Whistle questions: advice needed

Subject: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: Margo
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 10:28 PM

I am new to the whistle, and have bought a D whistle. I have a fingering chart and am ready to find some music. Couldn't I just use fiddle tunes that are in D or G?

What are the old standard tunes one learns on the whistle?

Do any of you have any favorite books? (Hopefully available on the 'net, since I don't get out often.)

Many thanks for any help,

Margarita

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 11:41 PM

Fiddle tune books work just fine. I started with "The Fiddler's Tune-Book" and "Fiddler's Tune-Book 2". They are nice little books & easy to carry about and contain a lot of traditional tunes.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: alison
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 11:49 PM

Yeah fiddle books are fine.. therre are specific books for whistles but they have mostly the same stuff in them.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: SeanM
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 01:16 AM

There was a thread a while back that referenced a site that I've found helpful...

Tin Whistle stuff

Good luck!

M

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: Tom on Comfort
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 01:55 AM

I've always enjoyed Robin Williamson's THE PENNY WHISTLE BOOK (Oak Publications, 1977, with pictures of a young Robin in it). But I tend to learn better from hearing tunes, so if that's the same with you, just listen to tunes and let them percolate through your brain down to your fingers.

If jigs & reels & hornpipes seem too fast or complicated, you might start with Morris tunes, which tend to be simpler & go more slowly.

Enjoy! You're going to have a wonderful time. Be sure not to be shy, 'cause you can't play a whistle shyly. (Maybe slyly, though)

Tom on Comfort

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: alison
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 09:24 AM

what I'm seeing more and more people do is carry a little walkman type thing to festivals sessions whatever.. and if they like a tune.. they ask the person to play it into the tape..... if you have one that can slow down the music without changing the pitch you can then practice along slowly.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: Jeri
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 10:59 AM

What tunes are "standards" depend on what part of the world you're in. Alison's tape recorder idea is a good way to get tunes to learn by ear. For learning from the dots, the best thing is to go to a few sessions with a little notebook and write down the names of the tunes. Later, you can look up the tune to learn it.

"O'Neill's Music of Ireland" has got tons of tunes people play. (And tons of tunes they don't.)

I'm in New England, and the book "New England Fiddlers' Repertoire" has been invaluable. Not too many tunes, and almost all are routinely played around here.

I recommend visiting http://www.ceolas.org/ceolas.html. I also recommend checking out ABC - the abc2win program if you have windows. There are links to various programs and music collections at the above site.

And go here: Chiff and Fipple Not only informative, but entertaining as well.

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: Vixen
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 02:27 PM

I agree with "Tom on Comfort" about the Pennywhistle book. I learned the Ash Grove and Mairi's Wedding first, one from the book and the other by ear. Loads of fun...

Enjoy!!!

V

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 01 Jul 99 - 11:40 PM

You might check out the web site VIRTUAL TUNE BOOK. It contains sheet music as well as some audio files (Celtic music). Find it at:

http://www.celticmusic.com/cgi-bin/~celticmusic/tunes.pl

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: Margo
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 12:34 AM

OH CAPT BOB! I am now peppering you with virtual kisses for posting that wonderful site! It is great, wonderful, and fantastic! Thank you thank you thank you thank you etc.

Margarita

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: alison
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 12:39 AM

In Australia there is a book called "Begged, borrowed and Stolen" has most of the favourite tunes you'll hear.

slaine

alison

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 09:19 AM

If you enjoyed the VIRTUAL TUNE BOOK you will probably also like RICHARDS TUNE BOOK (sorted by country) ~ The same type of stuff only music from all over the world. RICHARDS TUNE BOOK is at:

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/RRtunes/country.html

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: GUEST,Callum Wylie
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 09:07 AM

I have been playing the tin whistle for a few years now and I am hoping to be able to play it as my second instrument in my higher music exams next year. We have to be able to play for around 4 minutes at aproxomately grade 4 standard (Asosiated Board of the Royal Schools of Music). Unfortunately I have been unable to find any sample tunes for tin whisle. I wonder if anyone could give me advice as to what pieces would be around this standard.

Subject: RE: Whistle questions: advice needed
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 04:17 PM

Can you find music books for jigs, reels, hornpipes, waltzes, muzurkas and the like?

The whistle sounds good doing any of those usually. It is an istrument that like the fiddle, oten plays the melody of the song and can be quite remarkable with proper embelishments to the main theme.

Good luck