The tin whistle is a small Anglo-Irish flute consisting of a steel tube capped by a plastic mouthpiece. Very inexpensive, this instrument is sold for around ten euros, and is highly prized by Irish musicians. It’s also the companion of many traditional Irish music groups!
Well-known in the world of Irish music, the tin whistle is a metal instrument (made of copper, brass, pewter or tinplate) with 6 holes.
Its origins date back to the mid-19th century, when Robert Clarke, a farmer from the village of Coney Weston in England, reproduced a small wooden flute using a new material known as “tinplate”.
He liked the sound so much, he decided to set up a factory in Manchester (Clarke Tin Whistles) to mass-produce the new instrument.
Throughout the creation of his factory, Robert Clarke toured the surrounding villages to introduce the instrument to the local population. It was at this time that he sold many tin whistles to Irish sailors, who brought the little flute back to Ireland… On the island, the tin whistle was so successful that it became a key element of traditional Irish music.
Today, Clarke’s factory is no longer the only one producing tin whistles: Waltons and Feadog now compete with the English brand. As for sales, we’re now seeing massive sales to Ireland, far more substantial than in the UK.
Tin whistles are available in a variety of keys to suit all kinds of music. Among the most common are :
Although the tin whistle is a fairly easy instrument to play, it is also characterized by many subtleties. Knowing how to blow a flute is not enough to master a tin whistle: quite the contrary! Tin whistle requires you to control your breath, and to give effects to the sound with specific tongue clicks.
The number 1 advantage of a tin whistle is its price! Expect to pay no more than €15 for a good tin whistle. Invoices vary from brand to brand, depending on the desired sound. The most popular brands include Clarke, Waltons and Feadog.
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