Custom-made Whistles
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 4:27 pm
For some time I have been wondering whether the layout of fingering on a French Flageolet (essentially Left Thumb, L1, L2, R1, RT, R2) would be a viable alternative to the standard L1, 2, 3, R1, 2, 3 arrangement which we all know and love.
I've also been wondering as to whether it would actually be possible to play larger sizes of instrument than the standard French Flageolet (which is basically a high whistle in A) with this layout. Mersenne suggests that they were made as large as a bass recorder, but that seems quite a big stretch to me.
My question is: is there anyone who would be able to make a couple of whistles with this unusual pattern of tone-holes (I was thinking of a D and low A)? I assume that someone like Alba Whistles might be able to do it but the costs involved would be rather prohibitive. Does anyone have any suggestions as to someone who would do it on a lower budget? All it would really entail is making a D and A whistle but drilling the 1st and 4th holes on the other side- a fairly simple job.
Many thanks
-Jacob
I've also been wondering as to whether it would actually be possible to play larger sizes of instrument than the standard French Flageolet (which is basically a high whistle in A) with this layout. Mersenne suggests that they were made as large as a bass recorder, but that seems quite a big stretch to me.
My question is: is there anyone who would be able to make a couple of whistles with this unusual pattern of tone-holes (I was thinking of a D and low A)? I assume that someone like Alba Whistles might be able to do it but the costs involved would be rather prohibitive. Does anyone have any suggestions as to someone who would do it on a lower budget? All it would really entail is making a D and A whistle but drilling the 1st and 4th holes on the other side- a fairly simple job.
Many thanks
-Jacob