I was at an educational resource store in Capitola yesterday, and picked up a whistle that is labeled “Woodstock, by Clarke’s.” Am I correct in assuming this is a Sweetone by any other name?
Redwolf
Could this be Clarke’s way of acknowledging all the Sweetones that Jessie (of Woodstock, NY) has given away?
Of which, by the way, the one she gave me is still warm, having just been set down for a moment so I could check the board.
Best wishes,
Jerry
“This (manifest world) is full, and that (unmanifest source from whence it springs) is also full. Fullness comes out of fullness. Taking fullness from fullness, all that remains is fullness.”
[ This Message was edited by: Jerry Freeman on 2003-02-15 13:02 ]
On 2003-02-15 12:55, Redwolf wrote:
I was at an educational resource store in Capitola yesterday, and picked up a whistle that is labeled “Woodstock, by Clarke’s.” Am I correct in assuming this is a Sweetone by any other name?Redwolf
Serious reply? Probably. Clarke has put it out in a number of guises to try to access vaious markets, such as the “Celtic” version that came in a nice Leprechaun green with a slightly different plastic package and instruction book. Not sure what the significance of the name “Woodstock” might be since the festival of the same name was a rock festival rather than folk. Still, I suppose that those who might be influenced by a name would find a “Woodstock” whistle less pricey that a “Woodstock” electric guitar.
Woodstock was advertised as a ‘Music and Art Fair’
A lot of marketing isn’t based on facts, but on subjective, almost unconscious impressions. “Woodstock” has a folksy sound to it that might bring up a feeling of “American, folksy, grassroots, etc.” It could appeal to some who wouldn’t be attracted to a Celtic, Irish, British Isles thing.
Which brings up a question. Is there any tradition of whistles in American folk music, including that played for contra or other folk dancing? I’ve been to contra dances where the band included a whistler, and it was wonderful.
Best wishes,
Jerry
On 2003-02-15 13:41, Jerry Freeman wrote:
A lot of marketing isn’t based on facts, but on subjective, almost unconscious impressions. “Woodstock” has a folksy sound to it that might bring up a feeling of “American, folksy, grassroots, etc.” It could appeal to some who wouldn’t be attracted to a Celtic, Irish, British Isles thing.Which brings up a question. Is there any tradition of whistles in American folk music, including that played for contra or other folk dancing? I’ve been to contra dances where the band included a whistler, and it was wonderful.
Best wishes,
Jerry
I believe there’s been some evidence of whistles used during the American Civil War…as campfire instruments, not as military instruments.
Redwolf
Despite the Cooperman junkers sold at many US historical sites, there’s little real evidence for the pennywhistle in American folk music before the Celtic explosion of the last 30-40 years or so. Surely there were a few about, and the occasional appearance of Clarke-like whistles in old attics and antique auctions proves that the instrument was not unknown. There were also the German import whistles of the Twenties like the Eagle and Calura, but their paint jobs and general appearance suugests to me that they were meant more as toys than serious instruments.
That said, much Civil War and other music had very much whistle-like parts played by the fife. Reenactent fife and drum corps are well established and can often be seen around various historical events and reenactments. Cetrtainly the whistle “fits” well with all manner of traditional British-American folk pieces such as ‘Oh, Susanna’, ‘Barbara Allen’ and the like.
Certainly the whistle was known, at least from early in the 20th century, but it doesn’t seem to turn up in historical literature or photographs. I’m told the fife is both more versatile and louder. My personal theory is that our ancestors weren’t as lazy as I am and were willing to keep plugging away until they could actually play a fife or flute, thus not needing the whistle.
But as Dennis Miller often says, “…that’s my opinion. I could be wrong…”
Thanks, Redwolf and Chuck.
Great answers. I had been wondering about that for awhile.
Best wishes,
Jerry
I have a Clarke Celtic and you can see the Sweetone etched name faintly under the green paint. 
It is right below the fipple.
Whit+
That’s sorta funny. I’m looking at my black Sweetone C and it’s not even etched there - just painted. Maybe they’re just trying to make sure that everyone knows a “Celtic” is really a “Sweetone”.
Chuck,
If you look closely, you might notice that it’s stamped (not really etched) into the metal under the paint. Then the stamping gets almost completely filled with the paint (or powder coating more likely), and they print another Sweetone logo over the stamped one. At least the way my Sweetone is.
Best wishes,
Jerry
During the (U.S.) Civil War, there wasn’t adequate time to train fife players, and so a device called a cheater was commonly used. The cheater was a metal windway that was attached to the fife. It eliminated the need to develop an embouchure and sped up the training of musicians.
So, in essence, there were whistles used during the Civil War - but they were transverse whistles!
Here’s an original (but a lousy photo)
Here’s a modern replica:
