There’s a song called “Kevin Barry” that I’m wanting to learn but it has Vibrato in it and I’m not sure how to do it - can anyone explain what you do?
Thanks,
Sara
Imagine peace, demand peace, be peace
To play vibrato in traditional or early music, you quickly cover and uncover (vibrate your finger on) a lower hole or holes – so that it just changes the pitch a tad, or even just changes the timbre. Which holes work best (or even whether this technique works) depends on your whistle. My Susato low-D plays the most wonderful vibrato, say playing an A and doing vibrato on the D and E holes.
If playing an E, you need to kind of shake your finger over the D hole without much covering it. This actually works for all notes but is more difficult, at least for me. With some whistles this is the only technique that works.
Charlie
Hi Sara,
There are two most common ways to do a vibrato on a whistle.
- Finger vibrato: Play a note (say, G). Using the finger 2 holes lower (“E” or 5th finger down) very quickly bounce that finger up and down as if you were doing a trill. Some people use different fingers for the vibrato note, but whatever you like the sound of is what to do.
- Diaphragm vibrato: Play a note and while holding the note, quickly increase and decrease the breath pressure - sort of like
hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo with an accent on the “h”.
At first it might sound like a train, but with practice you can get it to sound musical. Hope this is not too confusing!
Sue
Something that works for me, especially if I want narrow and/or rapid vibrato, is simply to shake the whistle as I blow.
Slan,
BB
“Rock and reel, hootchie koo.” - Rick O’Derringer
On 2002-01-17 21:01, Sara wrote:
There’s a song wanting […] but it has
Imagine peace, demand peace, be peace
Vibrato is completely optional so it’s not required to for any song or tune really, it’s an extra that you can take or leave
Are rebel songs compatible with peace??
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-01-18 04:28 ]
http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/index.html
Check out Brother Steve’s advice on Vibrato.
I agree with Peter and B Steve that vibrato is definitely optional, and often overused.
Not too many croutons in the soup please!
Thanks for the suggestions - the first one I tried was where I shake the whistle and it worked! I’m going to try the others later. Or I may just leave it out - if it’s not totally necessary. Thanks again! 
On 2002-01-18 02:32, Peter Laban wrote:
Are rebel songs compatible with peace??
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-01-18 04:28 ]
Peter Laban,
What do you mean? Are you talking about Imagine? I reckon that yes, a rebel song can be compatible with peace. Imagine is a song about peace - and just because it’s considered a rebel song doesn’t mean it’s bad - what’s your opinion on it?
Peace,
Sara
Sara,
I think Peter L was referring to the fact that Kevin Barry is a rebel song, not “Imagine”. As you know the rebels in Ireland for a long time have been engaged in killing the English and vice versa. That’s what Kevin Barry and many other rebel songs are about: killing and war of opressed against opressors. That’s why Peter asks why you want to learn Kevin Barry when you put “peace” in you sig and every post. I think you just might like to learn it for the tune, and that is ok, I guess. But Peter would be justified in pointing out that these tunes and songs don’t exist in a vaccum but in a historical and social context that is not always pleasant or peaceful.
Best,
I’m sorry I misunderstood what he said - I do see his point quite well. I guess it would be hypocritical of me to like that song since I do stress peace so much, but your right, I wanted to learn it for the tune only. Thanks for bringing that to my attention - if I’m going to believe in something, like peace, I can’t be a hypocrite and say “even though it’s about war, it’s okay.”
Peace,
Sara
don’t think more of it than a friendly poke, these songs, this one and the rising of the moon are part of a large group of rebel songs that have been much abused for the making heroic of ugly things.
FWIW, I think it takes a little more than playing rebel songs to make a hypocrite. Learning, playing, and singing the songs is not the same thing as waging war. While some of the rebel songs are just battle cries, many express the view and the feeling of one side or the other and that is important and wholesome. Folksongs are the most powerful tool for conveying the human, personal impact of social and historical events and struggles. So, I would suggest you take a middle road: learn what songs and tunes you like, but respect the Tradition by learning about their sources and the people who wrote and played them. An open, balanced view is more conducive to peace than clinging to principles.
