Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling

Subject: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: AmyLove
Date: 20 Aug 17 - 08:59 PM

I've been exploring this delightful musical area today, and I'm wondering if anyone here has any information about it. I've found a number of videos including these:


SEAN WHITE--All-Ireland whistling champion. 1

(There are three videos in this "series.")

All ireland Whistling Champion !!

Mick Ryan All Ireland Champion Whistler

Sinéad O'Donoghue - Feadaíl - Young Trad Concert CIT Cork School of Music , Cork


And wikipedia lists the All-Ireland Fleadh champions in Whistling (Feadaíl):


1966, Tom McHale, County Roscommon
1975, Paddy Berry, County Wexford
1976, Seamus O'Donnell, County Sligo
1977, Paddy Berry, County Wexford
1979, Michael Creavers, County Galway
1983, Walter O'Hara, County Wexford
1984, Liam Gaul, County Wexford
1985, Paddy O'Donnell, County Galway
1986, M.J. O'Reilly, County Wexford
1987, Padraig Ó Raithbheartaigh, County Galway
1996, Michael Ryan, County Tipperary
1990, John O'Connell, County Antrim
1998, Síle Áine de Barra, County Cork
1999, Sean White, County Waterford
2000, Frances Donahue, County Galway
2001, Séan Seosamh Mac Domhnaill, County Mayo
2002, Séan Seosamh Mac Domhnaill, County Mayo
2003, Aníde Uí Bhennéis, County Limerick
2004, Aníde Uí Bhennéis, County Limerick
2005, Aníde Uí Bhennéis, County Limerick
2006, Aníde Uí Bhennéis, County Limerick
2007, Máiréad Ní Chorradáin, County Limerick
2008, Tony Connolly, County Galway
2009, Claire McNicholl, County Londonderry
2010, Ailéin Ó Dubhuir, County Wexford
2011, Ailéin Ó Dubhuir, County Wexford
2012, Ailéin Ó Dubhuir, County Wexford
2013, Ailéin Ó Dubhuir, County Wexford
2014, Séamus Ó hAirtnéide, County Limerick


One thing I'm particularly interested in knowing is if there are any recordings of feadaíl — preferably a whole album of it, but if anyone knows of an album which features even just one track of feadaíl, I'd like to know about it. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 01:12 AM

Amazing. Who needs instruments?

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 03:00 AM

"Amazing. Who needs instruments?"
That was the point Michael
We were told by an old singer who could also jig (lilt) that in his are there was a shortage of musicians and instruments (and the clergy were pretty opposed to dancing) so, in order to hold the dances in peoples' homes they enlisted the services of those capable of making 'mouth music'
At 80, (and with no teeth) he proudly gave us a display of his own skills and described the dances for us
He also gave us 60-odd songs and over a dozen long 'Jack Tales'
They were a gifted generation
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 06:20 AM

I remember a clip of Siobhan Ní Chonorain whistling that appeared on 'Come West along the Road' at some point. It may be on one of the DVDs.

You do come across this sort of stuff occasionally: when Dympna O'Sullivan launches her first recording she had a Mayo man (John O'Donnell?, can't really remember the name) on the launch night who was pretty brilliant.

I have some (non commercial) recordings of different people whistling. It's usually good fun but I can take only so much of it.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 06:22 AM

Forgot to mention there was some whistling on the tellie earlier this week, a little whistler who just won the All Ireland. Look at TG4's Fleadh-tv, it's probably still up on the website.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 06:09 PM

After looking at those videos, I need to catch my breath!

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 21 Aug 17 - 06:24 PM

terrific. thanks.

"It's usually good fun but I can take only so much of it."

true.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 04:40 AM

The first name on the list of champions is Tom McHale - better known as a virtuoso tin whistle player. When work brought me from Dublin to Athlone in the early '70's, he was working in the same college. He ran an eponymous Folk Club in a local hostelry and brought many fine singers and musicians through that small town. In a way, along with singer Tony Holleran, he was responsible for converting me from a jazz head to a folk fiend (I've largely reverted since, but that's another story). He died tragically in a road accident a few years later, unfortunately. The club continued under Tony's guidance, for many years after.

