I have been working on "Tourdion" from the 1500s... along with some other early tunes. I find my C, Bb, and A polymer whistles give a nice sound and tone for early music. Sort of the 'poor man's recorder'... lol.
Do you play other instruments aside from the whistle?
Tell us about your playing fun on other instruments! 
Though they're kind of expensive, I'm hoping to one day get a low G Susato that has a key for the low note, since i have small woman's hands with short fingers. Right now I can barely manage an A whistle with 'piper's grip'. Playing a low G would be very useful for me in my every day playing situations, especially because i like to play higher harmonies to my fiddler.
Has anyone here played a low whistle with one or two keys? What's your experience with one?
Is the susato high D whistle louder with more punch? -I need to know for playing in outdoor multi-person sessions.
Bill, when you say "wide bore in D" do you mean the S-series, as susato shows here?:
http://www.susato.com/konakart/Pennywhistles/Kildare/1_144_-1_71.do
I assume you have other high D whistles- if so, is the Susato Kildare high D louder in punch and volume, would you say?
At this point I have various brands and keys of whistles. I have just one Susato Kildare whistle (in black polymer)... it's in key of C, their "S-series". It's extremely powerful and punchy- which is great for playing outside in crowded areas- like for example if we're playing at a farmer's market or a craft fair, with lots of passersby.
I'm wondering if anyone else here has Susato Kildares in keys other than C. Which ones do you have, and do you find they too have powerful volume? What is your impression of them?
I also tempted by their LOW Kildare whistles in their M and L series... with keys maybe, since I have hands much smaller than most men's hands. Are their LOW whistles have lots of volume like their higher key S-series Kildares?
Thanks for any input.
Yikes I'm glad to hear there is no need for me to fear super fast mold growing grossness!
That reminds me of a funny old "Honeymooners" tv episode where Ralph Kramden was accusing his wife Alice of stealing money from his pants pocket. Alice replied with her hand on hip: "Ralph the only thing I've ever gotten from your pockets is ten pounds of lint." lolol
Good thing you didn't suck up the lint clog and have it lodge in your lungs- could have meant a trip to the hospital! 
I might be sorry I asked... but what is that ?...mold??
If so, is your whistle wooden? How did mold grow in 30 minutes?
Aaaaaghh! 
Bill, yes that's a pretty tune- has a lot of heart to it and seems fairly accessible to play. Not being experienced in Irish trad music, I hadn't heard of it and went to listen on YT. :)
-----------
I tend to fall in love with some tune for a couple months and then fall in love with a different one and move on...so fickle!
Right now I'm working on "Les Set Goyts"/"Los Set Gotxs"... seems to have various spellings. Song from the 14th century, I'm playing just the instrumental. It's challenging due to switching from 2/4 to 9/4 in the B part...yikes! But listening to other folks playing/singing it helps me get my bearings on the timing.
Such a compelling tune... here is the sheet music and also an instrumental version by the wonderful Ernst Stolz, whose early music YT channel never fails to inspire me:
I am simply stumbling along on this tune and I don't expect to get 'highly skilled' at it, but it's fun to play and is great 'challenge practice' for me!
This is Rufus. Rufus likes it when my husband and I play fiddle and banjo.
But every time I reach for my penny whistles Rufus immediately gets up and makes a beeline for the door to leave the room. I guess that says something. 
Tell us about a tune you are currently working on playing!
That said, I did ponder a bit about whether I really ought to learn wooden recorder in order to get a more 'authentic' sound for playing medieval and early music. But I cured myself of that by having a look at recorder fingering charts. 
I confess the simplicity of penny whistle fingerings helped make my decision. I do find that for now at least (as a beginner), I find the tone of slightly lower polymer whistles to feel mighty pleasing for playing simple early folk and medieval music.
I'm on board for that, Bill! Though I think trad irish music can be incredibly beautiful and wonderful, it's not what i aspire to play. Right now I'm practicing the whistle in mostly two very different genres of music- medieval/Renaissance music, and also mid 1800s American minstrel era tunes. So far I've not found any reasons why I couldn't or shouldn't be doing so. Currently having too much fun to worry about it...maybe I'll fuss about it later on at some point...or not! 
