Re: Tin Whistle Week 5 (Star of the County Down)

Star is one of my favorite songs, though I don't get near enough chance to play it at session. So, here's my version -- using my Burke Low D Aluminum Viper with more of an expressive/rubato 'three' feel than the typical 4/4 reel feel.

For some reason, I just love doing stuff like this slower than usually. Probably because I fair much better at the slow tunes than the bright. :)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jesuit
• whistle
• Ryan
• Duns
• Fordham
• lesson
• vocation
• irish
• tin
• penny
• celtic
• music
• traditional
• ceol
• star
• county
• down

[betazette]

beautiful...I am new to the whistle and just learning through these videos. Interesting to see individual styles of playing. I like to watch technique and I notice you cover the holes more in the middle section of the fingers. Is that a style thing?

[chade2112]

That's standard Low Whistle grip. The first and fourth holes are covered with the pads of your fingertip. The second, third, fifth and sixth are covered with the area between the first and second joint... Because of the stretch needed for the instrument, people will smaller hands *have* to play like this and it's accepted as proper technique for low whistles.

[chade2112]

It should also be noted that, when I played this, I was using the incorrect grip for the first and third fingers.

[musicfamily]

Beautifully played and mellow sound. I like it. I have yet to own a low tin whistle. Did you record this in your office during lunch time? :)

[chade2112]

This is in my home office after work hours. :) No slacking for me!

[bdcgm]

Nice playing, and also downright useful, for those of us who are shopping for a low whistle.

Do you do The Butterfly slip jig? That's another that sounds great when played slower than folks usually play it.

[chade2112]

That's one of my favorites, though I generally like to keep it somewhat to tempo, mostly because Irish trad is dance music, slip jigs being one of those types od trad that has to be a certain tempo and have a certain feel for the dancers.

I do play it on the slow side on occasion, though. :)

[match9441]

what do you think of the e-z low whistles where the holes are a little closer together?

[kaapiovuohi]

Beautiful expression!

[CreekHopper]

I wish, just once, that I could find an Aluminum Viper video or sound clip played without the reverb fanciness in the background. I just want to hear what it sounds like by itself.

[notefinger]

Very nice. I like it played slow. Very mournful.

[tarmenmin]

Very good;) Beautiful melody and sound from your whistle;)

[jeffmcnair50]

It's actually $280 since it's the Low D Viper. If you get the Low D Viper Pro it's more like $300

[sky5light]

your playing is very nice

[betazette]

Thanks for straightening that out...there is much more to learn that I thought :)