Whistle musical instrument. Irish folk musical instruments - Wind of Water - folk-rock band, live music of pagan Russia and medieval Europe

And some other countries.

build

The whistle is a diatonic instrument with a range of approximately 2 octaves. The fingering is simple, with fork fingerings and half hole closures rarely used except for a lowered seventh to allow playing in the second key. With the help of complicated fingering, you can achieve an almost complete chromatic range.

The most common tuning is D (re of the second octave), tinwhistles are also produced in most keys from G (salt of the second octave) to G (salt of the first), instruments in A and G are sometimes considered already low whistles.

Story

The history of the instrument is lost in the centuries, since such flutes originate from prehistoric times and are found in almost every people on Earth.

Actually "tin" - that is, tin, whistle appeared in 1843 in England. Poor farmer Robert Clarke had a wooden whistle and wanted to make a similar one, but from a new material tinplate(tinned tin), which then only appeared. The new instrument was so successful that Clark decided to start his own business. Together with his son, he traveled around England, carrying his tools and materials with him in a handcart. Stopping in towns and villages, especially in markets, Clark rolled tin whistles from a sheet of tin in front of the eyes of the population, resulting in a conical tube, which was then closed at one end with a wooden cork - a whistle was obtained, then holes were cut in the tube. Clark immediately demonstrated the instrument, playing melodies on it for the audience. The pipe cost one penny, hence another of its names - penny-whistle. Occasionally, Clarke's pipes were bought by Irish sailors and other people from the Green Isle who brought them home. So tin whistle came to Ireland.

In Ireland, the pipe fell in love with everyone, as it was very well suited to the performance of Irish folk music. Production of Robert Clark has survived to this day, brand whistles Clarke enjoy constant popularity around the world, especially as an instrument for beginners.

Subsequently, tin whistles began to be made from various materials, from metal tubes, brass, aluminum, etc. Various types of plastic and other materials.

Tin whistle became widespread around the world in the 60s and 70s of the XX century in the wake of the revival of interest in folk music in Ireland and beyond. Almost all famous folk groups used tin whistle in their activities. New firms and master tin-whistle makers appeared.

Application

Despite the seeming primitiveness of the device, tin whistle - in the context of Irish folk music - is a rather sophisticated instrument that has much more possibilities than it seems at first glance. The technique of performance on it, most likely, developed under the influence of the technique of playing the Irish bagpipe uilleann pipes, which has a long tradition and is quite complex. Many Irish musicians became famous precisely because of their mastery of the whistle, for example Mary Bergin, who recorded two albums in the late 70s under the name Feadoga Stain 1 & 2 (Tin Whistles 1 & 2), which have had and continue to have a significant impact on whistlers around the world.

Modern whistles

There are many different types of tin whistles these days. These are the tin conical whistles that have survived to this day Clarke, and common brass with a plastic whistle generation, available plastic whistles Dixon and Susato and wooden whistles of professional manufacturers.

Low whistle

low whistle- low whistle - a kind of tin whistle. It features a lower setting and larger size, greater demands on breathing and less mobility. It has a deeper and thicker timbre. Therefore, the low whistle is often used to play slow melodies. Whistles are made of metal, plastic or wood.

The most common key is D (D of the first octave, an octave below the usual tinwistle). It is produced in most keys from G (salt of the first octave) to G (small salt). The lowest tonalities are very rare and are sometimes referred to as "bass".

Story

It is likely that low-whistle-like longitudinal flutes existed as early as the 16th century, but this fact remains controversial.

The inventor of the low whistle in its modern form is an English jazz musician and instrument maker. Bernard Overton, who in 1971 made a low whistle for a famous Irish musician Finbara Fury (Finbar Furey) who lost his bamboo whistle while on tour. Having made the first two low whistles, which Fury actively used in performances, Overton began to receive orders from other musicians.

The beginning of the mass popularity of the low whistle fell on the 90s of the XX century after the famous dance show Riverdance in which the musician Davy Spillane played this instrument.

