Low whistle facts for kids
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| Other names | Concert Whistle, Alto/Tenor/Bass Whistle |
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| Classification | |
| Playing range | |
| Two octaves, typically D4 to D6 | |
| Related instruments | |
The low whistle, also called the concert whistle, is a special type of tin whistle. It is different because it has a much lower sound and is bigger than a regular tin whistle. This instrument is often heard in Celtic music, especially with British and Irish artists. Some famous players include Tommy Makem, Finbar Furey, and Davy Spillane.
The low whistle is great for playing slow, beautiful tunes called "airs." It has a soft, almost magical sound. But it's also used for faster, lively dances like jigs and reels from Irish, Scottish, and English traditions. Because its finger holes are bigger, it can be easier to add special musical decorations to the notes.
The most common low whistle is the "Low D" whistle. This means its lowest note is one octave (eight notes) below the traditional D whistle. A whistle is usually called "low" if its lowest note is G above middle C or even lower. Whistles that play higher notes are called "soprano" or "high" whistles. Low whistles work just like regular pennywhistles and are played in a similar way. However, because the holes are farther apart, many players use a "piper's grip" to reach them. They are all part of the woodwind instrument family, known as end-blown fipple flutes.
While the sound can be a bit different depending on who makes it, low whistles usually have a more airy, flute-like sound compared to the sharper sound of traditional tin whistles.
The Low Whistle's Past
The exact start of the low whistle is a bit of a mystery, but we know that similar flutes have been around for a very long time. Flutes with a "fipple" (a special plug that helps make sound) became popular in the 1500s. These old flutes were the ancestors of today's low whistle. They often had six holes and a cone-shaped body, just like early flutes played sideways.
At first, these flutes were made of wood. But by the late 1600s, people started using metals like brass and nickel. These metal flutes were often made by rolling and soldering pieces together. Some even had a special sliding part to help tune them. You could find these metal flutes all over Ireland, Britain, and other parts of Europe.
How the Modern Low Whistle Began
The first modern low whistle was created in 1971 by an English flute maker and jazz musician named Bernard Overton (1930-2008). He made it with Finbar Furey, a famous musician. Finbar's favorite Indian bamboo whistle had broken while he was on tour. Bernard tried to make a metal copy. He and Finbar spent many hours working together to design and perfect the new flute.
The first few were called the "Furey/Overton flute." But when Bernard started making them full-time, they decided to call them "The Overton Flute." The very first one was made from a copper pipe with a wooden plug, like a giant tin whistle. This was soon replaced by an all-aluminum design. Bernard wasn't happy with the first one, but he kept working on it and made a whistle in the key of A. Finbar was very impressed and asked for a G version for his famous song, Lonesome Boatman.
Bernard Overton later said:
"He then asked for a whistle in low D, the same pitch as for the concert flute; this I called a "Tenor D Flageolet", but most musicians came to call it the "Low D". He took them on tour and used them extensively. I was soon getting calls from England, Ireland, Scotland, Europe and the USA, asking for the instruments, so I started to make them to order."
So, the name "Irish low whistle" doesn't mean it started in Ireland. It just shows how much this instrument is used there and in other parts of the British Isles. Many instrument makers soon started making low whistles. But it was the famous Riverdance show in the 1990s that really made the low whistle well-known to people outside of traditional music. Davy Spillane is another important player who helped make the low whistle popular by mixing its sound with modern jazz and R&B music.
Some of the most famous low whistle players today include Michael McGoldrick, Kevin Crawford, and Brian Finnegan. In rock music, Troy Donockley sometimes plays the low whistle with the band Nightwish.
Low Whistle in Traditional Music
Unlike the regular pennywhistle, the low whistle is quite new to folk music. Some people used to think it wasn't needed because the tin whistle and Irish flute already played similar roles. Others saw it as a "stepping stone" for players who wanted to learn the more expensive flute or uilleann pipes.
It's true that many skills learned on the low whistle can help with these other instruments. However, many amazing traditional musicians have played the low whistle. They have shown that it is a very flexible and respected instrument on its own. It has a special and moving sound. The low whistle, like the Irish bouzouki, came about during a time when musicians were trying new instruments in traditional music. They were looking for fresh and exciting ways to express themselves.
