Looking for Some Whistle Tunes

Subject: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From:
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 09:37 PM

Hi.. I'm new to Mudcat, and have searched back through the threads, but haven't found what I'm looking for.. I'm a novice D-whistle player, and can't really pick up tunes by ear too well. I was wondering if anybody could write some out for me (just "A", "B", etc; I don't read music, but could translate it into the fingering myself). I'm especially looking for the tunes to a few songs I know by the Clancys & Tommy Makem: McPherson's Lament; The Royal Canal; Éamonn An Chnuic; Paddy West; Three Score and Ten; The Nightingale; The Foggy Dew; and, of course, Four Green Fields. I could go on and on, but any help (preferably from someone who knows!:)) would be greatly appreciated (and please make sure it's for the D whistle!). Thanks very much. ~Erin

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: The Beanster
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 12:19 AM

Erin,

I'm not a whistle player myself but I'm sure someone here will be able to give you a wealth of information on whatever it is you need to know. And welcome to the Mudcat!!

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: ceitagh
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 01:26 AM

Erin....try JC's Tunefinder (i hope i did that right!).
When I first came to the 'cat someone directed me there...it has midi's and musical notation. There are other pages that might have more useful formats for you, I'm sure someone else will give you the url's.
And.....Welcome to the Mudcat!!! I hope you find everything you're looking for!
pax,
ceit

(fixed by a Joe clone)you put < /href > at the end instead of < /a > (without the spaces)

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: vindelis
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 06:27 AM

Have you tried Soodlum's Irish Tin Whistle Tutor? It comes in two volumes.It has the ususal musical notation, together with fingering positions for all pieces.

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 06:55 AM

You will also find free Whistle notation at http://www.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/ which is an alternative Digital Tradition site. Hence just about every song that has a tune (over 4,000 of them) can not only beviewed as notation, but it will also transpose it every other key for you. This is a super easy way to learn new tunes. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 07:09 AM

Erin, JC's tune finder is an excellent resource but I don't think that you find many of the tunes that you are looking for there as it is more geared to the jigs and reels etc. and I think a search of the Digital Tradation Database is likely to yeild more results. Another site that I find useful for finding tunes to songs is http://www.contemplator.com. Both of these sites allow you to download midi files.

I am not sure what you know about computer software or what machine you have but I will say this just in case it is useful to you. The 2 main formats used to retrieve music from the web are ABC and MIDI and it is handy to have software that will at a minimum alow you to print the sheet music. I will suggest that Melody Assistant is worth a look as it is available in PC and Mac formats and supports both ABC and MIDI and the registered version is only $15. Details can be found at http://www.myriad-online.com/index.htm.

I know I am talking about reading music but I think that in the long run, you will be better off taking this route even if at first, you have to go through the process of writing the names of the notes on the printed staff. Ideally, learn to read music - I can't sight read but I still find the little bit of knowledge useful and if I have heard a tune, I can use the music to help me.

Good luck,

Jon

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: GUEST,Sophocleese
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 11:16 AM

Erin. Some excellent suggestions above in this thread. You can improve your ear a little by trying to pick out really, really simple tunes as well by yourself. I mean really simple, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and other nursery rhymes. Then go for some of the extremely well known Christmas tunes. Even if you don't get the entire tune picked out by yourself, congratulate yourself for the three notes in a row that you did manage to find.

For tips about playing etc. you could also check out http://www.chiffandfipple.com/table2.html. Its a fun site.

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: pastorpest
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 12:43 PM

All the "how to" books on the whistle have tunes to play complete with notation. The advantage of these books is they include instructions on ornaments and how to take advantage of the qwhistle's characteristics. I suggest the following: "Mel bay's complete Irish Tin Whistle Book" , "Geraldine Cotter's Traditional Tin Whistle Tutor" published by Ossian, and "Cathal McConnell Teaches Irish Pennywhistle" published by Homespun.

I keep a tin whistle in my car and practise while waiting at red lights, level crossings, etc. Don't play it while moving! None of those waits seem long any more and the whistle, like no other instrument I own, does not care if the car is hot or cold, dry or damp.

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: Kelida
Date: 02 Apr 00 - 10:03 PM

Try this website: http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/

There are links to several sheet music sites and all sorts of other stuff. Most of the sheet music comes in GIF. format. Hope it helps.

-Keli

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: GUEST,Erin
Date: 03 Apr 00 - 12:32 PM

Thanks, everybody; I especially found that "Yet Another Digital Tradition Page" helpful (I think; we'll have to see once I transcribe what I got there to the symbols of which holes to cover and try to play them). Anyway, seems you're a pretty dedicated band of folks. Rock on.

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: MMario
Date: 03 Apr 00 - 01:01 PM

guest erin: On the "Yet another" site, if you pull up a song, and then click on the "whistle notation" it will show you which holes to cover.....

Subject: RE: Looking for Some Whistle Tunes
From: GUEST,Erin
Date: 03 Apr 00 - 10:06 PM

Really? Well, there you go, I missed that. Thanks very much!