They are like listening to a live radio broadcast of great musicians (that you wished would be on a radio show, anyway), with Phil as the DJ, and he giving bits of information about the players and also the whistles when he knows, before and after each new clip.
Some isn’t strictly trad, just in case that’s all you listen to, but lots of good music to hear, and for free! It also lets you get to know some people you haven’t heard, and some you’ll probably find you want to hear more of after listening. Lots of low whistle, and that’s my bag, but some high whistle too. But also lots of other instruments besides whistle and flute-certainly a mix that isn’t boring or one-sided! (edited to add)
If you like what you hear (or have other suggestions what you would like to hear) tell Phil in an email-no doubt he’d appreciate the feedback after all that work he put into it for us whistlers. Enjoy!
unfortunately the media on his site loads extremely slowly, unlike youtube does for me. I have to bring them up then leave them to sit for quite a bit of time in order for them to load.
Before when I was on a dial-up internet connection, it loaded extremely slowly for me too. Now that I have high speed, it does load slowly still (I do have an old computer!), but it’s much better than before. Not as quick as Youtube, no. But I figure it this way-it’s free, and it’s there for our enjoyment, so I work around it too-and it’s worth the wait for me.
I’m going back on there now, to continue with the webcasts!
Great suggestion!, SirC, and I’ve been doing that recently, thanks. Lots of music to discover, and so little time! This website opens a new world of music to many who want to learn and hear different takes on music, from so many sources.
Phil Hardy is to be congratulated with putting the effort out there, and bringing the music to us as we want. Back to the webcasts now for me-and I’m hearing people I’ve heard about but not listened to because of it, so I’m really enjoying the new musical experiences. I should have switched to high speed internet a long time ago, but am grateful I finally gave in and got in the groove! ; )
Egad, I might even conceivably download music in the near future too! But I’m still stuck in CD mode, though learning I don’t have to stay there now! Great time for music, no doubt!
I didn’t really like most of what was on the earlier ones. A few good parts here and there, but most of it I did not like.
However, after listening to the Sylvain Barou tracks on some of the later few of them, I immediately bought his album. I loved what I was hearing since the first track. Webcast 12 and 15 each contain a good track from his album. I highly recommend it, if you don’t mind straying away from full-on traditional type stuff a tad!
The album is very varied, almost seeming like completely different stuff on each track, but the two tracks they have on the webcasts are two of my favourites from the album! I’m definitely glad I was patient enough to weed through all the junk on those webcasts and ended up finding some material that I really liked very much!
Again, there’s some good stuff on the webcasts, here and there. However, some of it is just a bit too kenny G/The Little Mermaid for my liking. Most of the few things I actually liked on the webcasts were things I already was familiar with, or have on my computer. Not all, though!
I’m definitely glad I was patient enough to weed through all the junk
One man’s junk is another man’s junque!
Even if some tunes aren’t my cuppa, I can still appreciate the musicianship if it is good. I once spent an entire evening listening to a sax player play his heart out, and it’s really not my music, but it was one of the best musical performances and experiences of my life.
Still, I hadn’t heard many people on Phil’s webcasts, so I’m grateful for the exposure and some very good music as well.
Now, that is interesting! Usually it seems Youtube is quicker for most; but I have no idea why-but then I’m not a computer geek, I just hang around mine a lot!
But I’m still stuck in CD mode, though learning I don’t have to stay there now! Great time for music, no doubt!
