It’s been three years and I don’t have a low whistle.
Actually, the thought of getting one has crossed my mind on occasion. Especially when playing the 2nd octave A or B. The good thing about not getting a low whistle yet is, I’ve been playing around with changing the octaves of some of the notes to add a little variety and give the ears a little break here and there.
Anyway, just checking in. No new recordings to post. I’ll give your ears a little break too.
Haven’t learned any new tunes lately. It’s been nice getting better acquainted with the ones I already know. It’s helped break the habit of running through them to keep them memorized, and improved the good habit of taking the time to enjoy each one.
I’ve been on a pretty good streak lately of having fun while playing the tin whistle. (Not recording is a big help in that!) I hope you all are doing the same.
There was a little bump in the road today, not long after the original post, but it lead to repositioning my hands to stop sounding like the notes were sliding one to another. The fingers weren’t perpendicular to the tube and it wasn’t working well, especially with B2 and 3.
Maybe this is odd, but although I’ve thought about getting a low whistle, and even have one picked out just in case, there really isn’t an overwhelming urge for it. They sound really nice when listening to other people play 'em, but the D,C, and Bb do too. Might be a good idea to get myself examined too. No WHOAD.
Forgive me, father, for I have sindt, three times, recently!
I picked up, from a C&Fer, a Sindt A Bb B set (one head three bodies). These are the first Sindts I’ve owned and they are very special, having a certain playing quality that sets them apart from everything else I’ve played, but which is difficult to put into words. I can understand now how people get hooked on them and end up with Sindts in every key.
I’m beginning to think a C# D Eb set would be very cool…
About low whistles, I spend practically all of my playing time on one of my Low Ds. I just like the way they play better than any high whistles I have.
If I were to go with a low D, the Dixon one piece seems to be a good one from what I’ve read on here.
For high D whistles -this is probably not a popular choice- I really like the Shaw. The 2nd octave is very pleasing to my ears. It fits the hands nicely too. It takes a little push for the high A and B, but that’s OK. It keeps me from smoking again.
As far as Sindts go…haven’t even checked the prices yet. Isn’t that the only non-Generation whistle Mary Bergin plays?
People in Ireland have told me that Sindts have become more or less the standard whistle (or at least a very common whistle) for Comhaltas competition.
It doesn’t surprise me at all that there could develop a ‘standard whistle’ because competition nearly always encourages conformity.
Look at Irish dancing! All the girls are wearing a certain type of costume, their hair a certain way. The standard look 20 years ago was quite different. I believe that this happens in competition because the judges expect a certain thing, whatever thing is ‘the now thing’, which demonstrates whether the competitor is ‘in the loop’ or not. Ditto Highland dancing, with the garish white-and-lime-green ‘tartans’ they wear etc.
I’m in the pipe band scene and at major competitons the top bands all dress more or less identically. A band wouldn’t dare show up dressed like bands dressed back in the 1970s; they would look like a dinosaur.
Ditto with instruments, which is where the Sindt thing comes in. A friend broke into the top level of solo Highland piping competition and was dismayed that he consistently got last place. He had noticed that EVERY other competitor at that time was playing a Naill chanter in his pipes, while he himself was playing a different make. Finally at one competition the judge actually wrote on his scoresheet “get a Naill chanter” and so my friend did. The very first competition using the Naill, and he placed in the middle of the pack.
That makes sense to me. If everyone is playing/wearing the same thing the field is level in that aspect.
The Bb has been getting the most playing time lately. Still…going lower would be nice. Been listening to Joe McKenna, Matt Molloy, and Joanie Madden a lot lately, so the range of low whistle and flute has just been stuck in my head. A Dixon low whistle/combo still might end up on the Christmas wish list.
