Right, I was listening to some tunes on the Clips and Snips site and listened to a song called “Gilbert Clancy’s Reel” by Mick Woodruff, which was absolutely amazing - it was so fast! Anyway, he played it on a Generation Eb whistle, and now I so want one - the clarity of it was amazing and the sound was magnificent. Could anyone tell me the address to the Generation website, the price range of Generations and where one might be able to buy one? I checked on the Chiff and Fipple links but didn’t find anywhere a link to the Generation website.
Generation doesn’t have a website, to the best of my knowledge. However, I get good prices on whistles at http://www.elderly.com. I’ve bought a couple Generations there.
The Eb is probably the most consistantly good Generation… I have yet to pick up a bad one.
By the way Sara, you still haven’t e-mailed me about the Dubliners tunes.
Hi all -
I’m going to order a Generation Eb and Generation D today from thewhistleshop.com - thanks for giving me the links!
raindog1970 -
I am terribly sorry that I didn’t e-mail you already, I had been meaning to and have been so busy that I just haven’t gotten around to it - I will definitely e-mail you today. Again, I’m sorry. What were you going to send me? Links to their website? I’m looking forward to hearing what they sound like!
TelegramSam -
Quite funny that you should mention the F - as my mum and I were ordering the whistles, mum suggested that I get an F instead of a D so I ordered an Eb and and F! I’m quite curious as to what the F sounds like as I have never heard one before.
Ordered an F instead of D? Gen Ds are really good if you get a good one (which is pretty common nowadays I hear). If you’re worried about quality control on the Ds, I got a bad Gen F too. It was worse than my friend’s G whistle. I rarely play it, partly because its so shrill - the other part mainly because the 2nd octave was not so good. The only thing about it is that it looks cute, or so people tell me.
Well, still time to add the D to your order! (and the G and the Bb and the C etc…)
I went to my first ever whistle class last night (I’ve been playing alone since last August) and you’d have been lost without a D, nothing else is required! The teacher played a low D and a Susuato; The rest were on brass Walton’s Mellow D’s, a brass Generation, a couple of brass Feadogs, one (loud) Susato, and I had my trusty Clare 2-piece (with icky green fipple). One lady had a very 'spensive looking stainless steel(?) job but I didn’t dare ask what it was. If you ever intend to play with others you will still want a D.
There was a rumour on this site a while ago that Generation are stopping production of the G, so you might want to grab one to complete your collection. It is shrill, & suits teeny-tiny fingers, but played out of doors I bet it carries!
We learnt Si Beag Si Mor, by the way, O’Carolan’s first ever composition, and a lovely tune it is.
I’m very lucky to work 10 minutes walk away from the Hammersmith Irish Centre in West London.
As most of my current musical interests are Irish based, I have a great resource close at hand. This term I’m attending whistle, singing, and set dancing classes during the week. Last year I went to a music class for mixed instruments with my Mandolin. There are also great events on most Friday & Saturday evenings, If I can muster the energy! If an Irish band or singer come to London, they will often do a small gig at the centre, so I can get exposure to a lot of good playing and singing.
Sorry, didn’t want to make you jealous, but isn’t that great!
I was watching the Corrs on the ‘Pavarotti and Friends’ concert at the weekend. Andrea Corr played the ‘Titanic’ theme song (Our Love Will Go On - I think it’s called) accompanying Celine Dion, on a Generation Bb whistle - sounded great. The Generation Bb is one of the better Generation whistles IMHO.
Cheers
Gerry
[ This Message was edited by: WhistlingGypsy on 2002-01-28 08:21 ]
Martin Milner,
I think it would be so wizard to have all that culture and music around. What is set dancing? That’s really cool. Nothing like that is round here where I live - especially nothing to do with Irish music. My goal is to go to college and live in England - and that’s how I have England pictured as - as a place where people get together and have jam sessions constantly and just be surrounded by culture. Oh, you’re not making me jealous at all! I like hearing about it!
WhistlingGypsy:
Andrea plays a Generation? Cool! I have the sheet music to the pennywhistle in My Heart Will Go On - I think I’ll try and learn that when my Generations arrive!
Okay, this is great that people are discussing Generation whistles, because I love them and think they are hugely under-rated. My two whistles of choice right now are a brass Generation Eb and a hybrid whistle with a Feadog D body and a generation head. I love them both!
On the other hand, what’s this about Celine Dion, the Titanic music and the Corrs? If that’s your kind of music then that’s great, but if you really are interested in Irish traditional music then you are listening to completely the wrong stuff! That music will practically wreck your ability to play authentic traditional Irish music. If you went into a session and tried playing the theme from the Titanic you would probably be thrown out the door and told never to come back. It sounds mean, but it’s the truth.
Try listening to older recordings of solo musicians or musicians playing in small groups. Steer away from recordings by the new powerhouse groups, and by all means stay away from anything with an orchestra or an electronic keyboard in it. The best thing you can possibly do is find a good session and start learning the tunes played there… that’ll get you off on the right foot.
