I’ve been incorporated as a free agent, more or less, into the church choir as whistle player when suitable. I recently did a classical interlude between the singing parts. (Rejoice In The Lord Alway by HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695) A little strange for me, but it worked- mainly due to the excellent direction of the choir director who gave great cues for when I was to jump in. Otherwise, my daydreaminess would have wrecked it.
Anyway, I was asked if I knew any Irish spiritual type songs (with English language lyrics) that I could do on the whistle that the choir could sing. I don’t. Any suggestions??
As an aside, In November the choir is joining another choir and orchestra to do a benefit concert for New Orleans residents, performing a modern composition, Requiem, by John Rutter. I’m not playing any of the Requiem, but I am doing some slow airs solo on whistle as the choir processes up to the front of the church at the beginning and after intermission. I submitted my own suggestions to the choir director and she liked A Stor mo Chroi, Lament for Limerick, Slieve Geal gCua, Ta Me mo’ Choladh and Eleanor Plunkett. So, I’ll work out two short sets from any of those five melodies (I haven’t tried that yet, so we’ll see.) So, yeah, I’m psyched about that.
Tony
I’ve always wanted to play at a chuch, but I’ve never had the nerve to find one to ask. I’m not a church-going man, per se, but I’d definitely start going if I were playing.
Do churches generally take kindly to strangers asking to play, or would I need to start attending for a while before I asked?
I don’t know of anything that would help you out Tony, but I’m sure someone does. Requiem is a really good piece, though. I heard it on NPR a while back, as I recall.
Tony - these are some of the songs I’ve played whistle with the “contemporary” music group (guitar, piano, singers). These are in a Catholic church, so all are in Gather or other OCP publications:
“Now the Green Blade Rises”
“Sing of the Lord’s Goodness”
There’s another that I can’t think of the name, it uses the music of “Star of County Down” for the tune. added: I remembered the title “Canticle of the Turning”
“All the Ends of the Earth”
There have been others, again, I can’t think of them off the top of my head.
When I play whistle, I use runs or triplets during the half or whole notes as long as they won’t clash with what the piano is doing.
The first time I heard the whistle was on a modern worship song called
Jesus be the Center. It was on a CD called Hungry by the Vinyard.
It started on the guitar, a little intro on the whistle, then the singing started. Later in the song the whistle played some more, then at the end.
The whistle playing was pretty simple. A slide here and there with a cut or two with no vibrato. You could do somthing like that on any song.
Another modern example would be on the Hobbit movie sound track!
I am sure anything you do would be amazing…tasteful, fitting etc.
Tony - just a suggestion, but you might want to ask over on the Praise Whistlers site, too. I know that quite a few C & F folks are over there, including some of our Bay Area gang, but with their focus you’re more likely to get useful pointers. The only real suggestion I can make, since I haven’t been a regular churchgoer in donkey’s years.
Though I think that some of the tunes from A Dossan of Heather would fit - certainly “Ar thaobh na Carraige” sounds like it belongs in church.
Where did Praise Whistler end up? The link I had for it doesn’t work anymore.
I must suggest The Ash Grove as well…several hymns are set to that tune, and it sounds lovely on the whistle. It’s Welsh, not Irish, but certainly Celtic enough
Most of the churches I’ve been to have been happy to have folks pop into the band and/or choir after coming to service once. I’ve been in situations where I’ve met someone in the band who “just started attending.” Generally, they’ve talked to the music minister and he says, “Sure. We practice on (insert day here). Come on out and join us.”
'Course, that spans across my experience with Baptist and Nazarene Independent Christian churches. I can’t speak for any other denominations.
“Blessed be that maid Marie” is a lovely old english carol. Someone posted a sound clip here some time back. I was so impressed it was the first tune I learned by ear.
I eventually found dots and words. How do I post an image here?
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Well, thanks, guys. That gives me a good running start. Of course, I’ll look for the easiest to find first and work up from there. I’ve listened to some cd samples on line, so I have an idea of what’s available. I’ll let you know what I come up with.
Tony
Tony
A good friend of mine, plays for his local church,
to the delight of the other church goers,
( well those with a sence of humour)
he and his associate would play and sing
whiskey on a sunday…during communion of course
also “some say the devils dead”
not that religous
but good fun
dont forget the lord of the dance ( traditional version)
nearer my god to thee( played by the band in the movie titanic, as she sank)
abide with me
the water is wide
Requiem is a really good piece, though. I heard it on NPR a while back, as I recall.