My positive thing- I'm signed up to start a class series this month on beginning penny whistle taught by multi-instrumental NY folk musician George Ward. It'll consist of a total of six classes, on thursday evenings. Should be fun! I've been watching Youtubes and learning at home on my own for the past few months, so I figure I'll pick up some good tips and help with ornamentation and technique.
Haven't taken any instrument classes for quite a while. It's kinda fun being in beginner mode on a new instrument and I'm really looking forward to the classes!
I agree, I've seen some real helpful stuff on Brother Steve's site!
What i mean is that on a D whistle you would be playing the key of G in ionian mode (3 holes covered). On an A whistle you'd be playing the key of D in ionian mode.
If you hear a lonesome/sad/spooky soundingtune, it's more likely to fall comfortably in either aeolian mode (one bottom hole uncovered) or Dorian mode (the 4 bottom holes uncovered). That would mean on a D whistle you'd likely be able to play the sad tune most easily in Eminor or Aminor.
Likewise the more cheerful tunes are typically in Ionian or Mixolydian modes...which fall on the whistle with the home note being all holes covered (D on a D whistle), or with bottom 3 holes uncovered (G on a D whistle). Clear as mud i suppose. ;D
But yes you can expand your capabilities a great deal by half-holing the whistle. and- This translates directly to having extra half-frets like the 6.5 on the dulcimer! 
Wow Bill- I love that!!!! It's incredibly helpful for us folks coming to the whistle from being mountain dulcimer players.
I too had a revelation of sorts along this very same line as you did, but my brain applied it as the four main dulcimer modes and i'm using it to figure out where a tune's 'home' note might fall on the whistle, as follows:
I noticed that certain minor-sounding tunes on the whistle most often had their home note on two particular places/holes on the whistle, while the major sounding tunes most often centered on two other specific holes. Then I realized it followed the very same position pattern as the fretboard on the diatonic dulcimer's 'home' location of the 4 common modes: mixolydian, aeolian, ionian, and dorian! M ixolydian= all holes covered/open string(zero fret). Aeolian=1 hole uncovered/homenote on 1st fret. Ionian= 3 holes uncovered/homenote on 3rd fret. Dorian=4 holes uncovered/homenote on 4th fret.
I was thunderstruck by that when i realized it a couple months ago. And your post makes it even clearer in my mind now.
This all helps me find the right place on the whistle to start tunes from and be sure I have the right scale and the sharps and flats I need for the tune. Discovering that really let the light shine into my brain concerning the whistle and translating tunes back and forth between the whistle and stringed instruments. So cool!
Like the black and whites note pattern on a piano, the dulcimer's diatonic fretboard with its pattern of mode-based scales can relate to the hole patterns on the penny whistle, and understanding one can help you with the other. 
This thread has no theme and it has no end. Just drop by and express yourself with your random thoughts or various goings-on in your life. The subjects will drift from one thing to another, from one member to another. This is the thread where you never have to stay 'on topic'.
Here is a thread where we can all show off our animal buddies!
Let's see your favorite furry friends....
Questions about using our NEW SITE? Ask them Here: Site Questions Forum .
Chifmunk, if you created the forum thread, you will automatically be already subscribed to it.
If you want to be subscribe/follow a thread that someone else created, just click the 'target'/Follow button to turn it yellow (active). See my attached screenshot below to see the button in this thread, for example. When the Follow button is yellow, you are actively following a thread.
To adjust what kinds of actions or items you want to be Notified about, go to your own profile page (click on your name link anywhere) and go to the Notifications TAB to select your preferences about getting site notifications.
...Just hover your mouse over your NAME link at top right of any page, in the links menu bar. You'll then see the drop-down menu which includes a link to your "private messages" area.
Note: members are able to send private messages to other members- you don't need to be 'following' each other to do so.
(Questions about using our SITE? Ask them Here: Site Questions Forum . )
CIVILITY:
We are a super friendly community! Please respect that others may have different viewpoints than yours. If you are upset, take a little break to cool off before you post those angry words. Remember too that things we write online can sound harsher than when we say them in person- adjust your post accordingly especially if you've had an issue with this kind of thing in the past.
