If you could reccomend just one whistle CD for a person relatively new to whistle to listen to, which would it be and why?
(I’m buying it as a gift for somebody who isn’t too familiar with whistle.)
That depends, do you want them to stick with it, or immediately quit?
Loren
Well, she was wanting something “good.” I was going to just get her Mary Bergin’s Feadoga Stain CD but I thought I’d ask here first because I myself only own about 5 whistle CDs and there might be a much better one than Mary’s that I’m not aware of.
Hmm, if it were me, I’d go with something like Laurence Nugent’s Two For Two. Or, maybe something old school trad, stuff played at a slower pace, in a more Rustic style, like Josie McDermott - Darby’s Farewell. Both with some flute on there to give a break from the Soprano whistle. Personally, I can’t tolerate and entire CD full of soprano whistle playing very often, and I actually like whistles. Mary Bergin is a bit much from the gitgo.
Higgin’s will be weighing in with his favorite Chieftian’s CD’s any second, so I leave that to him.
If you want to go to the other end of the spectrum, something all whistle that no newbie is likely to reject (unless they are already trad fans), you can go with a Cormac Breatnach CD - either Musical Journey or Music for Whistle & Guitar. Sort of ease them into the world of whistle music - as “Full Trad Immersion Therapy” can be quite a shock to first timers’ systems, don’t want to have to fire up the crash cart halfway into listening to their first CD…
Loren
That’s my favorite. It’s a classic that can’t miss. If she doesn’t like that, there’s no point in looking further!
Joanie Madden has two solo albums available. Their titles elude me, but something like "Song of the Irish Whistle 1 + 2 " comes to mind. It is good material, and might be a bit more approachable by a person new to whistledom than Mary Bergin’s offerings.
Best.
Byll
I’d go for the first cd made by Gavin Whelan (the cd’s just called Gavin Whelan) if you can find that one. I’m not sure how hard it is to find, I bought it from Gavin himself at a gig.
The sound is really nice and clean, it’s very easy to listen to, not too much fancy stuff, just nice and clean whistle playing with tasteful ornamentation and everything.
A whistle connaisseur would probably prefer Mary Bergin, but somehow I feel that Gavin Whelan is more accessible. Not sure I can explain it, he has a very clean way of playing.
Found a link to the album with soundclips
http://www.gavinwhelan.ie/gwcd.htm
I would recommend Whistle](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000IQNO%22%3EWhistle) Stop by Brian Hughes, which is in my opinion a very good and highly underrated CD.
Mary Bergin, Lawrence Nugent, Brian Hughes and Gavin Whelan are a wee bit too hard-core to me. I have a problem listening to them in anything but small doses when I am not practicing along. Like listening to an album of bass fiddle solos.
If I were to get someone who is not familiar with the whistle a CD hiliting the whistle with an ITM theme, I would probably opt for Joannie Madden, her first CD.
If the person has eclectic tastes, I would consider kwela or some of Tony Hinnigans work.
You can always go with the Waltons CD and pocket a free whistle for yourself.
Another vote for “Feadog Stain” - Mary Bergin.
Brian Hughes is great too, and so is “The Boys Of Bluehill” by Vinnie Kilduff.
I’d recommend the first “Deiseal” CD if you want something less traditional, but it’s almost imposible to find these days.
Depends on what style music she likes to listen to, Cran – or what style you want to introduce her to. ITM or just whistle music of any sort?
My vote for a first intro to whistle would be Joanie Madden’s “Song of the Irish Whistle”, 1 or 2. Another readily accessible choice is “Celtic Whispers” by Will Millar, available at Wal-Mart. If I had been given Mary Bergin’s “Feadoga Stain” as the primo example of whistle playing, I wouldn’t have bought my first whistle at all – no hopes of ever playing like that!
Another place you could find some great (& free) music for her listen to is Mick Woodruff’s site, and look for his & Gary Humphrey’s version of “Hector the Hero” – very nice! 
Judy
I would go for Joannie Madden, Song of the Irish Whistle or Song of the Irish Whistle 2. It is beautiful whistle and readily available. My local Borders has them in stock. But it depends on what kind of music she would like.
Ron
Higgin’s will be weighing in with his favorite Chieftian’s CD’s any second, so I leave that to him.
Not necessarily. You may think you know me.
Anyway, Chieftains5.
I hardly listened to Mary Bergin’s cd when I first got it. I appreciate it more as I learn more, myself. I’m partial to Laurence Nugent and my favorite is Windy Gap. There’s some great whistle playing (not on every track) on Planxty’s Cold Blow and the Rainy Night. But it’s not a ‘whistle’ cd.
Sarah Bauhan has a nice cd of mostly whistle playing. Not as trad, a lot of her own compositions. Mainly ‘celtic’ sounding. It’s called Untamed Grasses.
But, I’d go with Chieftains5.
Tony
Don’t forget Brid O’Donohue. Fabulous player and a right nice person to boot. She put out her first album last year. http://www.bridodonohue.com/
Another vote for Joanie Madden’s Song of the Irish Whistle. Her rendition of “Down By The Salley Gardens” still thrills me.
It sounds so simple and straightforward, but just try to achieve that same gorgeous tone and exquisite phrasing. When I first heard her version about five years ago, I thought: this is the definitive version of the song.
Five years later … my opinion hasn’t changed.
Walt
Brian Finnegan–>“When the Party’s Over” for sheer genius
Cormac Breatnach–>“Music for whistle and guitar” for easy listening
*** WARNING: Shameless podcast plug! ***
Folks,
This discussion got me thinking, which (amazingly) resulted in an essay about the best first album for new tin whistlers. You can hear the essay on episode 2 of the TinPenny WhistleCast (www.tinpennywhistlecast.com).
(If you like what you hear, you can subscribe with your favorite podcatcher using the address http://feeds.feedburner.com/TinpennyWhistlecast.)
If you get a chance to tune in, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts!
Best,
Walt
Buy all cd’s from Flook, with Brian Finnigan, a whistler that does magic things on the whistle, things you can’t believe when hearing it. Flook contains 2 amazing whistlers, an amazing bodhran-player and a very fine guitarist. They have their own website: http://www.flook.co.uk. Kerrywhistles.com has sound- and videoclips of them playing. http://www.kerrywhistles.com/dl.php?group=4.
I’m a big fan. It also might make you feel desperate never being able to play like that!
A name also to remember is Na Fili, a mixed group of musicians playing very traditional.
Joanie Madden “Song of the Irish whistle”. It’s still my favorite.
For good solid Trad it has to be Mary Bergin’s “Feadog stain”. A classic.