Earlier this evening i phoned Bernard to thank him for the alto G whistle that he has recently made to order for me.I actually received this instrument nearly five weeks ago,but i have had very little time to play it due to a family problem(my mother has had very debilitating treatment for cancer recently,and has required a lot of family care,but, is hopefully,over the worst).Anyway- this instrument just oozes ‘character’!It has quite a bit of chiff(which i love!)and responds well to tongueing.As a bit of an aside,when i spoke to Colin Goldie recently when i chose my ‘low F’ whistle from him,we talked a little about his relative(don’t ask me how close)Packie Manus Byrne,his playing style and his playing of Overton whistles(he’s playing an alto ‘G’ on the album’Donegal and back’).Colin mentioned that the oft quoted unwritten law that tongueing is rarely used in Irish trad. whistling doesn’t always hold true,and illustrated this point by playing me the jig 'Forgetting the lesson’from said album,in a fairly stacatto style.As other people have previously mentioned,i think that this particular Overton whistle responds well to ‘forceful’ playing,ie;-don’t be too timid,and you’ll get the best from it!The most obvious difference between the two whistles is the fact that Bernard doesnt bevel the fingerholes;however they are still comfortable to play and seal easily.I am still very much at the exploratory stage with this instrument(as well as the C.G. ‘F’ received on tues.)but i am certainly very pleased with my purchase!
Welcome to the Bernard Overton owners club Kevin. The instrument you describe could well be my low G.
Hi Wombat,thanks for the welcome-i suppose you must be honourary vice- president of Bernard’s fan club(if i remember rightly,Phil Brown of 'Big whistle music’beats you to the presidential chair with his collection of “around 13 Overtons”)!You’ve probably listed them before,but just out of personal interest,what are the EIGHT ‘Bernard’ Overtons that you own(not that i’m jealous or anything!)?
On 2002-10-21 14:21, kevin m. wrote:
Hi Wombat,thanks for the welcome-i suppose you must be honourary vice- president of Bernard’s fan club(if i remember rightly,Phil Brown of 'Big whistle music’beats you to the presidential chair with his collection of “around 13 Overtons”)!You’ve probably listed them before,but just out of personal interest,what are the EIGHT ‘Bernard’ Overtons that you own(not that i’m jealous or anything!)?
13 beats me, Kevin. So does Loren with 12 I think. Mine are all BO-made so nine might be some sort of record but I doubt it. Going down they’re Eb, D, C, Bb, A, low G, low F, low Eb, low D. I like all of them. An Australian retailer imports them but little else that’s high-end. But once I started buying them I quickly found that I liked them so it just spread from there. There can be advantages if you’re recording layered whistles in having whistles that match for tone, chiff etc. Sometimes you’d probably prefer not to have a perfect match so I’m trying out other high-end whistles like Grinter, Copeland, Burke and Sindt. Still love the Overtons though.
VERY nice collection,Wombat(drool!).It will probably take me a couple of years to catch up,but you,ve got quite a start on me!
On 2002-10-22 02:28, kevin m. wrote:
VERY nice collection,Wombat(drool!).It will probably take me a couple of years to catch up,but you,ve got quite a start on me!
Without enquiring about your bank balance or divulging mine, you have a distinct advantage in terms of price. The $A is on the weak side, to put it mildly. It means you do very well if you import Aussie stuff so, when the pounds add up—you are still on pounds aren’t you or have you gone over to euros?—a Grinter will be relatively cheap. Relatively; it still won’t be cheap. Just add the keys that you need gradually and you’ll be happy. If you want everything at once, you can always get Susatos to be going on with while you save up for Overtons etc. Cheers.
On 2002-10-20 16:33, kevin m. wrote:
i have had very little time to play it due to a family problem(my mother has had very debilitating treatment for cancer recently,and has required a lot of family care,but, is hopefully,over the worst).
How is your mother doing?
Kim
Hi Kim,Thanks for your concern(I was surprised to see this old thread re-appear).Mum had 30 sessions of radio-therapy and two of chemo. for cancer of the larynx,which left her very debilitated.A side effect of the treatment is that the nerves to her arms have been affected(not a side affect she had expected)We don’t know how permanent any nerve damage is-Physio. sessions started two weeks ago.Mum goes for a monthly check up on her throat,and the prognosis seems pretty hopeful,though I wouldn’t say we’re ‘out of the woods’ yet(are you ever,once cancer has been diagnosed?).Larynx cancer came as quite a shock as my mum hasn’t smoked for 40 years(she’s 66),and has never drank,-just the 'luck of the draw’I suppose. The family helped out where we could because my father has been ill for years with severe Emphysemia(amonst other complaints)and my mother has had to provide almost constant care for him.Mums a fighter though! I’ve posted to Richard,as I have some inkling of what he is going through.
Kevin, the best of luck to you and your family in these continuing trials.
And, this is as good a place to say it as any, good luck rbm.
Well, I sure do wish the best for your mother! You’re a good son.
And yes, special thoughts for Richard today.
Kim
Thanks for the support Wombat,to both Richard and my family.Gosh,Kim,you’re comments are making me come across all bashful 