Are there any tin whistle books about that provide a good selection of tunes (sheet music) and also show good places to add some embellishments?
I can play tunes straight and can add little bits of ornamentation but I'd like to be able to just look at the notes and see good places to put them before experimenting on my own.
No doubt some people will say "Listen to some whistle CD's". That's fine and I do and I can pick up some ornamentation but for handiness sake, I'm just wondering if such a book exists. I know Grey Larsen's flute and whistle tutor has some tunes at the back of it but are there any other ones? I could have sworn I heard Michael O hAmhlain published one.
Alias Mick Allen, until he went up in the ranks of Comhaltas in Dublin. Yes, he's a great teacher and player and he had two books to his name, both of which I can freely recommend, both Comhaltas publications with an accompanying recording, if you can find them, sort of volume 1 & 2:
Check out thewhistleshop.com - we have about every tutorial you could ask for. The Grey Larsen books are especially helpful. You might also want to check out Brother Steve's Tin Whistle website - it's great! Slan! Lauri
Cathal McConnell also did a number, through Homespun Records:
"Irish Pennywhistle" ~ and this includes a few of his party numbers, incuding with two whistles...
Geraldine Cotter's work is recommended:
"Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor"
There's also Clare McKenna's work:
"The Irish Tin Whistle"
All these come with accompanying recordings...
For some quirky takes on the instrument there are also the American L.E.McCullough's work, which includes books, recordings and video/DVD, including his:
"The Complete Irish Tinwhistle Tutor"
There was an excellent collection of tunes that was sadly mysteriously pulled from publication, one of those "50 tunes by Vinnie Kilduff" (did anyone ever get a copy of it before it was axed, or does anyone know why??) ~ by the virtuoso Vinnie Kilduff, the Boris Becker of whistle playing, but he does have a video/DVD out:
"Learn to Play the Irish Tin Whistle" ~ 50 minutes
Now, the WARNING label missing on the packaging ~ 'ornamentation' is an individual thing. It is best to sample and try and then to pick what you like and leave what you don't like or what in the end you might find odd or uncomfortable. Just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done, or that you necessarily need to make it a part of your playing. Some of the finest players were very sparse in their use or additon of those extra twiddles. Some didn't do that thing so many take for granted ~ "THE ROLL"... There are other recommendations in these discussions for players and recorings.
There are a lot of folks who can do a ton of different twiddles but can't play a basic tune, enlivein the rhythm, or keep a steady tempo worth shight. Ornamentation used wisely can be a hoot, lots of fun, but like speed, it can also kill off the life of a melody or even a session, in part of in whole...
Learning live is always the best way. So, any chance to learn from others, workshops or classes, don't pass it up. You learn more than just a tune or a twiddle, you plug into that aspect of the tradition that has kept it alive for so long, the oral and historical and living context of the music ~ shared with others... As we keep repeating over and over again here, your ears are the greater importance to exercise. You can tell someone who has learned their ornamentation from a book or the sheet ~ it tends to be mechanical and a bit stilted....
Definitely have a look at Eamonn Jordan's two 'Whistle and Sing' collections which were published by Ossian but have been handed over to the Novello Corporation.
Yes, the "Whistle and Sing" books are lovely collections with a nice variety of tunes in them. In that vein, collections to supplement your playing with, another with some variety in it is:
"Matt Cunningham's Dance Music of Ireland"
Dave Mallinson Publications, 1999
ISBN: 1-899512-45-4
Check Dave Mallinson's website (U.K.) for other items too:
Thanks for your suggestions. However, you ('c') may have just changed my mind. I think, in September, I will take a term of whistle lessons in the Culthurlann. I think it's much better than reading from a book and, if I do feel like flicking through a few pages, then I can refer to this thread. Thanks again.
Robin Williamson's "The Pennywhistle Book" was my breakthrough, in the late '70's: it's a very good introduction. Before that, I'd spent years trying to play ITM as if on a recorder, tonguing away maniacally - the ability of others to play beautiful reels and jigs on the whistle seemed incomprehensible magic; all the more so if someone said, "Oh, you do it like this" - with an invisible blur of fingers. The session wasn't the place to learn, nor could I learn it off ITM records. I needed a book, and the one I mention taught me to read music as well.
There are an increasing number of good books, some more comprehensive than Williamson's, but there have always been plenty of crap ones too. If they end with simple tunes or songs, avoid!
Wise man Paddy, I should have remembered where you were, I could have given better directions. The books are good for supplementary backup, and fun to work through too, but there is a lot of dross out there too.
It's not just the Culturlann that has classes, at least it wasn't when I was living in Dublin, all the branches had classes, and some were better than the Culturlann, and not just for whistle/flute. There were also classes not directly tied into Comhaltas. There used to be really good classes given at Trinity College, and also out at Dublin College too. I don't know what prices are like now, but they weren't prohibitive. The advantage with the Comhaltas classes is that there is group time afterwards, or sessions, and in some there is also dancing, which really ties it in to its purposes and its full swing...
Tin whistle books
Tin whistle books
Are there any tin whistle books about that provide a good selection of tunes (sheet music) and also show good places to add some embellishments?
I can play tunes straight and can add little bits of ornamentation but I'd like to be able to just look at the notes and see good places to put them before experimenting on my own.
No doubt some people will say "Listen to some whistle CD's". That's fine and I do and I can pick up some ornamentation but for handiness sake, I'm just wondering if such a book exists. I know Grey Larsen's flute and whistle tutor has some tunes at the back of it but are there any other ones? I could have sworn I heard Michael O hAmhlain published one.
