James Galway is no Mary Bergin, Paddy Maloney or any kind of good whistler. He is a classical musician and it shows.
I was surprised that James Galway would lend his name to a whistle (I used to have one and it was a pretty good whistle, btw) where Paddy declined to put his name on a whistle.
I think they were trying to make the point that Denethor was insane…that it wasn’t just that he liked Boromir and couldn’t stand Faramir, but that he’d gone completely bonkers. You could tell by the look on his face that Pippin was becoming increasingly shocked and disgusted…it was dawning on him that this guy he’d sworn allegiance to was a total nutcase.
We just saw the movie tonight, and it was wonderful! The best of the three, I’m thinking.
Redwolf
Yep. Terrible, ain’t it when classical musicians try to play whistles. They should be shot. They’re a blot on the name of the entire (legit) whistling community. 
Dana
aka classical musician trying to play whistle…
It showed:
a)his loss of touch w/reality
b)a bloody mess drippping from his mouth symbolizing his culpability in the almost death of his son.
Does Dale know about these James Galway whistles? You’d think he’d have them on his review page unless he covets them so much he’d rather as few people possible know of their existence.
Cheers,
Aaron
I’m confused–there was another post awhile back where somebody said that it was Joanie Madden on the whistle for ROTK. I’d quote it, but I’m not very good at it. It might be the post just about ROTK. Anybody else heard this?
SwtCaro
This movie strayed the farthest from what Tolkein wrote in the books so far. I was sorely disappointed in several aspects, but overall as far as movies go - it was very entrtaining. The character development seemed more shallow with several key figures than I hoped it would be. Here’s to the extended versions! At least to hope anyway…
The music was nice, though I think the fiddle theme of the Roharim was the best little ‘hook’ piece of the movies. Never thought I’d say it, but I was kinda hoping that Jackson would have killed Gimli off as he had already gone so far off into left field I figured he could pull it off and no one would mind. They turned him into a poorly acted clown. Sad. Oh well…
It was just a movie after all… shrug
I believe it’s the EX, goes for $2,750
in contrast if you wanted their 14K gold flute with split E and fully engraved it runs almost $30,000. they make a platinum flute too but they don’t list the price anywhere, I guess they figure that if you have to ask then you probably can’t afford it anyway.
doh, I just looked at their used instruments list and I could have gotten a used EX for a little more than I paid for my gemeinhardt…
just FYI, galway’s first instrument was the whistle before he switched to flute.
I didn’t know that. Even so, give me the choice to buy a ticket to a Galway tinwhistle concert or a Mary Bergin tinwhistle concert, I would spring for Mary Bergin.
It seems like lots of folk can never master their first instrument.
Our harper/fluter was classically trained and her flute playing is finally sounding almost right now (after 6 years). Some of her rolls still tend to sound almost like a turn and she still has a tendency for vibrato when she loses her concentration.
Galway probably saw no interest in spending the rest of his life tootling on a tinwhistle. So it’s ridiculous to say he could never master his first instrument. I would like to hear how Mary Bergin plays Vivaldi or Prokofiev. Would it sound any better than Galway’s whistling?
There is a lot more in classical music than in any kind of folk music. It’s like comparing cottages to cathedrals. Two different lifestyles, and everybody must find which one suits him best. I like irish trad, but the music that really speaks to my heart is classical.
The LOTR is NOT an irish movie at all, so there is no reason why they should have hired irish trad musicians for the soundtrack.
I watched the extended DVD version of TTT. The Rohan fiddle theme was played on a norvegian Hardanger fiddle. But I suspect the instrument was played by a symphonic player (sounds like classical style to me). Didn’t it sound fantastic? The best of both worlds, in some way.
I don’t think James Galway is a bad whistle player, any musician of that calibre can play a simple whistle and play it well. The problem is he hasn’t a clue about traditional playing, a problem shared with many classical and other no traditional players. Remember Yehudi Menuhin trying to play hornpipes in ‘Bringign it all Back Home’? With Frankie Gavin trying not to look too embarrassed playing with him. Tonight [christmas day]on RTE tv there’s a documentary ‘Nigel Kennedy in Dingle’, Kennedy approaching a variety of musical disciplines with Cora Venus Lunny, Frankie Gavin, Breandan Begley and others. Wonder what that will be like.
I just posted a messge to his message board, he seems to be pretty involved in talking to his fans and answering their questions and even giving free flute advice. hopefully I’ll have some answers soon, I’m guessing that he probably grew up playing trad music since I’ve read that he did play a conical bore wood flute for some time before getting famous.
As far as I remember it is a Belfast whistle/fife and fluteband that is the background to James Galway’s playing. Although during the late seventies he could be seen pulling out a whistle during interviews and play the Belfast Hornpipe to show the audience he was one ordinary fellow, I don’t really think his background is ‘traditional Irish’ as we usually understand it here.
