Peter Worrell Piccolo

Irish Flute
1

Hello there. So. I’ve been interested in Peter Worrell’s keyed piccolos for some time. I’m especially drawn to the chromatic options that they’d seem to offer; and, one would hope, consistency of tone and intonation. I wonder, then, how playable are they? How easy are they to play in tune? How loud - would they overwhelm a session?

I’m not a wonderful flute player, although I can get something out of most flutes nowadays. I’m making a fairly decent sound with one of Jem’s plastic piccolos, without much work. I’d intend to do more work and to use such a piccolo fairly often.

So. I’d be interested in the experiences of people here. Perhaps any comments would be better made in private messages? Anyway, I’d welcome your feedback.

Diolch!

2

I love my little piccolo made by Jem. But I’ve always been too scared to play it out of the house. Mine makes a huge sound! :astonished:

I have played piccolo in public, but when I do, these days, it’s an old Rudall, Rose & Carte (I think - Jem knows better than me what it is) and I at least can play it a bit quieter than Jem’s one.

I’m just off to Google these 'ere Peter Worrell ones …

3

Yes, my Jemolo (to coin a phrase, like) is rather loud too.

http://www.peterworrell.co.uk/simplesystempiccolo.htm

See if that link works.

4

Thanks. That’s the link, right enough. I found it easy enough by Googling, but always good to put a link up. :thumbsup:

5

Stu Boyd has a Worrell picc, IIRA.

As for my conduit tube thingies, they’re perfectly capable of being played softly/quietly/moderately - by those capable of doing so… :poke: :really: :smiley:

6

Yeah well, I’m capable of curdling milk at a hundred paces with mine. :smiley:

7

You don’t need a piccolo to have that effect… :poke:

8

Who said I was talking about the piccolo? :smiling_imp:

9

I have a keyless Worrell piccolo that I treat like a flute (play in the bottom 2 octaves, and avoid the third. I bought it to play instead of a whistle, and for embouchure training. I find that it is quieter than my Burke brass whistle, and when I play with 3 others, no one complains that it is too loud. I suspect it could be played much louder, but I find it sweet and a nice change from whistles-marches sound more martial.

Hugh

10

Thanks, Hugh. Yes, that’s pretty much what I want out of it. Surprising that it’s quieter than a Burke, but that’s not a bad thing for me. I wouldn’t want to be screaming in a third octave in a session, anyway - it is a bit anti-social!