you play sax), then they probably won’t fit the bill for OP.
That would make a lot of sense, wouldn’t it? But I don’t think that’s what they mean lol. I think the “mezzo” label is just to indicate that it’s a similar bore size to their “mezzo” whistles, but still a high D. Very confusing/odd marketing strategy, but I guess it’s working for them.
The reality is that this whistle is not “medium volume” by any stretch of the imagination. It’s very loud. Louder than any whistle I’ve ever played, besides a busker.
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Thanks for all of this info, friends! I appreciate this more than you know. I will see what happens and I have to say I’m rather looking forward to figuring this out. Always love trying a new whistle and if I can’t stand it I’ll return it. Pretty low cost for a trial but all in all, whistle costs are nothing compared to my bari.
BTW I did some deeper research on back pressure and I think I’m wrong on how I was considering what I’d like. I am used to the bari so I think I really want high back pressure as you say. I probably did a ChatGPT question and got a hallucination. I didn’t really think low back pressure sounded right, but I believed GPT. Oh well, you all have set me straight and I am grateful. I have enough breath/lung strength to blow these little whistles across the room so I’d better get this right! Ha! Take care whistle friends. You are good people.
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Just to clarify the most common terminology:
A “Low D” whistle is around 23 inches long.
A “High D” whistle is around 12 inches long. It’s one octave higher than a Low D whistle.
It’s not possible to have a D whistle in between these two sizes.
The sizes in the middle between these two would be whistles in A (around 15 inches long) and in G (around 17 inches long).
These are called various things, most useful perhaps is “Mezzo” which just means middle.
Some makers use choir nomenclature and call Low D’s “Tenor” and High D’s “Soprano” and middle ones “Alto.”
Various makers are different as to where they draw the line between “Low” and “mezzo” and “high” for example various makers call their A whistles “Low” “Alto” and “Mezzo Soprano”.
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