And Sara, why England? England is wonderful, but if you really want the music why not try Galway? I don’t think you’ll find more good traditional Irish music anywhere in the world (except for in certain parts of Clare).
My two cents,
Chris
I like pure Irish traditional music and I don’t associate The Corrs or Celion Dion anywhere near trad Irish. I like a few songs of the Corrs and Celion Dion, but that’s it really. I think it would be sooo cool to go to a session, as you said, that would be the way to learn the true Irish tunes. And right now, I’m sticking to learning Irish trad songs. I don’t want to live in England just for the music - it just seems like a cool place. Where is Galway? Is it in Ireland? I’d also love to go to Ireland!
Hi Sara,
I’m sorry if I came off rude in my last e-mail, I just know that a lot of people DO consider the Corrs and the Titanic music to be traditional and it drives me a bit cracy that they get all sorts of attention while the true geniuses and legends of Irish music make no money off their music whatsoever.
So, welcome to the world of the whistle and Irish music… I hope it brings you much joy for years to come.
Anyways, Galway is in the West of Ireland, and it is a wonderful, wonderful place indeed. Galway city has more sessions in one night than you can count one hand, and they’re generally all quite good.
If you are really planning a trip to Ireland for the music get in touch with me first and I’ll be able to guide you in the right direction and connect you with some great people, as I spent all of last summer hitch-hiking around the country in search of music, and I found it.
As for sessions in Texas, you ought to check out http://www.sessioneer.com. I count 10 listings for Texas sessions, and I’m sure there are more. Try a web search for sessions in your area as well. I know Texas is huge, but there might be something around you.
If you want any suggestions for music to listen to, whistles or flutes to buy, or anything of that nature please let me know and I’ll be more than happy to help.
Best,
Chris
You didn’t come off as rude at all! The Corrs are not at all traditional - I reckon they could be called “pop Irish” - I highly believe true Irish musicians and geniuses never get enough recognition. As a matter of fact, trad Irish music itself doesn’t get enough recognition. Thanks - the whistle has brought me much joy already! WOW - Galway sounds like an awesome place! You hitch-hiked across Ireland? Cool! I don’t know if I have checked sessioneer.com or not - but I will again. Thanks for giving it to me. Texas is huge and you would think there would be something around here - but I haven’t found anything yet, that’s not to say there isn’t something, just because I haven’t found it. Thanks - if I have any questions, I’ll ask you. Thanks again,
Sara
Sara,
You are welcome. One of the reasons I mentioned Dublin as opposed to Ennis in Clare, or somewhere else in Ireland, is that Galway has a fantastic university. If you ever make it to Boston make sure to get in contact with me before-hand and we’ll go out for some tunes. It’s a mighty scene here.
Chris
P.S. - I love your signiture.
\
The more you give the more there is.
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-01-29 11:24 ]
I am indeed lucky to have such stuff going on within easy reach, but Chris is right, Galway is a mighty city for Irish Traditional music.
Dublin has become a bit of a tourist trap, especially the Temple area south of the Liffey, not least because it’s almost as quick and cheap to get there from London as it is to get to York, Edinburgh or Glasgow (i.e. it’s partly my fault). Galway is turning that way a little now, but a walk along Shop Street most evenings and you can pop into half a dozen different bars to hear and see Irish Trad played well, with energy and enthusiasm. Roisin Dubh is a favourite.
For this reason, while I’m over in Ireland for St Patrick’s and the following week, I expect to spend a night or two in Galway soaking up more than just Guiness. But I’m avoiding Dublin altogether this time round, as I’ve been there, done that.
Nothing in England can compare to the real Irish experience, if only because the pace of life, attitude etc. is all part of the culture (London just isn’t relaxing in the same way), but if you ever plan to come to London, give me a shout & maybe I can take you along to a session or two of what we have to offer.
On the subject of Chris’ hybrid, Peter Laban suggested, and I agree, that more of the sound quality comes from the head than the body - maybe 70% head and 30% body? So a Generation head on a Feadog body (I have one too, Chris) is more Generation than Feadog. I’ve taken the head off my Doolin (maybe my least favourite whistle apart from my Shaw) and replaced it with a spare red Generation head, and now it is at least playable. I think the Doolin head was a little damaged on the blade and a little judicial filing may help, so other Doolins are probably fine.
On the other hand, what’s this about Celine Dion, the Titanic music and the Corrs?
Actually Chris, I was just mentioning the fact that she was playing a Generation - certainly not promoting the music.
As for Galway - my hometown - not many better places for Irish Trad. Did you visit the Crane - my brother and sister ran that pub for the past 5 or so years. There is a Sunday morning session that has been going on for 21 years there. Sean Ryan plays in that one and it’s not unusual for Vinnie Kilduff or some De Dannan members to show up.
My brother told me that Sharron Shannon was sitting at the bar on New Years Eve playing the box…great place!!!
