9stines- Merthiolate For The Christian Soul

Do you remember the theme song from the movie The Titanic? It is a gorgeous song and Celine Dion does a fantastic job singing beginning and throughout the song you hear the charming melodic sound of an Irish whistle. Irish whistle, penny whistle, tin whistle, Feadog, they are know by many names but they are simply a small pipe with six holes and a mouthpiece. They come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes and even keys and ranges but the whistle is simple and beautiful and has been around a very long time.

The whistle is pretty similar to the recorder and to a degree sound similar. Probably the most famous of the whistle family is the Clarke Tin Whistle. This Whistle has been around a very long time and continues to be a favorite especially for whistlers just starting out. It has a warm smooth tone and in the hands of a skilled player can bring someone to dancing or lull them to sleeping. It is one of my favorite instruments because I think it is a very intimate instrument. I have one of these along with 2 Walton’s. You can get them in a variety of keys but the most common are D and C.

I spend a significant time alone. My daily job requires me to do a lot of driving. Often times my lunch breaks are spent in my car. I sometimes spend the time for prayer and meditation time, I sometimes listen to the radio, and very often it is a time I get my whistle out and let go. I have discovered that the whistle brings a very soothing state over me. This whistle has a way of filtering my spirit and bringing out what I am feeling inside. Helps me to reflect. Sometimes I even imagine I am at the edge of Grand Canyon or in the hills of Ireland or Scotland. You have to know, however, that I am a beginning whistler myself.  I have been playing for about two and a half years but I still have so much to learn. I too often hit bad notes or I completely get into what I am doing and forget to breathe resulting in me nearly passing out.

Since I started I have been made fun of for my tin whistles. Often from other musicians who have never ‘experienced’ that type of music. I don’t know why, maybe if I let them listen to recordings from some of the whistle masters it may change their minds. Maybe it is because they are so cheap to buy? Is it because they think the whistle requires a minimum amount of skill to master? Is it because you will never attend Julliard to learn to play one? Beats me. I just know I like it. It is the tin whistle which caused me to build in interest into Celtic music. But why would I be so into this little thing so much as to give it a place here on this website? Because I feel it deserves it. And there are a lot of other whistlers who agree.If you are a fellow whistler I would like to hear from you