Hello whistlers!
I found something very interesting that I want to share with you.
I have bee nplaying the Tenor Bb Saxophone for the last 6 years. It is truely one of my favorite instruments and my main instrument since it can go through all kinds of music, it’s a very living instrument. Also, love for jazz and funk brought me to it. However, I always loved irish music, and always wanted to go into it, so one day I tried to pick up a whistle, and as u all know, once you start, u can’t really stop playing the whistle, it’s just that way. So I have been playing the whistle for a couple of monthes, and left the saxophone alone for a bit, because Irish and celtic music seemed a bit more my way. Because the whistle is a Diatonic instrument, and because it’s not the most gentle of instruments, I picked-up the flute too. Now you probably ask yourself:“why is he showing-off like that? does he have a point?”
Well, in fact, I do. After playing the whistle and flute for sometime, I started missing the ol sound of the sax, it’s power and beauty, and aspecially, I missed the instrument I am best at. So I picked it up again, and something was completely different. I seems as though the way I play a saxophone has become more gentle, more warm, more energetic, and a whole lot faster! I love it! it moved me up a level. I have been playing a piece called “Second Suite for Military band” by Gustav Holst, and it has a celtic-like feel in the middle, where the tenor sax has a solo. It’s kinda hard because there are three bemolim(bemol is: b, like ti bemol whould be Bb), But now, after playing the whistle, it’s as easy and flowing as can be. It seems that the more instruments u learn to play, the more you know about other instruments.
That’s all I had to say, responses are more than welcome…
raiden29
I’ve played that piece before on sax (with a woodwind ensemble of course). I really like the beginning. I seem to remember a part where there is a pseudo single jig and the (alto I think) saxphones play the lead. Good piece, Holst does some nice work.
that part, part C of the piece is infact a jig, however, the lead(which is rare in these kinds of pieces) is actually played by the tenor saxophones. respect for tenor!!!
that part, part C of the piece is infact a jig, however, the lead(which is rare in these kinds of pieces) is actually played by the tenor saxophones. respect for tenor!!!
My primary instrument is trumpet, but I, too, enjoy playing the whistle. I’ve found that my trumpet playing made the process of learning the whistle much easier. In fact, many fingerings are the same depending on which note/hand is playing. Now, I’m just trying to remember that I don’t need to attack every note as I would on trumpet.
The Holst suites are two of the mainstays of the wind band repertoire–it doesn’t get much better. One of my favorite band pieces of all time is the Chaconne movement which starts one of the two suites (can’t remember which suite).
I too came to whistle after playing saxophone, mainly tenor. I haven’t gone back though. Sax was briefly my main instrument but I’d have to say guitar has been for most of my life. Whistle definitely isn’t a sax substitute though, I can testify to that. I’m hoping anglo concertina will be though.