Hey guys
This really perplexes me. I just last week got a chieftain low A and was trying to learn how to play along with Lunasa’s ‘Heaton Chapel’ on the CD “Other World” and although the liner notes indicate that a Low A was used, it seems to me that since the lowest notes cannot be obtained on a normal low A, that a BASS A was used actually. Ive even tried playing it on my Low D, but it still wont go that low.
Any suggestions?
Yeah, when a flute player says he used a “Low A” whistle, he’ll usually mean a Bass A whistle.
Technically speaking, what most here on the message board would call a Low A, is really a Mezzo-Soprano A I believe.
Better start saving your money for another whistle 
Loren
Loren
Thanks, this is what I have suspected all along! Evidently they play the first few measures in the 2nd octave (sounding identical to the first octave of my “low A” and then for the lowest notes down to the first octave.
I was having the same problem too. I would try to play that song on my D but it wouldnt go low enough. I’m glad that this matter has been cleared up. 
On 2002-08-28 19:48, Loren wrote:
Technically speaking, what most here on the message board would call a Low A, is really a Mezzo-Soprano A I believe.
This is the second time I’ve seen this term used, and I’m puzzled as to where it is coming from. Wouldn’t alto A be a more sensible designation than mezzo-soprano? I can’t recall ever hearing mezzo-soprano applied to any instrument before, whereas alto is quite standard. And assuming you’re taking the standard D whistle as soprano, the A whistle we’re talking about has the exact same relationship to it as the alto sax (Bb) does to the soprano sax (Eb).
On 2002-08-28 20:45, Tradgirl wrote:
I was having the same problem too. I would try to play that song on my D but it wouldnt go low enough. I’m glad that this matter has been cleared up. >
Youre right Sis! I just got a reply from David S who has the REAL Low A, a Bass A that I showed you in the pic before buying the Low F from him.
My music dictionary says that “mezzo” means half loud, ie., with restrained volume of tone. It also says: “See mezzo-soprano.”
All I do know, is what the license plate boarder said, and that’s “Never argue with a soprano.” So what did I do? I married one!
JP
Edit:
Wow, that’s post number 300 for me!
You people who have many more posts than that MUST read, type, and think very fast.
[ This Message was edited by: JohnPalmer on 2002-08-29 01:21 ]
How in the world would you reach fingerholes on a bass A whistle? How big are these monsters?
Well, I may be throwing a wrench into all of this… 
The whistle Sean Smyth uses isn’t a Bass A, it’s a Bass Bb. It came up in a very short chat I had with him after the concert tonight.
As far as fingering a Bass A, I have no trouble doing it in a piper’s grip, though there isn’t a prayer I could do it with fingertips, even though that’s how I play Low-D. The big problem is the amount of reach you need in order to get your right hand into position without pushing the fipple end through the back of your mouth.
On 2002-08-30 02:14, msheldon wrote:
The whistle Sean Smyth uses isn’t a Bass A, it’s a Bass Bb. It came up in a very short chat I had with him after the concert tonight.
Yes, but Sean isn’t playing whistle on Autumn Child/Heaton Chapel. It’s John McSherry playing a low (ie bass) A.
On 2002-08-30 08:34, colomon wrote:
Yes, but Sean isn’t playing whistle on Autumn Child/Heaton Chapel. It’s John McSherry playing a low (ie bass) A.
Ah, just noticed that in the notes, sorry 'bout that.
The interesting bit was a comment from Sean that he though most Bass A whistles did not sound very good.
I have both an A and a bass A whistle from Colin Goldie. They are superb.
Chris