Irish Flute Low Whistle.
Key: G major (G).
Length: 43 cm.
Material: rosewood (rosewood), copper rings.
Design features: composite adjustable,
whistle manufacturing technology - "tube in tube".

The sound of such a flute is soft, deep and confident.

Sergey Klevensky is the best professional flutist in Russia
officially represents our whistles.

Sergey Klevensky is a multi-instrumentalist who has mastered more
ten of the most exotic wind instruments. He's easy
fits into any musical culture, from acoustic fusion,
to heavy electronic rock. With his virtuoso playing, he adorned
an endless number of projects. Among them: Ivan Smirnov Quartet,
Farlanders, Myllarite, Volga, Moscow Grooves Institute, Maleriya,
Art Ceilidh. According to critics, Sergei Klevensky can be called
one of the most powerful musicians of the modern ethnic scene in Russia.

The whistle is a folk longitudinal flute, widespread in Ireland, Scotland and England. Literally translated as "whistle, pipe." Until the middle of the 19th century, it was traditionally made of wood, later of brass tin. In modern times, flutes made of wood are gaining popularity again, due to a more powerful and beautiful sound. The whistle has 6 playing holes, the traditional tuning is D major (D). The flute sounds high, collected, and great for playing fast tunes!

How to play:

Take the flute in your hands. With the fingers of your left hand, close the top three playing holes (those that are closer to the whistle): index, middle, nameless. Further, the fingers of the right hand - index, middle, ring close the three remaining lower holes. Fingers lie on the playing holes tightly, but at the same time, not tense. When opening the holes while playing, the thumbs of both hands and the little finger of the right hand hold the flute. Put the flute to your lips and blow evenly into the whistle slot on the end of the flute, gradually changing the force of blowing until you get an even sound. After receiving a stable sound with all the holes closed, go on to search for the sound of one open hole from below, and so, gradually mastering the sounds of all the holes in sequential order, go on to simple melodies that the flute will tell you.

Beautiful melodies and joy to you when mastering the magic flute Whistle!

Various whistles

whistle(from English. tin whistle, literally translated "tin whistle, pipe", pronunciation options (Russian): whistle, whistle, the former is more common) is a folk longitudinal flute with six holes on the front side, widely used in the folk music of Ireland, Scotland, England and some other countries.

build

The whistle is a diatonic instrument with a range of approximately 2 octaves. The fingering is simple, with fork fingerings and half hole closures rarely used except for a lowered seventh to allow playing in the second key. With the help of complicated fingering, you can achieve an almost complete chromatic range.

The most common tuning is D (D of the second octave), tinwhistles are also produced in most keys from G (sol of the second octave) to G (sol of the first), instruments in A and G are sometimes considered already low whistles.

Story

The history of the instrument is lost in the centuries, since such flutes originate from prehistoric times and are found in almost every people on Earth.

Actually "tin" - that is, tin, whistle appeared in 1843 in England. Poor farmer Robert Clarke had a wooden whistle and wanted to make a similar one, but from a new material tinplate(tinned tin), which then only appeared. The new instrument was so successful that Clark decided to start his own business. Together with his son, he traveled around England, carrying his tools and materials with him in a handcart. Stopping in towns and villages, especially in markets, Clark rolled tin whistles from a sheet of tin in front of the eyes of the population, resulting in a conical tube, which was then closed at one end with a wooden cork - a whistle was obtained, then holes were cut in the tube. Clark immediately demonstrated the instrument, playing melodies on it for the audience. The pipe cost one penny, hence another of its names - penny-whistle. Occasionally, Clarke's pipes were bought by Irish sailors and other people from the Green Isle who brought them home. So tin whistle came to Ireland.

In Ireland, the pipe fell in love with everyone, as it was very well suited to the performance of Irish folk music. Production of Robert Clark has survived to this day, brand whistles Clarke enjoy constant popularity around the world, especially as an instrument for beginners.

