For a long time, I have looked for the notation for a beautiful air “The Dear Irish Boy” with out success. I have managed to learn the bulk of the tune from my very dodgy cassette-tape, but I’m not able to capture all the embellishments and soul of the piece. If anyone would be able to send the music notaion my way, even if it’s just the basic tune, that would be very helpful, if only to confirm that I have the basics right.
Living in Australia does tend to isolate the potential spread of musical skill, knowledge and sharing, so I am hopeful that this forum can help.
(Crouch down and look furtively over right shoulder) "Help me, Oh Whistley-ones! You’re my only hope!
My advice? Stick at it with the tape - and try to get hold of a few other recorded versions as well.
I say this for two reasons - one, you’ll not get the soul of the piece from the dots. And embellishments are a very personal thing and should come naturally from your playing.
The other, very important reason, is that there is no definitive setting of the tune. Every player does it a little differently, and sometimes a lot differently. So the chances of any notated setting matching what you have on tape are exceedingly slim. And in my view it would be a mistake to rely on a printed version over what you hear.
None of those keys are great for the D whistle. The fingering should probably put it in E Dorian on a D whistle. The version I have, from some Mel Bay book, includes a vocal, and requires an A whistle (to match the singing in B Dorian), though the music is written as if for a D whistle (E Dorian).