With the relative scarcity of O’Riordans, and the high price they usually go for when put up for auction, I’m resigned to the fact that I’ll probably never have one, and quite possibly, given that I live far away from any real centers of whistle making and playing, I may never hear one in person (only on CD).
If I go for the next best thing–the sound–what whistles approach them in sound, tone, volume, etc.? I remember reading that Greenwoods are very similar in construction. How about in other aspects? Are there other whistles? High keys? Low keys?
I’ve only tried a couple of wooden O’Riordans. Playing-wise, the Greenwood is definitely very similar. Similar breath requirements, feel, and volume. Sound-wise, I’d say Susatos and Roses are similar.
I’ve got a bunch of the Travelers (black anodized aluminum), but have never played the wooden ones. The Travelers in high D and C could be considered loud (not negative, just a bit high on the comparative volume scale), and are quite pure and clear and full in tone. The Low D is moderate in volume as you’d expect from a Low D and pretty much the same in tonal qualities. The low G is a little freaky. Moderate in volume with the most heavenly angelic sweet tone - it’s clear and pure yet has some unique quality that I can’t describe in any other words. Haunting, but sweet…I give up - Suffice it to say that the G is my favorite.
Other whistles that sound the same? For high D and C, maybe Silkstone alloy? I don’t have one handy anymore, but Jessie or someone else who has played both could tell you if that’s so or close at least with respect to the Travelers.
The Silkstone C I have doesn’t even vaguely resemble my O’Riordan Traveller C. (And for that matter, a Susato doesn’t sound much like a Traveller, though they do have somewhat similar playing characteristics.)
Hey Colomon, thanks for the Silkstone info. I had a D and C a long time ago, but sold them. Fine whistles, just didn’t particularly suit me at the time. There was also some physical discomfort with the D - I think two of the top tone holes felt too close together for me or something…
We were out your way recently, visiting U of Mich in Ann Arbor. We loved it there - one of our favorite cities on this cross country college tour. When I said it was the most beautiful, my daughter (as always) corrected me, saying: “It’s not the MOST beautiful, but definitely the COOLEST (not temperature) city we’ve been to.”
I completely agree, the Greenwood high D is about as close as you’re going to get to an O’Riordan in terms of sound and response. I used to have both and the Greenwood had a very slightly lower backpressure compared to my O’Riordan, but otherwise was nearly identical.
That may be true of the Greenwood/O’R Concert whistle comparison. Not true of the Greenwood/Traveler comparison though. I had both (only O’Riordan now). The O’Riordan has a much tighter, cleaner, purer sound. I actually got goosebumps and started shivering the first time I played my O’R high D. I am sure some of that was the mystic nature that has surrounded these whistles for some time, but I also know part of it was the amazingly clean sound it made.
From what I have READ the Rose blackwood is the only other whistle that would come close to the O’Riordan (and maybe even exceed it) for that sort of sound.
Steven, I think you got sidetracked and forgot to indicate which sort of O’Riordan you’re talking about for the second half of that message. Though I take it the general gist is that the Greenwood is like the Concert rather than the Traveller? I had wondered about that. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the Concert I tried years ago – it’s Traveller all the way for me.
PhilO, you should have bopped by and had some tunes. A^2 is indeed a wonderful place to live, and the U was a great place to go to school.
My take on IDAwHOa’s post was that he’s never tried an O’Riordan Concert (thus “That may be true” at the beginning), but that the comparison of a Greenwood and his O’Riordan Traveler was not accurate.
The Rose and O’Riordan’s are pretty different beasts to my ear and fingers. Not really similar in tone at all - but both with their own niceties about them. The Greenwood is as close as it comes to that quintessential O’Riordan sound many look for but just about all acounts I’ve heard.
I used to own a Rose and wood O’Riordans and found them to be very similar in sound. The O’Riordan, I thought was more stable, less likely to chirp unexpectedly. I’ve never played a Greenwood. The attraction of the O’Riordan (beyond the hype) is it’s purity of sound- no breathiness at all. That pretty much describes the Rose sound from the one I had.
I sold/traded them all because I don’t like pure sounding whistles. I have an Abell blackwood d I wouldn’t let go of. It’s got a great tone and some breathiness. It’s also a very stable playing whistle. Just so you know where I’m coming from, I mostly play a Freeman tweaked Generation because it has the most ‘traditional tin whistle’ sound. For a metal whistle that’s very pure, the Cillian O’Briain tweaked Generation is one. It takes a very delicate, careful breath control, however.
(Switching the same head between the O’Riordan wood and metal tubes, it’s obvious that the tube material effects the sound. There’s a different ‘color’ to their purity.)
Tony
In it he says: “The Burke tone reminds me a great deal of the O’Riordan whistles. I have written about how much I love O’Riordan’s work. I prize no whistles more than my O’Riordans. Yet, I am not sure how I would do in a blindfold test, trying to pick out Burke vs. O’Riordan. Burke takes a more functional approach in choice of materials. But the tone is very much like O’Riordan. Full, round, pure.”
Do those of you who have expereience with both Burkes and O’Riordans in the lower keys agree?
We have had Burkes as well and Renee did not like the sound of them. The O’Riordan she likes and has said would sould be quite upset if I tried to sell it. The Burke was gone in short order. They may approach the sound, but there is still something missing (or extra) that makes them different enough to be, well, different.
The thing to recognize here is that review is relatively ancient – notice the blurb at the end saying he’s just started to make metal whistles! – and doesn’t represent Burke’s current whistles at all. My impression is that his whistles started out more like O’Riordans, or perhaps Schultzes, and have long since wandered off in a different direction.
My experience with Burke low whistles is pretty limited (just tried A and low D), but it suggests they are very different than the O’Riordan Travellers I know and love. The low D Burke, in particular, is much easier to play than the Traveller low D, but has a much blander sound.
Thanks, Steve and colomon. These are helpful and insightful observations. I’ve got a Burke composite G that I like a great deal Maybe someone who just hates their O’Riordan will be willing to trade. That, and I’m also willing to trade someone my Susato C for a good Abell C.
Seriously, it seems that a number will agree that the Greenwood, while it may not be the same in all respects. at least approaches the sound. But this is in the higher keys and, as far as I know, there aren’t low Greenwoods being made and put up for sale.
If Pat O’Rioridian isn’t taking new orders, one could only wish that some able and willing whistle maker could fill that place in the market by trying to make something similar in the lower keys. I’m guessing there is no apprentice here–no Bernard and Colin for these, right? Sad enough. I suppose I’ll have to be content with listening to Joanie Madden CDs.
The Burke was gone in short order. They may approach the sound, but there is still something missing (or extra) that makes them different enough to be, well, different. 