Subsequently, tin whistles began to be made from various materials, from metal tubes, brass, aluminum, etc. Various types of plastic and other materials.

Tin whistle became much more widespread around the world in the 60s and 70s of the 20th century in the wake of a revival of interest in folk music in Ireland and beyond. Almost all famous folk groups used tin whistle in their activities. New firms and master tin-whistle makers appeared.

Application

Despite the seeming primitiveness of the device, tin whistle - in the context of Irish folk music - is a rather sophisticated instrument that has much more possibilities than it seems at first glance. The technique of performance on it, most likely, developed under the influence of the technique of playing the Irish bagpipe uilleann pipes, which has a long tradition and is quite complex. Many Irish musicians became famous precisely because of their mastery of the whistle, for example Mary Bergin, who recorded two albums in the late 70s under the name Feadoga Stain 1 & 2 (Tin Whistles 1 & 2), which have had and continue to have a significant impact on whistlers around the world.

Notable whistlers:

• Willie Clancy
• Mary Bergin
• Paddy Moloney
• Sean Potts
• Brian Finnegan
• Joanny Madden
• Sean Ryan
• Cormac Breatnach
• Michael McGoldrick

Modern whistles

There are many different types of tin whistles these days. These are the tin conical whistles that have survived to this day Clarke, and common brass with a plastic whistle generation, available plastic whistles Dixon and Susato and wooden whistles of professional manufacturers.

The most popular manufacturers:

• Clarke
• Walton's
• Feadog
• Tony Dixon
• Susato
• chieftain
• Overton/Goldie
• Abell

The whistle is one of the most common instruments in the world, largely due to its affordability: an entry-level pipe, quite acceptable in quality, can cost $5, professional-level instruments cost from $100 to $700, but some professionals prefer cheap whistles. The most expensive, as a rule, are wooden artisan whistles.

Low whistle

Musician playing low whistle

low whistle- Low whistle - a low variety of tin whistle. It features a lower setting and larger size, as well as greater demands on breathing and less mobility. It has a deeper and thicker timbre. Therefore, the low whistle is often used to play slow melodies. Made from metal, plastic or wood.

The most common key is D (D of the first octave, an octave below the usual tinwistle). It is produced in most keys from G (salt of the first octave) to G (small salt). The lowest tonalities are very rare and are sometimes called "bass".

Story

It is likely that longitudinal flutes like the low whistle existed as early as the 16th century, this fact remains debatable.

The inventor of the low whistle in its modern form is an English jazz musician and instrument maker. Bernard Overton, who in 1971 made a low whistle for a famous Irish musician Finbara Fury (Finbar Furey), who lost his bamboo whistle while on tour. Having made the first two low whistles, which Fury actively used in his performances, Overton began to receive commissions from other musicians.

The beginning of the mass popularity of the low whistle fell on the 90s of the XX century after the famous dance show Riverdance in which the musician Davy Spillane played this instrument.

Links

• Website dedicated to whistle (Russian)
• The world famous English-speaking forum dedicated to the whistle and other wind instruments (eng.)

Notes

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

Irish pipe (whistle, literally - a whistle, which is generally correct if you blow harder) - one stick and nine holes. Six working holes allow you to play seven notes of natural major. The second and the beginning of the third octave are played by blowing. Special combinations allow you to take flats. They are made in many keys - A, Bb (bagpipe system), C, D, Eb F, G (this affects the size); the rest - by order. They mainly use C and D - respectively for songs in C / Dm and D / Em.

Vistulas are of two main types - cylindrical and conical. Cylindrical are a metal tube (made of bronze or nickel) with drilled holes and a plastic mouthpiece. They have a bright sound. Main brands: Generation, Feadog, Waltons.

Professional cylindrical vislas are made entirely of aluminum. The original strong sound, which is no longer whistling, but still not a flute. Brands: Howard, Chieftain.

