Youngest daughter and I have been listening to “The Cat Who…” mystery series (by Lilian Jackson Braun) for a while now, and the one we are currently on, “The Cat Who Wan’t There”, has several mentions of the tin whistle… a little bit of its history and fairly accurate introduction to what they are, but nothing in depth and no actual playing, but fun to note anyway.
Anyone else run into mentions of our favorite little stick of holey pipe in fictions, or media other than actual playing or instruction?
Oh… I forgot! One of the ever present supporting characters is a Scotts Chief of Police, who regularly steps out in full regalia, piping in haggis or piping out souls. And there is frequent activity in a Scotts Club.
I’m reading Neverwhere by british author Neil Gaiman. He has
one of his characters play a “pennywhistle” to teach a tune to a
busking sax player in the London Underground. The tune is some
sort of magic spell that makes people give you money. When the
teacher later encounters the busker, it is clear the saxman has
ignored the warning not to overuse the magic tune, because he is
being trampled by commuters who are desperate to give him their
money. The teacher of tunes again pulls out the whistle to teach
the counterspell (countermelody?) which makes the overgenerous
public subside…
…There is little difference between a Renaissance Recorder and a Pennywhistle (other than fingering). You will find a great deal of art,history,book references and research material at this site.
I had to babysit earlier tonight, and while I was watching The Little Mermaid with the kids to my astonishment I realised that Prince Eric plays a pennywhistle! I don’t know how many times I’ve seen that movie and never noticed. Pity he throws it in the ocean.
Anyone happen to know that nice little jig they play on the ship, btw?
There is a mystery by Ridley Pearson called The Pied Piper who kidnaps infants and leaves behind a tin whistle in their cribs.
Also, I read a series of books set in early 1800s about a British naval officer, a genuine rake and lady’s man who frequently plays the tin whistle. Once he even uses it to fend off a saber attack by a mutinous crew member!
Mike
I read a little bit by Benjamin Franklin once where he describes getting a tinwhistle as a child and basically driving his family bonkers with his efforts to learn to play it. I can’t find that passage now though
Ireland, a Bicycle and a Tin Whistle, I read this one last year and it was a really fun book about a mans adventures in Ireland in search of the good music.
One of the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries has him playing a pennywhistle (as part of an assumed role during a case - his own taste leaned heavily towards classical music & he was a skilled pianist).
My books are at home, but I think it was in Murder Must Advertise
