hymns, and carols arranged for pennywhistle?
Check out the Whistle and Squeak main site for a collection
of music and other resources for teaching and learning pennywhistle.
How to get new whistlers started
If you are a new whistler, this tutorial is very good, too!
These stay safely in the lower octave, but you can play 'em high, too!
Mary Had a Little Lamb - 4 notes, and one of the best-known tunes around. (hear it)
God Is So Good - Starts low with only 5 notes (hear it)
Peace Like A River - 6 notes of the lower octave, in a well-known traditional song. (hear it)
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - Uses all 7 notes of the lower octave, in a nice simple tune. (hear it)
London Bridge - A well-known tune, with slightly more complex rhythm. (hear it)
These include higher D
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing - Gorgeous whistle tune, written in 1813 (hear it)
Jesus Loves Me - Longer, but simple tune that hits the higher D (hear it)
Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Also makes a fun round. (hear it)
Kookaburra - An Australian folk song about the Kookaburra, a snake-eating bird. (hear it)
The King of Love My Shepherd Is - Psalm 23, set to "St. Columba," a pretty Irish Melody. This tune is good to learn, then add ornamentation as the whistler advances. (hear it)
Starting to use notes in the upper octave
Awake, Awake To Love and Work - Beautiful minor-mode melody from the Kentucky Harmony, 1815. Lots of octave changes and upper octave work. (hear it)
Be Thou My Vision - Splendid hymn, to a traditional Irish tune, more complex 2nd octave. (hear it)
Scarborough Fair - Very pretty English folk tune, popularized by Simon & Garfunkel. (hear it)
Complex rhythms, half-holed sharps or flats, and other fun stuff
O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus - One of my all-time favorite tunes. At the right tempo, has a sea-shanty feel that goes perfectly with the words! (hear it)
Greensleeves - Most of two octaves, sneaky sharps. Dangerously addicting! (hear it)
Load of Hay - This traditional Polka really moves! (midi)
Southwind - Beautiful Irish Air in G, a gentle introduction to C-Natural (midi)
Trumpet (Whistle?) Voluntary - Fancy trills and lots of octave changes. (hear it)
Whistling Tell Overture - aka "The Lone Whistler" when played too late at night! (midi)
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I'd appreciate your thoughts on how to make this a better resource.