Even though I have a drawer full of various whistles, up until very recently I’ve pretty much played just the Burkes at session.
I didn’t thing anything was likely to change that, but the last couple of sessions I’ve played my O’Brien. It’s hard to choose anything over a Burke, but the O’Brien is just really that good.
And that got me curious: what’s your whistle(s) that get the most session play?
In folks I’ve played with, on the expensive side, I’ve seen several Burkes, a couple of Copelands, an Abell or two, several O’Riordans, a Sindt, and a couple of Sweets. On the inexpensive side, Oaks seem to dominate for session play; every blue moon someone will show up with a Generation.
I’ve never actually ran across anyone playing Overtons or Chieftains yet, which is sort of odd, considering how many posts online center around these makes of whistle.
I bring one of my own, natch. I use a Delrin, 'cause at a session, you never know if it’s gonna roll off a table or something… I also bring my Sweet Resonance low D and usually a mandolin.
In pub sessions, always my O’Riordan Traveller D and Water Weasel A, and split between whether I switch bodies on the O’Riordan to get C, use my Water Weasel C, or just muddle through using half-holing on the D. Occasionally my Traveller low D as well.
I don’t think I’ve taken it to a pub yet, but when there are tunes in the house (like last night) I usually also use my Traveller low E.
The last two nights (pub session and house tunes) saw four high D whistles played – three O’Riordans and a Generation. Dale played a low D whistle as well, I think maybe a Shaw? In general, we also see the occasional Sindt, and there are a couple of people who are primarily string musicians who will sometimes play Burkes.
For the longest time, it was an Abell. I sold that one to another whistler at session. After that it was a nickel copeland. I sold that recently. These days, I’m splitting my time between a blackwood Thin Weasel and a blackwood Greenwood. The weasel gets a little more play on really loud days, because when the pub is full, I can’t hear myself on the greenwood, which makes me blow it harder, which blows me out of tune and squeaks the whistle
I have tried bringing my Busman and Burke and Syn to sessions, but
because I tend to switch between flute and whistle and guitar so much,
I can’t seem to keep any of those warm enough to stay consistantly in
tune. So I always end up back with my trusty SweeTone, believe it or
not. It’s always in tune when I pick it up, and it fits in nicely.
I primarily use my Susato (small bore) in sessions (and performances as well). I also have a sweet Susato VSB that I use a fair amount and an Oak that I use when I’m not as confident or just want to blend in more.
Burke DAN. It’s just the right volume for my session. I also sometimes play the Rose, which is only slightly louder.
I might, if I feel I could actually play a tune on it, bring my M+E flute to the next session… god help me.
I would comment on what whistles everyone else at my session plays, but I’m the only whistler I’ve seen. Everyone else plays fiddle or guitar. And we had a bodhran once. Sad, isn’t it?
I was the only whistler for the longest time at my session…all fiddle, guitar, and bodhran (and one banjo player who also plays fiddle, guitar, and mandolin). We finally had another whistle player show up about a year ago (he plays an Oak btw…though we’re trying to get him a whistle with a little more power).
I currently only own one D whistle (Gasp! …not sure how that happened) so that’s the one I play at session(s). It’s a Humphrey brass D (non stealthy version). I do have one of the new Journeyman whistles coming in a few weeks so I’m guessing that will take over as my session whistle (it’s supossed to be a bit louder and have a better oxxooo c-nat.).
If I am confident, I play my Busman D+ Delrin or Susato, otherwise, I play my O’Brien which requires less breath control and is much easier in the upper octave, and much more quiet, hence blending in my frequent mistakes…
Tunes have broken out in our house again as I type this (it’s good to have houseguests) and we’re now having a Bb session, with the fiddle tuned way down, Dale playing my Bb Water Weasel, and me on the Bb Traveller. Good stuff.
Mainly my Burke, followed by my Oak until it broke. I haven’t found an Oak I like as much at that one yet. I’m waiting for a Feadog Pro which will likely see a lot of playhing time.
But then, they are my best whistles for now. Until I get good enough that the whistle matters as much or more than my playing, it’s a questionable recommendation though.
It would have to be my Rose Blackwood high D for higher, more delicate tunes and Colin Goldie Overton modal D/C for louder sets. Harper alto G and Colin Goldie Overton low D (short stretch) for lower pitch.
I have to admit though… I am a piano accordion player the rest of the time… eek!!
I will bring a set of Chieftains and other Kerry whistles with me for the St. Patty’s Day weekend sweep. I will bring a Busman and a Freeman too. Each will be played appropriately.