Bloomfield, I recommend reading the article about the demise of that icon of Rebel Music The Wolftones which appeared in the Irish Times last saturday week (this should be accessible through http://www.ireland.com
True, I guess just because you learn a song for the tune, doesn’t mean you support it. I do need to take more time and learn the history of the songs I learn - especially in Irish music, because almost every song has a story behind it - in my quest to learn music and the pennywhistle, the history of the music is just as important. That’s quite true - the reason many wars are started is because people won’t be open-minded enough to consider anyone else’s views and principles. If everyone had an open mind I think peace would be a more common thing.
In concert, my band always helps the audience to understand the historical and emotional roots of the music we play. People never cease to be moved by songs such as ‘Ned of the Hill’ and ‘Fire in the Glen.’ These and hundreds of others have a shocking history that humankind must strive never to repeat.
Peace to all.
Byll
Sara, perspective on these matters can depend on what side of the Atlantic you are.
I recently overheard a singer from Belfast, who came to Canada to get away from the troubles, delivering a friendly but extremely forceful reprimand to a young Canadian who likes to affect a rebel personality and sing gung-ho rebel songs in public.
I think his main point was that the young man had no inkling of the resonance that these songs could generate in the ears of casual listeners.
I’d say, wherever your sympathies lie, tread very carefully with songs of this type. After all, it’s entirely possible that someone in the audience may have friends or family who have been killed, maimed or bereaved.
Peter, looking for the article I only found this one, and it was pretty interesting. (but the date?).
I have the obligatory Wolfe Tones album (in my case “Rifles of the IRA”), and everybody should at least once hear them do A Nation Once Again. I do occasionally sing a rebel song called “Crossmaglen” in public. It’s about and ambush on English soldiers led by McVerry, a man from Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh. McVerry was killed in May 1973. It was written by a band called Men of No Property, but I they never recorded it (and may not have recorded anything). I know it from an Eddie and Finbar Furey record that they recorded in Germany; they credit the Men of No Property. I’ve recently heard the song was later covered by the Old Blind Dogs, but I’ve never heard it. It’s a great song.
That’s about as rebellious as I get. I don’t think I could live through a whole Wolfe Tones concert and I don’t know how the musicians do it. 30 years of the same sad and brutal songs and enticing the audience to sing them along, with four hundred years of resentment bubbling up. Presumably the musicians are not always drunk, but who knows?
Anyway, Peter, thanks for the tip. And sorry, Sara, for hi-jacking this thread about vibrato. If you want my advice on that, don’t use it in Irish music. That’s just my view, though.
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-01-18 11:56 ]
An interesting topic…Here are my thoughts
for what they’re worth. Some songs such as Rising of the Moon and The Foggy Dew have a certain historical bent–they are events that
happened prior to the 26 counties independence and I think can be enjoyed by those who are not currently Republican in their sympathies.
However, when some one plays more recent rebel songs such as Billy Reid, Little Armalite, and SAM Song etc., it suggests (to me at least)a certain current political viewpoint.
You may be wondering what the point of my rambling is…What I’m trying to say is that you should know where the songs you are playing came from so you do not accidentaly put yourself forward as being Irish Republican if that is not what you support.
I good site for song lyrics is Ireland First(Sorry, I couldn’t remember the URL)You can take a look at the lyrics and decide if this is a tune you want to play, or not.
Sorry for this long and poorly written post. My French quiz this morning fried my brain.
Come on guys. Lighten up a bit. I remember a thread not too long ago where nearly everyone agreed that the title of a tune makes little difference since whistles can’t speak.
I doubt that Sara’s whistle speaks either.
Erik
On 2002-01-18 11:54, Bloomfield wrote:
Peter, looking for the article I only found this one, and it was pretty interesting. (but the date?).
Not the one I meant Fintan O Toole’s ‘Why the end of the Wolfe Tones is music to my ears’: Itirsh Times, news features, p.8 jan 12th
Found it.
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/newsfeatures/2002/0112/628063330NF12FINTAN.html
I agree entirely. Thanks again, Peter.