Whistles on Sean Ryan's 'Take the Air.'

Whistle
1

I’ve just bought a copy of Sean Ryan’s CD, Take the Air which I’m enjoying immensely. Does anybody know which whistles Sean plays on this album?

2

I believe that it is a Susato - that is what he plays pretty much exclusively - Great CD!

3

Don’t think it could be, Gerry. It specifies tin whistles and wooden whistles on the cover and Susatos are neither. I think it was recorded in '89. If so, he might have changed his allegiance since then. Still, it wouldn’t be the first time that a cover is wrong.

4

You could be right Wombat - last time I was in Galway (2003) I played a session with him and he was using Susato exclusively then. However, I do remember him using Generations in the 80’s when I lived in Galway - so that’s a possibility. If you can’t find out for sure I’ll ask him next time I see him (probably next year in Galway).

5

Thanks Gerry. They sounded like Gens to me, not that it’s easy to tell on recordings. But that still leaves the wooden whistles unaccounted for.

6

He was one of my teachers during the Willey Clancy festival and he played a wooden whistle I have never seen before. I have no idea what so ever what the maker was, since it didn’t look like any other wooden whistles I have seen. His choice whistle seemed to be a Susato though, because he played the wooden one when he had forgotten his Susato.

7

Hello Wombat,

The whistles used ARE Susatos. I met him in Ireland (went to his home)

He played jigs for his daughter as she danced for us. He played a black

Susato E Flat.

Regards,

James