Funny, I've been listening to a number of songs featuring the pennywhistle recently... Two songs in particular: Paul Simon's 'You Can Call Me Al' and 'Special Star', a really hokey pop song from the early 90s (or late 80s) by Mango Groove, a popular multiracial South African pop group. (Just to explain my mention of the multiracial aspect, those familar with South African history will know that multiracial bands were extremely rare until the 1990s.)
You can find the music video for 'Special Star' here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4HJfcecgos
Both songs are done in the kwela music style, which you can read all about here.
Anyway, enough introduction. So I was sitting here thinking about kwela music and pennywhistles, and would like to invite someone to bring blues harmonica and kwela music together. Might make for an interesting combo. Myself, I'm working on a cross harp version, but it's slow going.
I -- how do you say this nicely -- I lack the proficiency.
Elwood. No. I found it very interesting. The YouTube video was great and I can see how you think kwela music could cross over to the harp. I've been trying to play something similar but haven't quite got it yet. It's a tune I heard years ago which was used for a film called "The Killing Stones". If I can crack it, I'll post a sound file on here. I'm certainly going to look deeper into kwela. Thanks for posting about it. ----------
Hey Elwood, I just had a chance to watch that video, I think you've got a great idea and are really onto something. I actually tried to tackle the penny whistle a while ago, well before I picked up the harp--although I didn't get very far I love the sounds it can make. I doubt I'll do much with this for a while--so much to do, so little time--but I will tuck the idea away and come back to it eventually. In the meantime, please follow up and post whatever you finally come up with. I'd really like to hear it.
Cool music--might be great for a different approach on harp--I can't imagine cross working all that well--maybe straight or 12th? I'm no where good enough on the positions yet to attempt this.
Kind of makes me want to go out and buy a penny whistle though. . .
Yo! oldwailer. Me too. I found Father Ryan Duns (a Jesuit Priest)on YouTube and yes you've guessed it, he gives penny whistle lessons. You need a whistle in the key of D to follow his lessons which I just happened to have and he starts with the basics. The only trouble I'm having now is the temptation to suck after playing the harp for so long, but it's another instrument to add to my resume.
Here's a link to his first lesson. He mainly plays Irish style tunes which are quite fast but it looks interesting.
And furthermore, I thought there were no reeds to blow out and it would last for years, then I came across some information about tweaking and customising your whistle. Here we go again.... ----------
LOL Tooka. A good source for pennywhistle intstructional material is www.homespuntapes.com. I bought a package there years ago, it was on a wax cylinder but I just checked and they've upgraded to CDs.
Well, once you have a D whistle--you just gotta have an A and maybe a C--and they come in wood, bamboo, tin, not to mention the Blues Pennywhistle! And, harpfans, the damn things cost right around a hundred bucks each--depending on the finish and carvings and cases.
I still might have to get one--they sound so cool!
Of course, you can learn to make your own with a DVD lesson--and I suppose you could even modify them and tweek the tunings.
If you think this is a joke--check out this page and the videos on it--they are very cool--
Be sure to scroll down a bit to see the button for blues whistles.
Notice at the end of the instructional video where it tells you what kind of reverb, mic, and amp you will need!
Wow! Another hobby! I wonder if they have Pennywhistle Masterclass Workshops??
I think you were right in the first place Elwood--better to get my chops up to the place where I can emulate the pennywhistle sound on harp. . .
Last Edited by on Apr 06, 2009 10:38 AM
When you overblow, it goes up to a higher octave and you can bend notes with the fingering. Oh Boy! Trouble is there is so much to do with the fingers rather than the tongue and throat muscles. Could be fun though for some of those haunting melodies. ----------
It's all your fault Elwood. Look what you've started now. I'm pleased you did. I think I'll draw a line at the amp and reverb effects pedal though. ----------
That's funny, Elwood--reminds me of the time I brought home a Selmer Flute to show my wife--the ground rules were that I had to drive up into the mountains to play it for the first two years. . .
Sorry, can't restrain myself. If you think the pennywhistle has a great sound, then please consider the hulusi, a chinese flute. We have a few, my son can actually play it. Definitely has harmonic capabilities, and you can do a great drone sound on it. I see some very haunting asian blues in the offing....check this out, especially around the 7:43 mark for the harmonica comparison.
If you want a really far out instrument, try a hang drum. they are made by only one company and you have to sign an agreement not to sell it before they will make you one. they have a beautiful ethereal sound
Look, you've got to stop it guys. I've been reading up how you can improve the chiff on your tin whistle by sharpening the wind edge on the fipple. Now you've got me wanting one of those hulusi's. I've got get back to playing my harp. It is fascinating though. ----------
I knew I loved this place....I played tin whistle/ pennywhistle three years before I ever touched a harmonica. It's a fantastic instrument, and the breath control you learn on it definitely comes in handy when blowing harmonica. I've stolen more than a few of my tin whistle licks and translated them into first-position harp. Never thought of playing second position, though...hmm....
