So who knows? Mary seems to have a strange facination with this whistle/key. It’s all over her CDs and seems to beat out all the other keys combined. Does anyone know if she’s got an affinity for a special whistle in this key? I know she plays (or played when the CDs were made) Generations almost exclusively. My Gen. Eb is OK but doesn’t sound quite as good as hers. I’ve got a D and an F that do though.
Just curious I guess.
B~
Actually I think Matt Molloy has the same/greater Eb fascination. All except 1 track in his debut album are in Eb, and his subsequent albums all have a generous smattering of Eb flute playing.
[ This Message was edited by: Eldarion on 2002-03-14 22:08 ]
My Gen. Eb is OK but doesn’t sound quite as good as hers.
Must be the whistle. 
Cheers,
Jens
Jens -
LOL Well said! You may or may not remember a series of commercials for either Nike or Reebok (I can’t remember) in which some incredible, famous basketball player performed superhuman leaps to slam dunk the ball. At the end of the commercial it said “It must be the shoes”, as if that’s what really matters. I think you summed things up quite nicely with your little post
Chris
In all seriousness, Eb is the second most popular key for sessions, and was at some time (and maybe still) the most popular in certain parts of Ireland. StevieJ and Peter can probably add something to this (I haven’t got any of my references around), but I think fiddlers liked to tune their fiddles up a notch to give them a brighter tone, though it has been suggested that this may have been to match the pitch of the accordions being played in the area, which may not be easily tuned.
Gavin Whelan plays almost entirely in Eb on his album, as does Matt Molloy on several albums, I think Dervish prefers Eb as well… the list goes on. One final reason for whistle players playing in Eb is that the Generation Eb whistles are generally better.
Hopefully others will be able to add/correct what I have said.
Best,
Chris
The more you give the more there is.
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-03-15 14:02 ]
The original commercial was with Michael Jordan and Spike Lee. Spike kept saying, “Man, it’s gotta be the shoes!” and Michael would respond, “It’s not the shoes.” Very funny.
Several De Dannan tracks are also in Eb, for example on their Ballroom CD. I think it’s and accordion thing.
There you go Bloomfield. Thanks 
I clearly have not watched enough TV in my lifetime. Hmm… let’s see, if I’m 23 now and I’m meant to live until about 77 then I have 54 (give or take) years to catch up on all the quality programming of which I was deprived in my childhood.
Best,
Chris
Chris, that thing came out in the eighties, when I was still watching. In the meantime I have weaned myself from the tube, I don’t even have one anymore. I miss the sports sometimes, but nothing else.
Cheers,
Elliot “It’s Gotta Be The Whistle” Bloomfield
Bloomfield, we’ll make a deal. We’ll hook our brains together and transfer all the TV you watched as a child to my brain and all the TV I’ve watched while unemployed to your brain. It’ll be a great deal for both of us. Just to make it worth your while, I’ll throw in Guiness Black Whistle on the side and you can have any memories I have of the Titanic theme song, Michael Flatley, or the Star Wars Christmas Special.
Chris
The more you give the more there is.
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-03-15 11:32 ]
Damn, Chris, would you be offended if I declined the kind offer? It’s the Titanic/Michael Flately recollections I can’t handle. BTW, I am looking to sell my Gaelic Storm CD. Interested? 
Hmmm… Gaelic Storm? I don’t know, I’m really digging my “Celtic Passion - The Loves Songs of Roy Orbison” CD right now and I’m afraid Gaelic Storm might distract me from it. Plus, I hate the “pure drop” crap… all the tunes sound the same, the fiddles are screechy, the pipes are out of tune, they only play Generation whistles, and they don’t know how to use synthesizers or drum machines. Still, Gaelic Storm isn’t as bad as, say, Seamus Ennis. At least they use didjeridoo and djembe sometimes and afterall, they do play some damn good polkas. I like polkas, it’s just all those reels and jigs that drive me nuts!
Best,
Chris
And I was hoping you’d also buy my “Celtic Moods - Jigs And Reels Played on the Andean Panflute”-CD. It has some great synth overlays, and El Condor Pasa played as a slip jig.
Dude,
I already told you, I can’t stand reels and jigs, even on the Andean panflute. Perhaps you have some Enya or the Corrs for me?
Chris
The more you give the more there is.
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-03-15 12:06 ]
So? I’m waiting for an answer here! Don’t keep me in suspense.
Chris
Solas rules! Long Live Rock & Reel! Seamus is just as at home with a Stratocaster as with a whistle, and Dee Scanlon is adorable!
(Shameless troll. Let’s see what you guys do with this one!)
Ok, ok, I was out to lunch. I still am but that is a different matter. So, I’ll trade you my Enya CD for RD Video. And can you throw in a M Flatley interview? Oh, and some cullers. Mmmmmm… cullers.
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-03-15 14:51 ]
We have a deal!
I also have Ravi Shankar’s semininal recording of the Bucks of Oranmore to sell. Any takers?
No interest, but if there’s any way you can arrange to have Anoushka Shankar http://www.anoushkashankar.com/ delivered to me I will be willing to give you all my Yanni CDs in return.
How about I keep Anoushka, and you keep those Yanni CDs. Man, I gotta run.