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by 52Paddy
Re: Tin whistle books
do you have O'Neil's?
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by rob_handel
Re: Tin whistle books
Alias Mick Allen, until he went up in the ranks of Comhaltas in Dublin. Yes, he's a great teacher and player and he had two books to his name, both of which I can freely recommend, both Comhaltas publications with an accompanying recording, if you can find them, sort of volume 1 & 2:
“Tutor for the Feadóg Stáin”
“Ag Déanamh Ceoil”
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tin whistle books
Check out thewhistleshop.com - we have about every tutorial you could ask for. The Grey Larsen books are especially helpful. You might also want to check out Brother Steve's Tin Whistle website - it's great! Slan! Lauri
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by lauri
Re: Tin whistle books
Cathal McConnell also did a number, through Homespun Records:
"Irish Pennywhistle" ~ and this includes a few of his party numbers, incuding with two whistles...
Geraldine Cotter's work is recommended:
"Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor"
There's also Clare McKenna's work:
"The Irish Tin Whistle"
All these come with accompanying recordings...
For some quirky takes on the instrument there are also the American L.E.McCullough's work, which includes books, recordings and video/DVD, including his:
"The Complete Irish Tinwhistle Tutor"
There was an excellent collection of tunes that was sadly mysteriously pulled from publication, one of those "50 tunes by Vinnie Kilduff" (did anyone ever get a copy of it before it was axed, or does anyone know why??) ~ by the virtuoso Vinnie Kilduff, the Boris Becker of whistle playing, but he does have a video/DVD out:
"Learn to Play the Irish Tin Whistle" ~ 50 minutes
Now, the WARNING label missing on the packaging ~ 'ornamentation' is an individual thing. It is best to sample and try and then to pick what you like and leave what you don't like or what in the end you might find odd or uncomfortable. Just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done, or that you necessarily need to make it a part of your playing. Some of the finest players were very sparse in their use or additon of those extra twiddles. Some didn't do that thing so many take for granted ~ "THE ROLL"... There are other recommendations in these discussions for players and recorings.
There are a lot of folks who can do a ton of different twiddles but can't play a basic tune, enlivein the rhythm, or keep a steady tempo worth shight. Ornamentation used wisely can be a hoot, lots of fun, but like speed, it can also kill off the life of a melody or even a session, in part of in whole...
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tin whistle books
Learning live is always the best way. So, any chance to learn from others, workshops or classes, don't pass it up. You learn more than just a tune or a twiddle, you plug into that aspect of the tradition that has kept it alive for so long, the oral and historical and living context of the music ~ shared with others... As we keep repeating over and over again here, your ears are the greater importance to exercise. You can tell someone who has learned their ornamentation from a book or the sheet ~ it tends to be mechanical and a bit stilted....
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by ceolachan
~ in other words more specific ~ clumsy...
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tin whistle books
Lauri's recommended link:
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by ceolachan
& for you U.K. folks, something similar:
http://www.bigwhistle.co.uk/
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tin whistle books
Definitely have a look at Eamonn Jordan's two 'Whistle and Sing' collections which were published by Ossian but have been handed over to the Novello Corporation.
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Tin whistle books
Yes, the "Whistle and Sing" books are lovely collections with a nice variety of tunes in them. In that vein, collections to supplement your playing with, another with some variety in it is:
"Matt Cunningham's Dance Music of Ireland"
Dave Mallinson Publications, 1999
ISBN: 1-899512-45-4
Check Dave Mallinson's website (U.K.) for other items too:
http://www.mally.com/
# Posted on June 25th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Tin whistle books
Thanks for your suggestions. However, you ('c') may have just changed my mind. I think, in September, I will take a term of whistle lessons in the Culthurlann. I think it's much better than reading from a book and, if I do feel like flicking through a few pages, then I can refer to this thread. Thanks again.
# Posted on June 26th 2006 by 52Paddy
Re: Tin whistle books
Robin Williamson's "The Pennywhistle Book" was my breakthrough, in the late '70's: it's a very good introduction. Before that, I'd spent years trying to play ITM as if on a recorder, tonguing away maniacally - the ability of others to play beautiful reels and jigs on the whistle seemed incomprehensible magic; all the more so if someone said, "Oh, you do it like this" - with an invisible blur of fingers. The session wasn't the place to learn, nor could I learn it off ITM records. I needed a book, and the one I mention taught me to read music as well.
There are an increasing number of good books, some more comprehensive than Williamson's, but there have always been plenty of crap ones too. If they end with simple tunes or songs, avoid!
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by nicholas
Re: Tin whistle books
Wise man Paddy, I should have remembered where you were, I could have given better directions. The books are good for supplementary backup, and fun to work through too, but there is a lot of dross out there too.
It's not just the Culturlann that has classes, at least it wasn't when I was living in Dublin, all the branches had classes, and some were better than the Culturlann, and not just for whistle/flute. There were also classes not directly tied into Comhaltas. There used to be really good classes given at Trinity College, and also out at Dublin College too. I don't know what prices are like now, but they weren't prohibitive. The advantage with the Comhaltas classes is that there is group time afterwards, or sessions, and in some there is also dancing, which really ties it in to its purposes and its full swing...
Best of luck ~ 'c'
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by ceolachan
"Tunes to start learning on the whistle."
# Posted on July 20th 2006 by bodhranmad
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/10710
# Posted on July 22nd 2006 by ceolachan