I was at the little Celtic fest at Chatham (Ill) today and ran across something new (to me, anyway) in whistles. There was a maker there selling what I first thought were Native American flutes. However, without looking too closely, I noticed that some didn’t have the ‘bird’ that regulates the tone hole. So I asked him, where they were. At this point, he explained that they were actually six-hole (some seven-hole) Celtic-type flutes.
Having had the obvious pointed out to me, i took a better look. They were, in fact, chromatic fipple flutes, but in size and bulk more resembled the Native American flute. We got to talking and I even played a couple. Really rather unique. He only had them in what amounts to A, low G and low F. The sound was definitely woody and reminiscent of the Native American flute, with that same haunting tone. The airways were quite small, and the air demand surprisingly low - much lower than the Shaw low G he had for comparison.
What was REALLY unique were three instruments on a table. All were the same sort of whistle, however two were walking sticks, about four feet long with the fipple carved into the top. The third was a hickory cane with a conventional looking ‘T’ handle and the airway cut into the handle. It was played by blowing into the handle and playing with the instrument down in front of me like a pipe chanter. Key was low G. As near as I can tell without a tuner it was both accurately tuned and in tune with itself
The workmanship of the wood was excellent, FWIW.
The guy also makes hammered dulcimers and harps. Unfortunately for my vastly aroused WhOA, the price tag was too steep for my pocket, at $150-190 for the whistles, $225 for the walking sticks and $250 for the cane.
I did pick up his card and e-address. If anyone wants to know more, let me know and I’ll send them. He does not have a web site. The guy seems to be a preacher, which I didn’t hold against him, and says he plays the instruments in some sort of band which I got the distinct impression was of the religious variety.