overton whistles

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: Blackcatter
Date: 19 May 03 - 12:39 PM

Anyone who focuses on just one brand of whistle is missing one of the wonderful things about whistles - they're cheap enough to own many of them. The inexpensive ones are wonderful and the expensive ones are wonderful. Just different.

I get more oohs and aahs when I play an $8 traditional Clarke.

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: MC Fat
Date: 19 May 03 - 06:35 AM

You could also try my mate Brian Howard's. Try Howard Music

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: Tug
Date: 19 May 03 - 05:40 AM

Overton whistles are reputedly the best but as I could never afford one, I make my own. I will never acheive the purity of note that Overton gets but it is terriffic fun and a great challenge. A bit of scrap plumbing pipe and a few inexpensive tools and you too can have a unique instrument.

[e-mail] if you are interested.

As for the music, try ABC Tunefinder on http://ecf-guest.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/FindTune.html

You will need a programme that plays MIDI files to hear the tune otherwise you can only print out the dots.

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: mooman
Date: 19 May 03 - 04:18 AM

I'm not a great player of the whistle but found Overtons good. I have a slight preference for the rather similar Chieftain whistle though.

moo

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 19 May 03 - 12:04 AM

G'day Tyghress,

By "backpressure" do you mean that it takes a lot of pressure to play?

If so, how long ago did you have your Overton? I have two very old Overtons ... probably the first brought into Australia - un-branded, but clearly Bernard's work - bought by folklorist Graham Seal when he was studying at Leeds (late '70s / early '80s?). These are much harder to blow than my more modern (and branded) Overtons, which have both broader and deeper wind passages.

I note that GUEST,mark dunlop - 3 posts above - says his high D "takes a fair bit of puff" and I suspect he means that it has too little backpressure - as mine seems to - particularly after playing the very old C or low F I have had for decades.

All that said, each may vary, but all can be played quite well within the range of "normal" whistle technique. My low D is beautiful - but a fair stretch for my short, stubby hands - and works best with "pipers' hold" fingering. Bernard clearly believes that "theoretical" hole spacing is sacrosanct. (I have seen one of Colin Goldie's Overtons - made, under license in Germany, with a neatly rearranged right hand hole spacing that allows much more comfort - and still gives nice tone and volume ... I think it was sent to haunt me ... the serial number turned out to be #666!)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: Tyghress
Date: 18 May 03 - 04:56 PM

I had an Overton...way too much backpressure for my taste. For a metal whistle you might look at Burke (already mentioned) or Copeland which is conical bore. Or take a walk on the wild side and try a good wooden whistle.

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: Barbara
Date: 18 May 03 - 03:12 PM

Michael, if it still isn't clear what the folks are saying about keys, try this.
Whistles come in different keys (different lengths and bores). But you finger each one the same. You are holding a D whistle and the fiddle player is in C? Set it down and pick up your C whistle.
Playing a tune in a key incompatible with your whistle will mean fingering a lot of half holes. It's easier to change whistles, I find.
Though, as CraigS says above, you can also make a D whistle into a G with one half hole or a different fingering. You move your octave or tonic note up to the fourth note/third hole (instead of the first note/all closed holes).
That is to say, there are a couple of keys related to D that are easy to play in. (G, Em) After that, change whistles.
Did that help?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: GUEST,mark dunlop
Date: 18 May 03 - 12:10 PM

Overtons are great - I have a high D which is real nice but it takes a fair bit of puff. Quite an ambitious (not to mention pricey) choice for a first whistle but if you've got the cash, why the hell not? If you're playing a lot in sessions with singers, you'll need to get a few whistles in different keys. You can buy cheap Generations and Susatos n keys like C, Bb, Eb, and F, rather than spending loads. Definitely try Mike Burke - tone wise his are the best whistles I've ever played - and they're if anything cheaper than Overtons. Good luck. m.d.

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 17 May 03 - 12:37 PM

MERLIN
You can get the tune (music melody line) as well as pennywhistle notation on the following website:

YET ANOTHER DIGITAL TRADITION

http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/

Under the tune you can select pennywhistle notation and then select the key of the pennywhistle you intend to use.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: GUEST
Date: 17 May 03 - 12:10 PM

I dont play whistle.
But the sound Phil Hardy makes with his are very pleasant on the ear.
sometimes he appears at the Blue Anchor in St Albans on a sat night.
Nice perm too.
and bryony

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: Pied Piper
Date: 17 May 03 - 07:21 AM

Hi Merlin.
The best place to start looking for a tune is JC's abc tune finder
Just type in the title at the top and the site returns the tune in as many formats as you could possibly want (except MP3)

All the best PP

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: poetlady
Date: 17 May 03 - 06:27 AM

I don't have an Overton myself, but most people, it seems, are quite fond of them. I have a Burke low G and would say that it was a very nice whistle for the relatively low price, and I also like my inexpensive little Clarke. I think it is a matter of personal preference. (I believe different people will likely all have different opinions.)

The Chiffboard is sadly down right now, but when it is up again, I'm sure you'll be able to find plenty of other Overton fans. :)

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: smallpiper
Date: 17 May 03 - 05:07 AM

You will soon learn that (just like the pipes)there is only one key! And that happens to be the key of whatever whistle you are playing at the time. Other people will adapt.

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: michaelr
Date: 16 May 03 - 07:47 PM

CraigS -- I'm intrigued by your advice, and don't quite understand it.

No matter how hard I pretend that an A whistle is a D whistle, or that an Eb whistle is an A whistle, I'll still be playing in the wrong key, no? Or am I missing something?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: CraigS
Date: 16 May 03 - 05:39 PM

Advice for using music written for other instruments:
Don't forget that a whistle is a transposing instrument - don't bust a gut trying to play a fiddle tune in A on an Eb whistle, just pretend that the whistle is an A whistle. Also, if the tune doesn't work because it goes out of the range of the whistle, try pretending the whistle is a fifth below (eg. if the music is in A, pretend that the whistle is a D).

Subject: RE: overton whistles
From: Blackcatter
Date: 16 May 03 - 05:29 PM

hullo Merlin

Welcome to the world of whistles! Overtons are indeed wonderful instruments. But there are many wonderful makers there.

Check out Chiff & Fipple - The World of Tin Whistles

That is THE place on the net for whistles. They have extensive info on every major and many minor whistles, including prices and where to get them.

As for the music, I'm not sure. I believe there is a Clancy Brothers Songbook that has Gypsy Rover on it. Try guitar, fiddle and mandolin "fake" books. They have a lot of trad. songs.

Good luck (and beware - they're addicting. I have 28 whistles and they all are different).

pax yall

Subject: overton whistles
From: merlin
Date: 16 May 03 - 02:51 PM

Are overton whistles in other whistlers opinion the best you can get!
Having just got myself a fantastic little soprano D with the sweeetest sound i have ever heard from a whistle , I am new to whistling myself and at the moment have a very limited rep is this then a good purchase ? does anyone know where i can get the music for The fairy dance and The Gypsey rover Please advise.