Introduction

introduction


The low whistle, with its haunting and etheral tone, has recently established its place within Irish music. It is a tin whistle, in the range of keys from A below middle C, down to D. The lower range requires this whistle to be increased in size. It is suited for the contemporary composeers such as Davy Spillane, Bill Whelan or Máire Breathnach. In skilled hands, it can also perform the traditional music of Ireland. It is essentially a vertical fipple flute. A hollow tube, the 'bore' has six tone holes. The bore can be shaped as a cylinder, or conical which tapers towards the bottom. On one end of the bore is a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece contains a duct, the 'fipple' which directs air towards a cut in the side of the mouthpiece. This produces the sound.

Image
Comparison of the D tin whistle (above) and the D low whistle (below)

Although this instrument's design is simple and unimposing, it speaks with a voice as varied as Irish music itself.



Return to the index.

©2000
This space provided by GeoCities