Photos from the Chiff Gathering

[Joseph_E_Smith]

@Tyler Morris

What would really be cool is if we could, in a couple years time maybe, do a big national Chiffers Gathering (one in the US, one in the UK perhaps?).

I agree, if we could get everyone commited to something along the lines of two international Chiff Gatherings I’d do my level best to attend… after having done my level best to save up for the traveling involved.

[DCrom]

@The Weekenders

@Brewster

Where are the whistles? I didn’t see many, although Redwolf has a promising stash on the end table next to her.

What types of whistles made their way to the gathering?

That’s funny, now that I think of it. At the whistle parties at Tony’s, further north, there are usually a ton of whistles of every make laid out on the kitchen table.

We were too busy playing at this one to do the classic swap and try thing.

Also, some regulars bailed on the event at the last minute so it was a smaller crowd.

Eskin had a few out but like I said, we were so busy playing that we forgot to ooh and aah. I sorta remember some various flutes being swapped around. I tried to sell one Burke, but only half-heartedly as we were having fun.

As I recall, there were Burkes, a Copeland or two, Jerry tweaked Gen and perhaps a few more…

None of the pix showed me playing whistle, though i did play a fair bit. I made a point to bring both guitar and guitar-banjo this time because usually there are so many whistles that it’s just more interesting to play something else for the standard tunes..

Guess we need more newbs.

That would be me But I spent more time playing flute, and even more time listening.

The stash next to Redwolf was mine - some of my favorites that I thought might interest people. It included Oak D, Feadog D, Humphrey (C & D), Syn D, Serpent (A & F), Chieftain A, Howard Low D, and my Jon C flute (medium holed R & R model in Delrin).

[Redwolf]

Mine were in cases on the hearth there. I only played my Burke, though. With Wiley the singing poodle at home, I don’t get as much practice time on the whistle as I used to…I’ve got to start getting back to the sessions!

Redwolf

[TonyHiggins]

I brought a few whistles to show people, but never got them out of the backpack. The very first gathering we had a few years ago, trying whistles took up the first hour or two. I remember nonplayers looking on with bemused looks. I also remember the glee from people trying all these different whistles. It was like watching wine tasters.
Tony

[DCrom]

@TonyHiggins

I brought a few whistles to show people, but never got them out of the backpack. The very first gathering we had a few years ago, trying whistles took up the first hour or two. I remember nonplayers looking on with bemused looks. I also remember the glee from people trying all these different whistles. It was like watching wine tasters.
Tony

It was a lot of fun, too. Though a great disappointment to learn that no matter what wonderful whistle I tried at the end I still sounded like . . . me.

I think the difference this time around was that we had a smaller and more experienced group - less back-and-forth because most people already were familiar with the majority of the available whistles. I think Kathy and I were the least experienced players present, and we did do a bit of back-and-forth early on, but it died down when the real music started.

Another possible factor was that this time around almost everyone knew one another - a show-and-tell session is a great way to get past that early social awkwardness.