I’m about two months into learning the whistle and ran across a musical notation I don’t recognize. What’s that squiggle above a note? It looks like an “s” on it’s side.
It can be seen here: http://www.tommcelvogue.com/music/Compositions/jig_04.jpg
Can anyone help?
That’s the symbol for a turn, which many classical musicians think is sort of like a roll.
In those locations, I’d be inclined to think that they meant rolls. This is a fairly common use for that notation, but there’s no real “standard” for it. I’ve also seen kind of a birdseye-type symbol used the same way.
Yes, in this case it’s a roll. If you listen to the mp3 file that accompanies your link, you can hear Tom McElvogue playing the roll, and match it up to the notation.
For more information on rolls and how to play them:
WhistleThis: http://www.whistlethis.com/index.php?content=ZDNWZmNtOXNiSE09
Brother Steve: http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/rolls0.html
WhistleTutor: http://www.whistletutor.com/intermediate.htm
Just keep in mind that ornamentation is not a mechanical thing, and may take years to master technically and musically. But these resources can at least point you in the right direction. Have fun!
Yeah, sorry if I wasn’t clear. Those symbols definitely imply a roll, since it’s in context of an Irish tune. I was just being snarky about the use of silly classical notation for things it has nothing to do with.
That’s true. I’ve seen classical musicians pick up an Irish tune transcription, play baroque turns when they see the squiggles, and then get all huffy when you point out they’re not doing it right.
The ABC notation software I use (abcm2ps) for detailed whistle transcriptions offers a fair assortment of various classical symbols: turns, shakes, mordents, snaps, etc. So sometimes I’ll reuse those symbols to represent whistle-specific things: downbows for mid-note cuts, inverse mordents for double-cut rolls, that sort of thing. Then another whistle player will look at my transcription and wonder what I’ve been smoking. Or worse, I’ll come back to my own transcription a few months later, and I can’t remember what the heck I meant! 