Conical whistles (known as Pennywhistle - they got their name because some nimble citizens, playing these same whistles in public places, managed to earn a little of these very pennies) - as you can see in the photo - a tin sheet rolled into a cone, soldered along the seam with reverse side, with a wooden insert in the mouthpiece. A characteristic rather soft "hissing" sound. Also available an octave lower (low whistle). When played with other instruments, it creates a sense of "depth of sound". Brands: Clark, Shaw

Scottish bagpipe (Great Highland Bagpipe) full size (full size) kills everything living within a radius of 3 meters from the piper. Attempts to play it in small halls such as Magnifique end in complete paralysis of the audience. It actually consists of a bag "a (i.e. a bag), a mouthpiece, several drones (drones - emitting a characteristic sound of a constant tone, usually 1 bass, 2 tenors) and a chanter (chanter), usually in Bb, on which, in fact, a melody is played.

Speaking of melody. If someone does not know, we explain: besides the fact that this is a show, it is also music, and if you are not able to remember the melody, this does not mean that the piper does not remember it.

In order to prevent people from dying at concerts and home sessions, the small bagpipe (smallpipe). Its main difference from the big one is the quite acceptable power of the already ambiguous sound perception (I am delighted with it ... the first 10 minutes). In addition, it is much easier to blow into it, so it is better to learn the wisdom of the game on it.

Speaking of training. Along with training the lungs, at first it is recommended to use practice chanter(the same chanter as in the bagpipe, but with a mouthpiece), which is easier to blow, and there are not so many worries - inflate, press, play ... and all at once!

Guess what it is?

You hardly guessed it , or, in Russian speaking, an electronic training chanter that imitates the Scottish bagpipe. On the right side there is a headphone jack. Supports natural C and D sounds. Available with a black or transparent body (apparently by analogy with the slots on Hi-End equipment for observing the magical glow of lamps and other cool things). If you seriously plan to train in inappropriate places for this (on the way to work / from work / to your girlfriend / or when she has just fallen asleep, and even more so if "she" is not her, but, say, mother-in-law!) Perhaps this device will help you.

For big fans to smoke a pipe during a concert, another tricky thing was invented - Uilleann (Elbow) Pipe (Irish bagpipe). As you may have guessed, you don't need to blow into it. Air is pumped using bellows. The standard action is D, but any action is made to order.

The UP has gone as far from the Scottish bagpipes as the Boehm flute from the whistle: the chanter allows you to take semitones, so that the system becomes unprincipled. In addition, the reed allows you to play an octave higher by blowing. With the help of additional regulators on drones, it becomes possible to do all sorts of interesting things like playing chords.

In addition to the complete set, UPs come in half - without additional regulators, and student - without drones.

A traditional Irish percussion instrument, usually a wooden frame covered with genuine leather. They hold it with their left hand, resting on the belly; they hit with the right, holding a stick in it in the manner of a fountain pen so that with sliding blows up and down, both ends of the stick hit the skin (basic technique).

Sticks (stick), in addition to the standard form, are fanciful and even more fanciful with a displaced center of gravity.

The nature of the sound varies considerably depending on the angle at which the blow occurs and on the position of the left hand on the inner surface of the skin. There are tuneable (tuneable) and non-tunable models with a diameter of 14-22 inches.

Mandolin family except for the usual small mandolin (mandolin) includes big sister mandola (mandola), mother mandocelo (mandocello) and dad mandobass (mandobass)- put a smile!. Once a little mandolin was seduced by a tomboy banjo. The fruit of their young love, which appeared after the allotted time, was called mandobanjo (mandobanjo). Such a turn of events could not but affect the next of kin. uncle sitar so upset that instead of ADADA he began to sound like ADGAD, and sometimes even like DGDAD, and aunt bouzouki (bouzouki)- Well, these Greeks have names! - even acquired an additional pair of strings, so as not to stand out from the slender rows of the mandolin family. Meanwhile, the excesses of the banjo pervert did not end there. Attracted by classical forms, he dishonored the venerable guitar, leaving his daughter as a memory of his ardent African lover. guitarbanjo (guitar banjo). Fearing revenge from the outraged public, the banjo made a feeble attempt to make up - he got a 5th string (5 sizes smaller - apparently he took it from some child) and changed the tuning to GDGBD. But this did not help him to avoid the answer: caught by an angry mob, he was cassed ... well, they tore off his frets and pulled nylon strings onto the neck.

