Kerrywhistles
23/04/12 | New and Improved Chieftain V3 Low D

We have been making the Chieftain V3 low D model now for some years with great success, sales have been consistent but we are always looking to improve them.
The only thing that I personally wanted to improve was the back pressure as I found that they take a little more air than i liked.

I have now reduced the size of the air way giving much greater back pressure, this allows more notes per lungful of air.
In doing so, it has lessened the lower octave volume slightly but this may not be a bad thing as many of you think they are too loud.

I will be making a short video on this matter tomorrow so you can hear and see them in action, I'll post when it's up.

Also, I have some KerryPro low Ds available at £185 inc postage, please email me if you are interested.

I have had some email's regarding TOP TIPS and TUTORIALS videos, I will be making more this week to answer some of your playing Qs.

phil.
30/03/12 | Chieftains, Chief & Albert

Yet again the Chieftain Whistles make an appearance at the premier of TITANIC 3D at the Albert Hall London, they were used on the original movie score and soundtrack played by Tony Hinnigan.
23/03/12 | Some Chinese News

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13/03/12 | New PRODUCTS Page

Hi, I have just finished uploading the new PRODUCTS page in the MOVIES section of the site.
www.kerrywhistles.com
The picture and sound are much clearer.
phil
11/03/12 | We Are Live

After months of burning the midnight oil, the new site is now live.
I hope you all enjoy the new look and feel.
22/09/11 | Kerrywhistles in Steyning West Sussex

Hi, for anyone in the West Sussex region of the UK, we have adopted a small shop in Steyning.
The shop is Guitar Freq in the main street
Ross is the owner and more than happy to help in any way.
http://www.guitarfreq.co.uk/

phil.
08/08/11 | The Two Optimas

Tim Dowd was in the area and dropped by, we haven't seen each other for two years.
I gave Tim the new Kerry Optima to try and we had a tune or two.

http://www.kerrywhistles.com/dl.php?group=18#

Look for The Two Optimas

phil
05/08/11 | Kerry Optima Review

Review of: The Optima Low D Whistle by Lesley O’Leary - Musician & Music Teacher

My initial thoughts were that it was a very big whistle (56.7 cm long and 2.5cm in diameter) compared to the standard High D whistle (29.5cm long & weighs 34gms) that I would usually play. It is beautifully crafted with a purple tinted mouthpiece and alloy body.
Amazingly light weight for its size, I weighed it in at 192 grams.
However, having read Jenny’s review - I was expecting to be able to play the whistle on the first attempt but alas no.
The Hole spacing – took a bit of getting used to – a big stretch compared to a normal sized whistle – I find the stretch between the D & E holes are particularly wide and difficult. However, I’ve practiced it for an hour or so for the last 7 days and have seen a huge improvement. As a traditional music player I feel that once this “stretch” is mastered there should be little difficulty in playing any tune.
As the saying goes – “Practice makes perfect”.
I was really surprised by the minimal amount of breath needed to get such a lovely tone whether it is soft & haunting or loud and imposing. Absolutely no comparison with other Low whistles I’ve tried and failed to master. The Optima Low D whistle is, for me, “the cream of the crop.”
It is a beautiful instrument and I’m sure other high whistle players will feel the same about it when they try it. I intend to keep playing and to master the Optima Low D whistle and will promote it to fellow musicians and students alike.
Best of luck to Phil for the future and may he continue to be a great innovator.

What a nice review.

I also have a Kerry pro low D tuneable for sale at £165 inc postage.
phil@kerrywhistles.com if you are interested.

phil
03/08/11 | Kerry Optima -V3 Comparison Vid

I have posted a video in the Pro-Files section of MOVIES comparing the V3 low D to the new Kerry Optima as requested.


phil
Download MP3
17/07/11 | Kerry Optima Clear low D

We now have Clear and tinted Purple heads for the Optima.
pic below Clear.
15/07/11 | Optima Pitch Adjustable.

We have decided to make the new Kerry Optima tuneable-pitch adjustable.
They will NOT be available as fixed whistles but WILL be available in all tenor keys D Eb E and with the
new CLEAR headshells and Purple Tint Clear headshell from 17th July at £79 inc postage.
Other colours to follow.
phil.
12/07/11 | Whistle Collectors

As you all know we have the Kerry Optima whistles now available and they are selling very well.
Our very first batch came out with the number 200511 ie 20.05.2011.
We are nearly sold out of the first batch and onto the second batch number 070711.
For all of you who like collecting first additions of new whistles, I suggest that you get the first addition Kerry Optima low D now, we have 13 fixed and 17 tunables left and will soon be into the second batch.
The Optima tenor E and Eb"s will be available from the end of this week in fixed and tunable models.

I have given the go ahead for the next set of tooling for the Alto's and Mezzo and I hope to have them available for the autumn.

We will be introducing coloured heads for the Kerry Optima soon and they will be colour coded thus:

BK - Black ( standard )
CL - Clear
GR - Green
RD - RED
BL -Blue
YL - YELLOW
There will also be clear tinted colours soon.

I would also like to BIG UP Roy McManus Whistles, he is a maker in Belfast and has sent some whistles to Tony for review, this he has done and will be on the site later today, I have also recorded a review and you'll find it in the PRO-FILES section of MOVIES.

