Favorite whistle tunes in G

Subject: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Alice
Date: 08 May 00 - 10:09 AM

We have had a number of discussions on penny whistles, but I'd like to know specifically in this thread what your favorite tunes are on the little G whistle.

Alice

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Grandma Marshall
Date: 08 May 00 - 10:52 AM

Hi Alice, I toot the tin whistle (have an A, C, D, G)and you play any tune you want on it. The reason they come in assorted keys is, people play in various keys, so you need more than one whistle. Does that help any?

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Alice
Date: 08 May 00 - 11:54 AM

No, that wasn't my question. I have many different whistles, too. There are some tunes that just sound better in that higher register whistle. I am thinking in particular of march tunes. This thread subject is the question, which tunes are your favorites to play in G?

Alice

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: DonMeixner
Date: 08 May 00 - 01:28 PM

Alice,

Can't think of a one. The "G" whistles are too small for my hands.

Don

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: alison
Date: 09 May 00 - 12:00 AM

Alice I don't play my G much.. simply because they are so high and piercing....... I'm afraid someone will sue me for loosening their fillings.. or shattering windows......*grin*

the same tunes that sound good on a D sound great (if painful)....

like
Boys from Blue Hill,
Harvest Home,

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: georgeward
Date: 09 May 00 - 04:49 AM

I have to agree with Alison. I find the high G whistle uncomfortable to play because it is so piercing. I'm trying to think of anyone among the players I know who ever trots one out. And I can't come up with anyone. (Of course, we are living in an era obsessed with ever-lower whistles. You are bucking a trend < g >)

They are fun outdoors,fife-like. I think your suggestion that march tunes work well is right on. I just can't stick with one very long.

The high F, on the other hand, I like (in modest doses). Go figure. -George

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: alison
Date: 09 May 00 - 08:52 AM

Yep George, I love the F whistle..... great for fast jigs and reels...... and I know there's only a whole tone difference between the two but somehow the F isn't quite so painful.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Alice
Date: 09 May 00 - 09:10 AM

I think it's that fife-like or piccolo like sound that goes well with the marches that I actually like. Playing it outside, the sound can carry well with a drum and/or pipes, and the high sound is a balance to the low drum or drone sound.
Good dog whistle, too?

Alice

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Alice
Date: 09 May 00 - 09:45 AM

Well, I have three D whistles and one each of C, F, G, and Eb. I'm just trying to get out of everything being in D or C, plus many of the tunes that our session plays are in G, but I chord along on the guitar most of the time, anyway. We lost our main whistle player last year when he moved to Minneapolis, and that has inspired me to practice more. One of our best whistle players formed his own band, so he doesn't show up at the session as often as before.

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 00 - 08:45 AM

alice,

Check out the Midis on this page of Basque music. The instrument sounds like a fife. The tunes are very addictive and sound good on a high flute or whistle instrument.

http://txistuaz.hypermart.net/welcom.htm

Helen

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Alice
Date: 10 May 00 - 09:22 AM

Hey, thanks, Helen!

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: skarpi
Date: 10 May 00 - 06:10 PM

I do not whistle alot latly, I sing more and more but I use the D flute to play in G the higher G flute is to small for my hands to. The nest flute I am gonna get is big D flute with the low sound it is great to hear the sound. All the best skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 10 May 00 - 06:20 PM

So none of you have the B flat? Go get one! Wonderfully mellow and expressive for slow airs, and a bit less peneterating if you want to spare family/neighbours when you're practising.

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: skarpi
Date: 11 May 00 - 05:17 PM

yes I have B flat and all the others tin flute and I like B flat it is great playing on it slow airs. All the best skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 11 May 00 - 10:50 PM

Alice ~ this thread did inspire me to get out my little G whistle and play a few tunes. After several months of extremely dry weather the clouds opened up and we had a good soaking rain. I don't know if there is any correlation between these two events or not, however, I may have stumbled upon a new use of the G whistle.

Normally I only play it when I sub for the elementary music teacher. I take along several different kay whistles and let the kids figure out that the smaller the whistle the higher the pitch.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 May 00 - 01:41 AM

G'day Alice,

When I went to Tasmania in 1965, I had several small whistles, Generations from 'Bb' up to the high 'G'. Even then I found the little 'G' very tight fingering ... and it hasn't got any roomier over a third of a century that included hard physical work in construction.

I do remember tootling away at some bright little tune, on the high 'G', in the backwoods south of Hobart and having some small birds (local robins?) land in nearby bushes and tootle back. At the time I was charmed but I now realise that they were probably telling me to push off, in reply to my threatening tones!

Anyway, the human reactions seemed even less favourable at the time and this is probably why I made my first 'technically' low whistle, in low 'G', in a smithy in the north east of Tasmania around that time. I did come across a low 'G' Hohner whistle, in Melbourne, but that was in "old high pitch" - a good quarter tone higher than modern concert.

I still like the effect of a higher whistle in the open air, or in a large session but the 'G' involves so much care in finger placement (for me) that it is hardly worth the effort nowadays.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Favorite whistle tunes in G
From: Helen
Date: 12 May 00 - 02:56 AM

Alice,

I just had another enjoyable surf aroudn the Txistuaz website (address above in the posting by GUEST, i.e. me). I still love it. These three tunes sound really good on the high sounding whistle: Bakartegia, Pasaian, and Gipuzkoarra. They are near the end of the second set of tunes on the page. There are others there too - I didn't listen to them all, but Bakartegia is one of my favourites from that site. I hope you know some other whistle players who can play the counter melody lines - it would be sad to only be able to play one line.

Helen