Hello!
Some days ago I posted the topic ‘Can I sound horrible’ and got many replies. It seems that nobody - apart from the player himself and some very few people - can stand the sound aof a tin whistle - for some strange reason -
But now I got thoroughly irritated!
I was told that the whistle sounds like a recorder and even worse! So I asked if it was because of my playing. They said, it’s the sound of the instrument, not my playing (they do not mind me playing the flute and I’m far from a good player).
Apparently, the whistle sounds like one of those childs instruments, even when it was played by profs and so I got quite uncertain!
I love the sound but I do not want to unnerve the people around me, either.
As I told you before, I play a Clark Sweetone high D and maybe you know a nice tin whistle which won’t annoy my parents and neighbours - I’m not searching for a low whistle, yet^^ -
I’ve had comments like that as well. despite also playing flute I’m still a whistle player first and that’s what I call myself. I grind my teeth at comments like ‘you play the tin whistle? aw, cute!’ I think that anyone who’s heard the whistle played at the highest levels could never say that it’s annoying. within the contect of trad music it sounds wonderful. I’ve never met fellow irish musician who didn’t think the whistle was a real instrument. Whatever they say, I’m a whistle player at heart and, if they want to, they can just plug their ears because i enjoy playing it and I’m the only person i’m really playing for.
Well, the whistle has a high-pitched sound that is pretty piercing. As people pointed out, Irish traditional music is pretty repetitive in nature, and if you’re practicing certain songs, or parts of songs, over and over, that’s just going to drive people crazy. Furthermore, hardly any instrument (and certainly no wind instrument) sounds very musical in the hands of a beginner.
It’s a problem.
Does your house have a garage? Maybe you could practice in the car, with the windows up, in the garage.
I live in a very ‘musical’ household. ANY practice session in ANY instrument can drive the rest of the inhabitants nutzo.
Whistle cuts through everything and bad notes sound like chalkboard scratching amplified by 100db. So, I either practice on a low D, which is quieter, or wait until no one is home. I work out of the house, so alone time is pretty easy for me.
This is a cultural point of view. If the playing of, let us say, Mary Bergin sounds to you or the people surrounding you as if she’s playing a “child’s instrument”, the focus of that view is interesting to me as it’s oriented to assigning a rank to the medium exclusive of the art.
This is understandable to a point, as within each culture or subculture there are standards of what is acceptable. For instance, within the ITM community there are those that might hear great traditional playing on a bass clarinet, and yet hold it all at arm’s length because of the unconventional choice of instrument.
No matter how modernised its design these days, the whistle whether fippled or notched is one of the most ancient of instruments (archaeology bears this out), and so I suggest that its pedigree is a noble one, and not exclusive to children. There’s always that to consider, if it helps.
Please. I daresay if scarlett were from the Dordogne you wouldn’t have jumped in so.
Try playing your latest favorite tune on your whistle for a bit and chill, already.
BTW, I just got ahold of my most favorite D whistle to date: it looks to be an all-black Feadóg but we can’t be entirely sure as it’s missing its label. Got it for free. The owner said he hated it; I looked it over, and saw that all the poor thing needed was a couple of quick tweaks, which I did right there on the fly, and it works really nicely, now. I offered to pay him for it, but he just gave it to me. I’m looking for a wee Batman sticker to put on it.
Yeah, I guess it does feel good in hand, come to think of it. I just like the way this one now plays (with a little judicious use of control here and there), and how it sounds. I suppose the next shiny object will walk by some day and I’ll like that better, but for now I’m good to go.
I’ll address the paint issue when the time comes. 'Til then, just on looks alone, an anonymous all-black stealth whistle: what’s not to like?
Truth: most practice sessions, whether by master or novice, and irrespective of instrument, sound rough to the ears of the non-player. It is the nature of practice…
As to the issue of what other people think: train yourself not to care. I play because I love the music, the instrument, and the people I meet who share that love. Same idea applies throughout life…no matter what you do(or do not do), there will always be those who look upon you with scorn, judgment, or disapproval. So, do what you love, love what you do, and forget about the unsolicited, irrelevant commentary of others (most of whom will only approve of you decisions and activities if they agree with their own).
So I asked if it was because of my playing. They said, it’s the sound of the instrument, not my playing (they do not mind me playing the flute and I’m far from a good player).