The mandolin is built in the same way as the violin - GDAE. In addition to the classic Italian form with a pear-shaped body (round back), a model with a flat body (flat back - for example, a mandala) is more often used in folk music. And no wonder. You can confidently hold an instrument in your hands, the back of which is an elongated hemisphere, and even varnished, only in a sober state, sitting in the classic “foot to foot” position. Such demands on the musician, as you understand, did not lead to the strengthening of a sober lifestyle, but to the appearance of an instrument that stands firmly between the legs. The new design was called "Celtic".

The tenor mandola (tenor mandola) is built in the same way as the alto - CGDA and outwardly resembles a grown mandolin. True, in Irish music, the octave mandola (octave mandola, the Americans call it octave mandolin) is more often used, tuned as GDAE an octave below the mandolin.

The mandocello is built an octave below the CGDA tenor mandala. It looks like an octave more.

Mandobass is being built by EADG. Looks, hmm... respectively.

The sitar (sittern) recently, like other instruments of the mandolin family, has changed its design to a flat back, so the main difference is the presence of 10 paired strings, which are built as it comes into your head, and a shorter and wider neck (on in fact, there can be more or less strings - from 8 to ...). There are ADADA, ADGAD, DGDAD tuning options, plus a capo is often used.

The bouzouki is the Greek version of the lute. Traditional Greek are built by CFAD. In fact, they used to be made with six double strings (DAD), but now the Greek masters make mainly eight-string CFADs with a pear-shaped body (round back).

Irish musicians, in their desire to rebuild all such instruments in the GDAE, did not ignore the bouzouki, at the same time bringing the design to a common denominator. The appearance of flat back models made bouzouki very similar to the octave mandala, only the neck of the bouzouki is longer. Such an adaptation led to the fact that the line between the "Irish" bouzouki (irish bouzouki) and the octave mandala lay somewhere in the region of the 58th centimeter neck scale, so that anything shorter is a mandola, anything longer is a bouzouki. The sound of the "Irish" variety is more open and bright than that of the Greek, and it is more comfortable to hold it.

The tenor banjo is widely used not only in traditional Irish music, but also in traditional jazz. It has a smaller scale than the G banjo and has four CGDA-tuned strings, but virtually all Irish players tune down the GDAE, an octave below the mandolin and violin. Instruments with a shortened scale (17 frets instead of 19) are more popular, since their fingering corresponds to that of a violin.

The 5-string banjo is commonly used in bluegrass and country music, but in order to diversify it is used as an accompaniment in songs of various musical genres. Among the customization options, gDGBD and gCGDB are the most common. It is distinguished by the presence of the 5th string, slapped on the side-pripe on the fifth fret from the side of the bass strings. The fretless banjo, usually with nylon strings, was previously used with the violin due to its more consistent sound.

Mandobanjo or banjolin (mandobanjo or banjolin), as the name implies, is the result of an incorrect liquidation of a pogrom in a music store: a resonator from a banjo, a neck from a mandolin, a sound - well, this must be heard.

Guitar banjo (guitar banjo) - the perfect outlet for the guitarist when you want to extract the sounds of the banjo, but too lazy to learn. Actually, a guitar neck, 6 strings, the same chords, but the sound...

What is called in Italy violin, and in Russia a violin, in the hands of an Irish musician turns into fiddle. So if on stage someone calls someone Fiedler, this is not a competition for young Jewish talents, but a concert of Irish music.