Reagrrds

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 08:59 AM

To extend Martin's diversion of this thread above for one second: some years ago someone put a fine collection of Tom McHale's whistleplaying on soundcloud, recorded in 1972 : here

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 22 Aug 17 - 10:02 AM

To take this across the sheugh to Scotland....where is a parallel tradition of mouth music or diddling- old Davie Glen of Angus was a great exponent of that...
There is also a mouth whistling tradition, which I wasn't aware of until 1971. I had won the TMSA melodeon competition for the previous three years, and was banned from further competition on the instrument. Part of my commitment to the TMSA festival was to act as an adjudicator- not my style at all really!
Anyway it wasn't to be the melodeon competition, but the whistling competition ( not 'ze mouth music played on ze mouth' as Peter Sellers had it but whistling on ze mouth).
Anyway, there were several good competitors, with their march, strathspey & reel or whatever & all going well & politely applauded.

Next, a crowd of noisy local men entered with one clutching an entry form. We all settled down for his offering & he proceeded to do the most amazing bird impressions!
The crowd erupted in delight so then came a real dilemma for the adjudicator! the locals were no bother but I couldn't give them an award- there was a cup for the winner and a certificate for the runners up- no money, so I gave him second place, against all the rules- nobody ever complained & it was 46 years ago!
Oh and I did achieve second place in the TMSA Kirriemuir diddling competition a few years ago, so spent a twelvemonth as the second best diddler in Scotland- a doubtful honour?

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: AmyLove
Date: 29 Aug 17 - 10:11 PM

Both Jims and Martin, thank you for the stories.

Peter, I wish I had those recordings. I'm sure I'd have a high tolerance for listening to them over and over. Thanks for the information. I think I took too long to check out Fleadh-tv — I didn't find that clip. I looked up Tom McHale (McHaile?) before posting this thread. Great link to the music from 1972 — I'm listening to it right now. I found some of his music online, too:

Pure Traditional Irish Tin Whistle

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Cathal O'L
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 12:22 PM

Hi All,

I'm looking into mouth whistling and lilting at the moment. Would any of you know if any mouth whistling goes on at the fleadh? I think there's often confusion between the mouth whistling and the tin whistling - I'd love to contact anyone with interesting leads on mouth whistling and lilting tradtions.

Cathal

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Cathal O'L
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 12:24 PM

Reply here or to [e-mail]

Cathal

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 12:52 PM

I am sorry but I have to ask, what other whistling is there besides mouth? I mean, even whistling through your fingers uses your mouth... Can the Irish whistle at both ends, or something?

And now back to your regularly-scheduled thread already in progress.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 01:23 PM

Whistling with a whistle.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Apr 21 - 03:23 PM

Um, isn't the whistle in your mouth? But I get it. Whistling, quoi.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 06 Apr 21 - 05:36 AM

mouth whistling with or without a whistle, Irish or otherwise, are two specific skills.
    there is a third non-instrumental skill known only to a few, but well well demonstrated by Leonard Rossiter in the 1979 short film called 'Le Petomane'.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 06 Apr 21 - 06:25 AM

I would normally distinguish the two by saying whistling or whistle playing, whistler or whistle player. Maybe the Gaelic doesn't differentiate but it's more likely to be a sloppy transaction.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Apr 21 - 06:41 AM

Seeing the term "mouth whistling" made me wonder how else we could whistle. But then I thought better of pondering it too much :-D

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 06 Apr 21 - 08:11 AM

*translation*

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 06 Apr 21 - 09:06 AM

Some people lead very sheltered lives.

Dual nostrils

More nasal treats

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 06 Apr 21 - 10:05 AM

'Would any of you know if any mouth whistling goes on at the fleadh?'


There is. As far as I know it has its own competition (Feadaíl). Not sure how many whistlers take part though, at least a few.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Cathal O'L
Date: 13 Apr 21 - 09:50 AM

Thank you for the replies. Yes, it's a strange term alright but whistling often gets confused with playing the tin whistle.

Thanks, Peter. I've tracked down a bit of it still going on at the fleadh which is what I was after so I'll follow that up and see where it takes me.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 23 - 02:26 PM

Ronnie Ronalde was a great mouth whistler

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 21 Jun 23 - 11:31 AM

FWIW, I just saw/heard a man, Liam Jones, who is a handy whistler, aparently holds the current All Ireland title.

Subject: RE: Feadaíl — Irish mouth whistling
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 19 Nov 24 - 08:16 AM

Not sure anyone is still interested in the subject but I came across a doorstop of a new book this morning, in the shops before Christmas, I suppose. see here: Feadaíl