When I bought my Susato Low D about three and a half months ago it was my first whistle. I had no idea how overpriced it was. Seriously, paid 90 Euro for that thing! but that’s NOT what I’m talking about. When I first came to chiff and fipple I heard rumors about whistle players being crazy. I thougth these were simply old wives tales. I was fine for a while, sure people thought I was crazy, practicing the for hours in the middle of the night (don’t worry, I was far away from sleeping people). But nothing major. I’m not sure if even started at that point… being that I’m not sure if a low whistle is even a whistle (note: denial).
when I got home, my mom gave my father’s old tin whistle. Soprano D, nickle tube with a black plastic head. Don’t know what kind it is. This was the first “real” whistle. I started playing it, not liking it much at first, but it slowly grew on me (perhaps “took hold” would be more appropriate).
Eventually, I began to take whistles eveywhere with me. My friends would be enjoying a game of pool, and I’d be off in the corner with the whistle. I took it on canoe rides, to the beach, to poker night…
The next crazy thing actually happened at poker night. We were playing at a guy’s house who kinda runs the local music scene (not difficult in a town of ten thousand). I had my low whistle there. He was off in his room mixing some folk recordings for one of his friends (I mean folk as in pop-folk… like… a guy with an acoustic guitar singing ballads or whatever). He finishes up the rough mix and plays it for us. I whip out the low D and play over a couple bars.
“You’ve gotta’ be joking me”, says he.
Next thing I know, I’m sitting in front of a mic recording an improvised whistle track. Mind you, I suck at the whistle. The only reason it was even possible is because I have the music background, so I kinda know where to stick the notes. At this point I’d been playing about 2.5 months. Long enough to get rid of the squeaks, but not long enough to rock the world by a long shot. Then they are inviting me to come on stage and jam with them at shows. Everyone’s got a fever and the only cure is more whistle.
This, I think that night was what put me over the edge. On the one hand I was a little miffed about the thousands of hours I’d spent practicing guitar, and nobody ever giving a crap, and all I had to do was pull out a more obscure instrument and puff the crowds are at my feet. (exaggeration). On the other hand, basking in the warm glow of whistle glory had me hungery for more.
Last week I was the counselor at a Christian camp. I took the Whistles along. There were team competitions. I never participated. I simply sat by the side and tooted the whistle. When ask what I was doing, without even thinking I replied “casting spells”.
But today, I have finally become one of you. I did my first whistle mod and bid on my first ebay whistle.
I took apart my dad’s whistle, filed the blade a little, sanded the inside a little, filled in that the space with wax… I don’t even know if it sounds better, but I sure do like it more just knowing that I modded it.
as for the ebay whistle, it’s a Clarke Sweetone in C. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7336959284
It’s all over now.
