Howard Low D: Rolling in the Ryegrass / Fath mo Bhuartha

Whistle
1

Recently there was a thread where the Howard Low D whistle was discussed, pros and cons.

I like this whistle; I find it to be a very capable instrument.

Here’s a couple of tunes on mine, one fast (Rolling in the Ryegrass) and one slow (Fath mo Bhuartha, aka The Cause of My Grief):

http://www.flutesite.com/samples/howarddemo.mp3

–James

2

Bravo! James. Speed on a low D, and sealing those big holes…

PhilO

3

Thanks. Very enjoyable. I used to think it was
hard to play low whistles fast until I
tried to play the same tunes on the
flute!

4

Wow James! That was wonderful… I especially like the second piece. I could never get my Howard Low D to sound like that! I knew it was me, not the whistle. Darn it. :smiley:

Thanks for sharing your music with us, my friend! My love to you and Shannon.


Blessings,
Andrea

5

I love the second tune, James. Well done!

6

My sentiments exactly. Very nice James.

7

Wow! I think I’ll get out my low D!
:slight_smile:

Mary

8

Yes, very nice indeed. Seems that you really have the second octave tamed on that howard. Mine needs really aggressive blowing to sound the upper octave g and a. They are way way louder than the lower notes. How new is your whistle? I emailed howard and they said mine had the latest mouthpiece but…?

  • Joel
9

Thanks–my Howard came to me via Dale, but has the bright green finish, so I think it is pretty new.

I have two low D’s–the Howard and the Susato–and while neither are necessarily easy to play, I’ve been persistent with playing both, and both have become very responsive, capable instruments for me.

The Howard has more of a whistle sound and an easier low register; the Susato has a woodier, more flutelike sound, and has an easier high register than the Howard but a more challenging lower register, I think due to its thinner bore profile.

–James