I must also say I don’t particularly care for the way Claudine above dismisses the efforts of a very large number of musicians who give their lives to playing the humble whislte and Irish music at a very high level of competence by saying Galway probably ‘didn’t feel like tootling on a tin whistle’ all his life. There are many players who are as good a muscian as many’s a classical player, the fact they play music from a different, in ways less complex, less academic and less technically demanding, discipline does not ever justify bracketing their work as ‘tootling’. I know a good few whistle players whom I would rate higher as masters of their chosen music and for being more emotionally expressive, for being greater artists in other words, than James Galway.
I’d have to echo Peter’s sentiments here. Galway is a classicly trained musician - regardless of what he started out playing. He is indeed a great whistle player, but he is NOT the same type of player as many of the other traditional greats of our time. And for anyone who doesn’t think it takes EVERY BIT as much practice, effort, and dedication to play Irish traditional music well, just try uilleann piping for a day, to say nothing of concertinas, fiddles, keyless flutes, etc. etc. For those of us who play for the enjoyment of it, you’ll hear it the instant a note is sounded. Big difference from classical style. That isn’t to say that classical musicians don’t enjoy what they do, but I have never seen a group of two hundred orchestral members converge on a pub to “share a concerto or two over a pint”. They play for crowds, conductors, prestiege and in many cases, for money. The motivation is different and it shows in the styles of play I think. (My mother played in the Utah Symphony for years and years, as well as several others throughout California and New Jersey. I also played Clarinet years ago in several smaller local orchestras. I’ve seen it from both ends.)
B~
FYI, you can often find classical musicians playing in small chamber groups, consorts, and instrument choirs for the love of it, often for no audience at all except themselves. It is rare that any money is charged at all to listen to such a gathering–and many times some teaching is involved as well, also usually for no charge.
–James
Hi James,
I’ve never seen these “free” gatherings in my experience. While it is true that you will sometimes come across the occasional recital, or smaller group ensembles, it’s certainly rare fare - and those that I’ve seen have always charged some sort of fee - usually a fund raiser for some event or another. I would love to see more free concerts and events with our local symphonies in the west here though. While it isn’t my choice to play, I love listening to well played classical concerts. Here’s to the musicians if they are able to offer this type of event now.
Claudine wrote: There is a lot more in classical music than in any kind of folk music. It’s like comparing cottages to cathedrals.
Folk music has been played for centuries longer than any form of classical music and I fully believe there are far more musicians who play traditional music than classical world-wide. The difference being that many who play traditional music are usually not going to be seen in a concert hall, or perhaps outside of their own living room. As for “cottages and cathedrals” You’re actually comparing the venues and not the music itself. Where it’s played to me has little to no bearing on the quality of the musicians playing the music. Given the choice, I would SO much rather hear a solo act or group of thre or four amazing musicians in a pub, club, or small concert hall as opposed to a group of a hundred plus playing a stadium.
Anyway, happy holidays.
B~
Actually, I and many classical musicians I know love to get together to play, often at one of our homes, normally without an audience, or with friends and/or family members. We do it just for the love of it. If you haven’t seen it, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not going on regularly. (I also play for pay in a small professional orchestra).
There are also classical music clubs all over the U.S. where musicians get together, usually once a month and play for each other. Guests are normally welcome to attend these clubs. In my home city of Tulsa, there are free classical music concerts all over town, normally solo or small group. My orchestra plays a couple free concerts each year.
BTW, I’m learning whistle (and wanting to learn Irish flute), again just for the love of it. I’ve been listening a lot, and also have the new Grey Larsen book. However, when I play, I blend trad style with a bit of classical flavor. Why? I like it better that way. Again, I’m doing this for my own enjoyment, not necesarily for the approval of trad players.
Dana 
Edited to add smilie!
Don’t be so angry. I understand that most people on this board love folk music and many of them detest classical music. I do not think that Mary Bergin is a “tootler” and I believe that Matt Molloy is a genius.
But if you say folk music has been played for centuries longer than classical, then you should explain how you define that word. If you think classical is just the Haydn-Mozart-Beethoven period, your statement may be correct. But if one accepts a larger meaning for that word, you will see that the so-called classical music has a very long tradition too. How far shall we go back? Bach, Monteverdi, Guillaume de Machault, Ecole de Notre-Dame or Gregorian Chant? To the beginnings of polyphony? To the age when the oldest documents of written music were created? There are at least 1000 years of documented “classical” music tradition. I am not a musicologist, other members will be more qualified to explain the details.
When I speak about cottages and cathedrals I am not thinking about the venues but about the complexity of the musical structure: the difference between a Bach fugue and a jig, or a Beethoven symphony and a reel. There’s just more food for the brain in the fugue although the jig may be more enjoyable for many.
As about playing for money or for fun. All professional musicians play for money, the Chieftains as well as the Berliner Philharmoniker. And all amateurs play for fun or they won’t play at all.
Well, now you’ve got something to look for!
If Texarkana has 'em (and it does), then I’d bet money Salt Lake City has a few to be found.
–James