I picked this whistle up today at a Christmas Market in Siegen Germany, I got it because it looked intersting, and I was unable to go to Ireland which I had expected to… so i had to make up for it somewhat . Anyhow, I have no idea what kind it is. It sounds strange, even to my very inexperienced ears. I dont know how to post a sound clip, but here are some pics.
This is it next to my Dixion low d, for size comparison
the holes dont look like they are spaced like an irish whistle, but I have no idea
The fipple… the holes and the fipple are on oposite sides of the tube.
end view.
if you want some more pics I can put some more up.
it cost about 10$ I most likely got ripped off, and got some junk toy, but it looks interesting
I’ve seen these here and there on ebay, and at a couple of import stores (one in California, one in Honolulu). They do have a unique sound, and those I tried varied widely in tuning.
wow… Bali, cool
I checked the tuning. Open it plays G, then on down F, E, D, C#, B, A. At least i think so. It is very loud, and I can really ‘lean’ into it before it will go to the second octave. half holeing is tricky. it tends to squeak a lot, but that may be just my inexperience. its breath requirements arent much different from my low d, but as I only own my low d and this whistle, I cant really give you any other comparison.
I bought one like it from a gift shop in Duluth, Minnesota several years ago. The tone is great but has no real scale to it. Great for mood or improvation. Some of the squeeks and buzzing can be smoothed out.
Pull the ring off and look at the surface under it next to the square hole.
By now it should be raised up and not smooth from moisture. Let it dry and than gently sand it smooth. Can’t find smooth sand paper then use a fingernail emery board. Sand it softly it will not take much. Than play it some more and it will raise again. Dry and sand. Should stay flat and smooth after the second or third time.
It can also be played like a flute without the ring on it. Shape your lower lip next to the edge where the hole is and blow. If you have played a flute before it will come to you right away.
Once in a great while you run across a really awesome looking one of wood, carved to look like a dragon. Bought one on eBay for like $25 for my birthday last year…either it plays very poorly or I’m just too much of a novice to make music with it yet. As a bonus, it came with another of carved wood, with a demonic face at the bottom; plays a bit less roughly. Quite a bit of a breathy sound to it as opposed to a recorder or ocarina. Nice folk art for display, tho’.
. Anyhow, I have no idea what kind it is. It sounds strange, even to my very inexperienced ears. I dont know how to post a sound clip, but here are some pics.
Nice folk art for display, tho’. 