According to the group's website Sid Host (Slua Si)

Rarely what Irish music does without a whistle. Funny jigs, fast polkas, slow soulful airs - everywhere you can hear the voices of these authentic instruments. The whistle is a longitudinal flute with a whistle and six holes. It is usually made of metal, but you can often find options made of wood or plastic.

They are very cheap, and learning the basics of playing is much easier than on a recorder. Perhaps this is what brought the instrument such popularity among folk musicians around the world. Or maybe the reason was a bright, slightly hoarse sound that evokes thoughts of the green hills of Ireland and the drunken medieval fairs.

Whistle history

Different versions of wind instruments can be found in any country in the world. The territory of modern Great Britain was no exception. Mentions of the first whistles date back to the 11th-12th centuries. Pipes are easy to make from improvised materials, so they were especially valued among the common people.

By the 19th century, a certain standard had formed - a longitudinal shape and 6 holes for the game. At the same time, Robert Clark lived - an Englishman who made the greatest contribution to the development of this instrument. Good flutes were carved from wood or bone - a rather laborious process. Robert came up with the idea to make metal whistle, namely from tinplate.

So appeared modern tin whistle(translated from English tin - tin). Clark collected pipes right on the streets and then sold them at a very affordable price. Cheapness and colorful hoarse sound captivated people. The Irish loved them the most. The tin flute quickly took root in the country and became one of the most recognizable folk instruments.

Varieties of whistles

Today there are 2 types of whistles. The first is the classic tinwhistle, invented by Robert Clark. Second - lowwhistle appeared only in the 1970s. It is about 2 times larger than its smaller brother and sounds an octave lower. The sound is deeper and softer. It has not received much distribution, and is most often used to accompany tin whistle.

Due to their primitive construction, these flutes can only be played in one tuning. Manufacturers produce different versions of whistles for playing in different keys. The most common is D of the second octave (D). It is this tone that has the vast majority of compositions of Irish folk music. The first instrument of every whistler must be in D.

Whistle basics - how to learn how to play?

If you are familiar with the recorder, understanding the essence of tinwistle is a matter of ten minutes. If not, no big deal. This is a very easy to use tool. A little diligence - and in a couple of days you will confidently play simple folk songs.

First you need to correctly take the flute. You need 6 fingers to play index, middle and nameless on each hand. Your thumbs will hold the tool. Place your left hand closer to the whistle, and your right hand closer to the end of the pipe.

Now try to close all the holes. No force is needed - just place the pad of your finger over the hole. When everything is ready, you can start playing. Gently blow the whistle. Too much air flow will cause "overblowing" - a very high screeching note. If you tightly close all the holes and blow with normal force, you will get a confident sounding note. D of the second octave (D).

Now release the ring finger of your right hand (it closes the hole farthest from you). The pitch will change and you will hear a note Mi (e). If, for example, let go of all fingers, it will turn out C sharp (C#).

A list of all notes is shown in the picture.

As you can see, whistlers have only 2 octaves at their disposal. Not very much, but enough to play most songs. A schematic representation of holes that need to be closed is called fingering. On the net you can find entire collections of melodies in this version. To learn how to play, you can not even know musical notation. The perfect instrument for beginner musicians!

You may have noticed the plus sign in the fingerings. It means to blow stronger than usual. That is, to play a note an octave higher, you need to clamp the same holes and simply increase the air flow. The exception is the note Re. In her case, it is better to let go of the first hole - the sound will turn out cleaner.

Another important part of the game is articulation. To make the melody bright and not smeared, the notes need to be highlighted. Try to make a movement with your tongue during the game, as if you want to say the syllable "tu". Thus, you highlight the note, focus on changing the pitch.

When you can fingertip and thump at the same time, start learning your first melody. To begin with, choose something slower, preferably within one octave. And after a few days of training, you will be able to play something like the soundtrack to the movie "Braveheart" or the famous Breton song "Ev Chistr ‘ta Laou!".