What do people consider to be the louder low Ds? I’m thinking of something that I might be able to play with a congregation of maybe 100-150 people singing and have it still be heard. Am I dreaming? I love Hoover’s whistles, but assume his low D (e.g. the whitecap AL) would be too quiet. How is the Alba tunable low D on volume? Or should I just use a high D?
On a related note, if anyone else has led larger groups of people using a whistle, do you tend to strip out most of the ornaments so you’re better heard?
The loudest low D I’ve personally played is an Alba non-tunable. I think I’d still amplify it, myself, but depending where you are in the musicians and singers, you might be heard okay. If you want to borrow mine to try it, drop me an email.
serpent
Yeah, dreamin’: even LOUD high D, maybe, maybe not.
Or play a shriek, unbalanced low D only in high register
Seriously, take your usual low D, and amplify. Even loud low D are hardly getting through a standard session, so against 100-150 throats? Even if you count the usual ratio of 2 out of three don’t actually sing, but just flip their lips fish-like, get a mike!
Howard is pretty loud. Mack Hoover can make a loud one for you, probably. But the problem is, it will never cut through as much as a high D; you will probably need amplification. Get a small condenser mic and attach it with tape or velcro just after the window, and you’re in business! Get one of the little pignose portable amps, and you’re the loudest whistler walking!
I have designs on the Microvox mini-swan neck I think it’s called (not the standard swan neck). Made specifically for whistles and flutes and attaches to the wearable preamp Stacey mentioned. Same problem - drowned out Low Ds.
My darling, when you do finally chime in, you are the loudest of the lot. Wasn’t my shameless plug for your whistles enough? Heck, I even offered to lend him mine! Tell you what - you send me one with the mic attached, and I’ll loan that to him! (yeah… think about it.. )
Cheers,
serp
Stacey obviously works on a droned whistle. Fifth-tuned, like. It may take a couple years and a dozen score prototypes, but I trust the lass she’ll stun us with the outcome! Go for it, Stace’ !
I’ve been trying for a while to find the amplified red@rder i had in mind. I found this one, by Philippe Bolton:
I know there are more, but as you can imagine, “recorder” is not an easy thing to Google for (word has more than one meaning). THis maker has alto, tenor and bass versions. I think it’s really just a hole in the head, where you can screw a specially mounted microhone or, if you want to go accoustic, a wooden plug.