If you are having a problem with another member or wish to report content that is upsetting to you, please contact me privately by clicking on my name (Strumelia) or going to my profile page, and send me a message. You can also contact me by clicking on the CONTACT site owner link at the bottom right of every site page. Or you can initially contact one the site moderators. The site moderators and I will try to resolve the issue fairly.
POSTING VIDEOS AND MUSIC/AUDIO CLIPS:
When you add video or audio music clips to PennyWhistleClub from your profile page,
there are TWO criteria that must be met:
1) Please be sure they involve yourself playing any instrument, singing, or performing in some way, either solo or as part of a group. This policy keeps the site's focus on our own members' musical efforts! If you wish to direct people's attention to video and music clips of musicians other than yourself, then just give folks a LINK in a forum or group discussion post instead, where we can go look/listen for ourselves at the item online, rather than adding it to PennyWhistleClub's Video or Audio areas.
and
2) In our sites video or music sections, you may only add audio and video music material that is public domain or traditional, or if you are the songwriter. Please respect copyright laws and our site rules, by not posting songs or lyrics that are copyrighted by others. We are strict about this in order to protect our site from copyright infringement threats or lawsuits, and we try to support writers and composers rights. Not sure if that song is copyrighted? -here is our GROUP where you can ask if a song is public domain. 'Most' songs published before 1922 are now public domain, by the way.
Posting long excerpts of written material here that are copied from other people's books and articles is not allowed. Posting TAB arrangements of copyrighted songs is not allowed on PWC, whether it's your own tab or someone else's. Please do not post information here on how folks can obtain TABs of copyrighted songs from you- that makes PWC involved in the distribution of such material. Thanks for your cooperation! I should mention that just because you see a song posted on YouTube or other websites does not mean it is in the public domain and therefore is ok to post here. Many videos and other materials are in fact shared on those sites illegally.
Remember: All video or music files added to the sites video/audio sections via your profile page must include yourself playing or singing something, AND must consist of public domain (non-copyrighted) songs or your own composition.
SELLING/MERCHANDISING/PROMOTING:
--> NEW!- Want more sales? Showcase YOUR music-related offerings, your website, festival, Lessons, or music business right on the Main Page of PennyWhistleClub.com!
Now you can purchase your own high profile banner Ad in PWC's new Main Page rotating slideshow of Sponsor Ads! See the slideshow right in the middle of our site Main Page, and get rates and details HERE . These ads are large, eye catching and are priced within anyone's budget- as low as $10/month!
The For Sale Forum - All members are welcome to use PWC's For Sale/Wanted Forum to sell, seek, or promote their music-related items. Listings in the For Sale forum must be for an actual currently existing item for sale (a CD or book, a specific single instrument , a music stand...) and the ad must include a PHOTO of the actual item being sold, and the price. In other words, no open-ended ongoing listings like "I make music stands", "I will make you a custom whistle", "Music lessons available", "Selling wood for whistles"... It needs to be the actual existing item directly for sale, with the item's photo and price. (Want to sell a bunch of whistles at once?- buy a 60 day slideshow ad, see above!)
Please, no ads for Ebay or third party auctions. Seeking donations or funding for personal, charitable, or commercial reasons, or through links to sites such as Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, Patreon, or Crowdfunder projects, are not allowed. A maximum of TWO For Sale ads per member are allowed at any given time (but not for the same item), with no more than ONE instrument or large item per ad offered. Small/low priced items items such as used books or used cds may be grouped up to five in an ad. To keep things current, ads in the For Sale Forum will generally be deleted after about 3 months. Please don't list the same item (such as a cd or tab book) repeatedly. If you would like to sell items more visibly or for a longer time period, please purchase a main page slideshow Showcase Ad.
Listing the item for sale is free of charge, however- We do ask for a $5 site donation for any item or group of items listed in our For Sale forum once you have sold over $100 worth of item(s). If you sell a whistle or other item for either $100 or more a simple $5 donation is asked. If you sell CDs or books totaling over $100 in sales, again only $5 is asked. This helps pay for our site! You can use the Main Page Paypal Donation buttons to make your donation when you sell merchandise for over $100. We use the honor system and ask that members please remember to do this when sales are made due to a connection in the For Sale Forum -thank you!
