I’ve been a lurker on this board for sometime, and have decided to come out of the closet and say hello.
I’ve been learning the whistle for about a year and a half now (my esteemed teacher is a regular contributer to this forum), and it’s been a constant source of enrichment in my life in many ways. I took it up as a sort of bereavement therapy after my “better half” passed away a bit more than 2 years ago. In pursuit of trying to better myself at playing, I have learned so much about Traditional Music and Dance, as well as Irish Culture, Geography, History and Literature. It’s become quite a full time hobby, that has brought many interesting new friends in my life, and has even afforded me the opportunity of visiting Ireland recently.
Anyways, I’m still struggling hard to get better at playing, but these things take time when you start playing music late in life, But I’m hoping to do the best I can do, and hoping to do justice to the tunes. The sounds files that many of you have posted on “Clips and Snips” have been quite valuable in my education, as have your topics and advice that have been posted.
That’s it for now. Happy Holiday weekend to all American members, and talk to you soon.
I have the usual assortment of low end whistles: Generation, Clarke, Walton, Clare, Feadog and a wide bore Susato, that I still can’t play on properly(too shy still to play that LOUD), but my favorite is my most recently acquired one, the O’Briain Improved D. It has a nice chiffiness to it, isn’t too loud, and plays sweet in the upper octave. I love the sound of a B flat, but still have trouble stretching my lowest finger that far down.
I love playing polkas (I’m a polkaholic), jigs and slow airs. I’m still not very confident on reels, but I’m getting there slowly.
When I was in Ireland recently, I picked up a CD of Carmel Gunning (whistle player and singer from Sligo). I just love her style and settings, and she plays all her tunes on cheap whistles, and they sound just lovely, and so earthy. I highly recommend her. I also love Finbar Furey’s style, and am also a big fan of Mike McGoldrick and of course my idol Matt Molloy, on the flute can’t be beat (IMHO). As for non-whistle specific musicians, I enjoy the Pogues, Christy Moore, and the fiddling of Kevin Burke.
I play in weekly slow session with other students of ITM in a local pub, and from time to time , our teachers will sit in with us , and help us get really cooking.
Hi Iolanthe,Welcome aboard!
You seem to be in the right place-good teacher,nice slow session to attend-and now ‘Chiff and Fipple’!
I have both of Carmel’s albums,and she is pictured on the sleeves of both bearing a trusty old Generation!(It must say something to us WHOA afflicted individuals-I just choose not to listen! ).
).