There’s gonna be a Renaissance Fair
sometime in May, I heard. Well, I thought
I might see if I could find work whistling.
I have whistles that will look fine,
but what does one play? I know some
Ren music, in fact, but not much.
Never been to such a fair. Advice welcome.
You should ask The Wandering Whistler: http://www.tinwhistler.com/music/
On 2002-03-31 23:58, avanutria wrote:
You should ask The Wandering Whistler: > http://www.tinwhistler.com/music/
Thanks for the vote of convidence! Well, it really depends on if you’re working at the faire, and if so, for whom. It also depends on the time period the faire is set in, and whether or not you even care about these things. 
Most faires have some Society for Creative Anachronism ( http://www.sca.org/ )presence, and these guys could point you in the direction of period early music. (“Period” is an adjective used by these folks, religiouisly, to describe music, crafts, dress, etc, that dates only to the appropriate time period). Most of these folks would likely point you to a recorder as an ‘early’ instrument, as they were produced in mass quantity long before the whistle, and were more commonly found in performances and chamber music. You can find an SCA link page about early music here: http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/music.html These guys are pretty rabid about authenticity, so you might have a hard time getting whistle work (of course, each chapter may vary in small or large part from my own local experience).
Mostly, it depends on the faire, how strict they’re intending to be concerning authenticity, and the time period of the faire. You might be relegated to chamber music, in which case O’Carolan and similar stuff might go over better. On the other hand, they may really like regular ol’ irish tinwhistle jigs and reels. It’s hard to say, as each faire is run by different people, and have different degrees of ‘authenticity’.
I quit worrying about these kinds of things a long time ago…few people would recognize and know that The Charleston Reel (for instance) was a modern piece. (In fact, shamefully, I didn’t know it until Jimmy Keane sent me an email 'bout it). I just play any old tinwhsitle I want (usually my PVC Silkstone, though I often take most of my favorites), and the passers-by are entertained. Of course, I do generally stay away from music that’d be easily recognized as modern.
Greg
[ This Message was edited by: Wandering_Whistler on 2002-04-01 01:02 ]
Jim, I’m in the SCA and have quite a bit of music I’d be happy to share with you. And yes, the whistle isn’t really considered ‘period’ but plenty of folks in the SCA love them and play them. Many also play recorders, guitars, and all sorts of other music. However, we SCA folks don’t invite an audience and the Renn Faires are for an audience, so I think they are much less fussy about things in general.
So, give me a call and I’ll see about getting you copies of music.
Starr
Jim…where and when is the Faire?
Our fiddler muttered
something to someone about a Ren faire in May
as we were leaving the Soulard Market. So I’ll try to find out
and post.
Thanks, Starr! I don’t really
read music, I’m afraid. If it
isn’t raining or freezing next
Sat, perhaps you can come to
the market? If you bring a D
whistle I can show you some stuff,
(if I have stuff to show you!).
I’ve played recorder, too, but
much less well. Tween
9ish and 2.
The following link has a list of faires in the US. This is the biggest list I’ve see on the web. Each listing includes various information about the faire as well as links to the each faire’s ‘official’ site.
Ren](http://www.renfaire.com/Sites/date.html%3ERen) Faires List at RenFaire.com
The Greater](http://www.stlrenfaire.com/%3EGreater) St Louis Rennasance Faire start May 11th.
Hope this helps.
Thanks, Lee!
Thanks Lee. ITS nice to see someone answer me.
A simular issue came up on a previous incarnation of the C&F Board (last year). However the ‘what’ didn’t refer to music but rather whistles. In particular the question was if a white Kildare Susato whistle would be appropriate for Ren Faires. I posted the following little bit and thought folks might enjoy a reposting …
By and large, renfairs are not as demanding as re-inactment groups. They often allow substitutions, especially in the area of muscial instruments. Renfairs are more about being 'in character' than being authentic. So modern acoustic instruments are generally allowed. For example, strings for the stringged instruments do not not need to be made of cat gut, modern strings, steel or even nylon are acceptable. But electronic pickups would not be accepted because they break character.
The white Kildare Susato looks kind-of-like an ivory recorder. Since dealing in ivory is not PC and is outlawed in most places, many renfair reviews might let it pass. If you can add a little leather thong winding around the throat and end of the barrel, they'll feel even more comfortable. If you can come up with a character bit of work to support the prop, even better.
So: I wrote a bit of business for use when questioned about the composition of the white Susato whistle.
"Missy, Yer' wonderin' what me pipes made of? Hmm...."
(examines the whistle, scratchs head, siddles up closer the mark, er I mean the patron, like the patron's being let in on a mystery).
"Might be dragon's tooth ... might not. Ya' sees .....
(Glance right and left)
Da' wee leprechan dat give me dis,
(hold up the whistle with the left hand)
wouldn't tell me lest I giv'em a piece o' gold for 'is pot.
(with right hand, rubs thumb back and forth across index and middle fingers).
Course bein' da simple piper, dat I am, I hadn't a farthing to offer...
(starts to turn away, but stops and turns back saying)
"Hmm.....
"Ya know, lassy, if YOU had a piece-o-gold or two to offer, I'd 'appily hold it 'till the wee fella comes 'round, an' ask 'im agin." (really big smile..)
(On being offered money by the patron, silver or paper, holds both hands up, palms facing the patron in a warding gesture, shakes head no and says)
"Sorry mum, gots to be gold, offerin' the wee fella dat silver or paper money for 'is pot, would just insult 'is inheritance.
I've eenuff bad luck as 'tis, without havin' no leprechaun flayling about cursin' every t'ing in sight.
(Backs away, shakes head impathicly)
Nope, nope, nope.
Insulted one o-dem fella's once...
when I be Chief of me clan,
ne'er agin, nope ne'er agin,
A downward fall from dis station in life,
(right hand points to ground between the feet)
I could end up bein' a cow or sow or worse,
da King of England...
(Turns away promptly and begins whistling a new tune...)
_________________
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh to clean up html looks on 2002-04-02 09:35 ]
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-04-02 09:43 ]
Hehehe.. Lee you ought to have someone nearby with a camera so when you turn away at the end you can catch their expression!