Please confine merchandising, personal or commercial product promotion, pricing, and selling information to the FOR SALE forum . Though pictures and descriptions of instruments and things you make are certainly allowed throughout the site, (we all love to see what creative folks are working on), ...but information on pricing or ordering, and merchandise/sale/product promotions are not allowed on member profile pages, comment walls, on forum threads, in videos, photos, groups, etc. Excessive hotlink posting to promote yourself, your sites, or other sites is not cool. Please take advantage of our super low priced AD SLIDESHOW if you want to really promote your music, merchandise, services, craft, or events.
Using your 'Followers' list as a means to send private messages promoting yourself, your music, your websites, your business, or to send unsolicited offers to your group of Followers here is SPAM, and may result in suspension from this site. If you receive private message sales offerings, workshop/tour/lessons notices, or other promotional material in your Inbox from other members here, please report such incidents privately to site Administrators- either to me (Strumelia) or to any of our moderators. Thank you!
--> Want more sales? Showcase YOUR music-related offerings, your website, music/whistle craft items, festivals, workshops, your CDs and Lessons, luthier or music business right on the Main Page!
Now you can purchase your own high profile banner Ad in PennyWhistleClub's new Main Page rotating slideshow of Sponsor Ads! See the slideshow right in the middle of our site Main Page, and get rates and details HERE . These ads are large, eye catching and are priced within anyone's budget- as low as $10/month!
PROFILE PAGES:
To whistle makers, luthiers, teachers, pro musicians, etc- In your Profile Page Bio biography text box, you may provide ONE simple hot link to your commercial site, along with one or two photos and a simple one-paragraph description of what you do. Please don't promote your wares all over this site or turn your member profile page into a commercial marketing webpage for promoting what you sell. Don't use your profile page 'bio box' for placing ads or asking for funds. Keep in mind we are a social community , so don't use your membership here only for selling things or promoting your musical offerings. As part of this online community you are also expected to regularly participate socially by interacting with and encouraging other members. We encourage members with interests in whistles or music.
EVENTS:
We have two areas for members to post their special events. See the top bar links drop-down menu under Events to choose the appropriate location to post your event:
Individual musicians, performers, and teachers are encouraged to post notices of their tour appearances, workshops, club activities, monthly jams, gigs, concerts...by listing their individual Events such as workshops in our: Jams/smaller Events Forum .
PWC's main Festivals/Gatherings Events section is intended for larger venues featuring multiple teachers or performers- such as music festivals, campouts, free gatherings, and music camps. These larger participatory events are submitted by you from your profile page , and will they then await admin approval before appearing in the Main Page site calendar.
EXCESSIVE PERSONAL OR OFF TOPIC POSTING:
Occasionally posting or updating if you are facing a current crisis, illness, etc. is fine if you have not already posted in detail about it before. But this site is not the proper place for ongoing discussion of personal off topic subjects...including about one's life, illnesses, personal or emotional issues, or various problems.
Please don't post large numbers or series of off topic photos or files, ongoing blogging/journaling, or repeatedly inserting links in order to steer PWC members to other sites, for whatever purpose or cause. This applies as well to content posted on one's Member Profile page , which should be kept reasonable and appropriate to the site in both quantity and type of content .
Again, PennyWhistleClub is not a personal blogging site, a free advertising venue, Facebook, or Instagram, and is not to be used to promote other sites or causes. Topics debating politics and religion are not allowed.
SHARING INFORMATION- stay safe!:
Please be aware that its never a good idea to publicly post phone numbers, addresses, or other personal identification information on public sites. Don't post personal info in your For Sale ad! instead, get on each others' Follower list and then use private messages to exchange such info. Certainly never post other peoples information.
Please ask permission before quoting things someone else writes here. Harvesting content from this site and posting/publishing it in other locations online is not allowed. This applies not only to written posts, but also to other peoples content such as their photos, videos, music clips, and anything they may have written or posted on this site. If its not something that you yourself posted, ASK before posting it elsewhere. The publishing rights to the content of this site belong to the site owner.
PRIVATE MESSAGES- respecting privacy:
I ask all members of this site to please support the private nature of the private messaging and email system, and not publicly air or refer to things that have been written to you in private, for your own purposes. That's a basic matter of respectful behavior and is universally accepted online etiquette.
Thanks so much- our members make PennyWhistleClub a safe and enjoyable place to connect with new whistling friends!