I would like to invite all of you who have purchased a Kerry Optima to send a short video clip of you playing it and a short review of your own for the Kerrywhistles website. Mp4 format and no longer than 1.5 mins. You can email the clips to the above email.

phil
05/07/11 | Kerry Optima Review No1

Optima Low D Player Review - Jenny Rees Composer and Whistle Player!

First impressions on holding the instrument - it's balanced and delightfully light, whilst having the feel of a fine quality instrument. I must admit to having some initial reservations about a plastic headed low d, however, having seen and played this instrument I concede that the plastic head has added some magical alchemy of its own, more about this later!

Playability - here goes! It sits very well under the fingers. Any female players out there who have concerns about stretch need have no worries, I play two other low d's and this is by far the most comfortable to play. I'd love to see more female low d players, if you play the usual higher d whistle then I assure you that you could move with ease to this instrument, a whole new tone world is open to you - don't hesitate, you'll love it!

What about the sound? It's gorgeous, moving through warm and dark to soft and singing and with the added excitement of subtle dancing high end harmonics, all dependent on your breath - this is what I meant when I talked earlier of the plastic head adding an alchemy to the sound - there's some sort of magic in there. I spent ages simply playing long held tones just to enjoy the response of the instrument to subtle changes in breath. I also found it very easy to move from the first octave to the second with a wonderful continuity of tone colour and agility.

My own playing style moves through traditional to less conventional genres and this whistle offers exciting possibilities of use. I will definitely be recording with it and using it in my professional capacity as media music composer and player.
Finally, thanks to Phil for producing a great whistle and a special call to all female whistlers out there - take the plunge!

Jenny Rees - Composer and Whistle Player.
11/04/11 | Canada - Kerrywhistles - Products

We are now trading with Long & McQuade in Canada, they have 26 stores across the country so you can now try our whistles.

Here are the details.

http://www.long-mcquade.com/

Long & McQuade Ltd.
722 Rosebank Rd.
Pickering, ON L1W 4B2
Ph: (905) 837-9785, 275
Fx: (905) 837-978

We deal with them direct so you can also contact me once you have a Chieftain Whistle.

Phil.
03/04/11 | Kerry Optima Low D

Kerry Optima Low Whistle Press Release
In the last twenty years of making low whistles buy hand and in manufacture, I have seen many new ideas and designs emerge from the first low whistle concept. Yet the original concept had always been the best and still is for many.
Over this long period, there has been much mention of recurring topics and issues about low whistles.
Air requirement, hole spacing’s, clogging, weight, tuning and price.
It was then and is now my intention to get a low D whistle with the smallest air requirement, comfortable hole spacing’s, lightweight, non clogging, sweet toned, in tune at low cost, on to the market.
I feel I have achieved this ambition with the new Kerry Optima Low D Whistle.
Having made whistles for the top whistler players around the world, I know what sounds good. I wanted to get the sweet point that they all love in a hand made whistle into a whistle that costs less than half the price with a much more comfortable hole spacing’s (with the female stretch in mind).
When I started playing whistle, it was a Feadog pennywhistle which weighed nothing at all, so the Kerry Optima had to feel very light and airy but with a kicking tone that needed no extra air, even right up the top end, just like a proper pennywhistle you can blow all day long.
The Kerry Optima has been in design for the last year and is soon to be in production.
It is a plastic headed low whistle with an alloy body, just like the old Kerry but with the playability of a Kerry Pro and with much less air requirement, light as a feather and very, very sweet. I have the prototype and cannot put the thing down.
As moisture/clogging has always been a big issue with many players, the Kerry Optima, being a whistle with a plastic mouthpiece will not have these issues and will not need warming up to be in pitch.
The Kerry Optima is my dream whistle. The sound is easily changed from soft to loud without and perceived increase in breath giving a huge amount of control over any given piece. No more need of that great “ lungful of air and off we go “, just very comfortable playing. If you are already a low whistler, you will find you have more air than you need and may need to take a lot less to achieve the same thing.
Cost has always been an issue. Many people are put off “ high end “ whistles as they completely out of reach pricewise, our new whistle will be retailing at price all can afford and will be available in a variety of shades which makes it fun to.
Keep it simple, make it fun.
The Kerry Optima will be available in all keys this year starting with tenor D Eb & E.
This is the Low Whistle Revolution 2011.

See NEWS for Optima prototype pic.
23/03/11 | Low Whistle CD Reissued.

Hi Guys I am delighted to announce the reissue of my very first CD Low Whistle recorded in 2000. Buy a copy and get " Whistleworks " free.
The CD will cost £10 inc postage.
Don't forget that you can now get a copy of " Can U Handle This " my latest CD recorded 2010 with Dave Adams and Jammie Murray, this CD is a must if you like whistle music but don't like Irish trad and also comes with a free copy of Whistleworks.
I am releasing " Highs & lows " and " Whistle Graffiti " on CD very soon, these have never been out on CD and were only available as downloads.

Stay cool.

phil.
24/01/11 | Sample Track

Sample track from CuhT- Can U Handle This, the new Cd from Hardy-Adams-Murray.
It's a new concept for the whistle and available from

www.kerrywhistles.com/store.php

Have a listen.

http://www.kerrywhistles.com/mp3/1-09%20just%20look%20at%20me.mp3
Download MP3
20/01/11 | First Review

Just got my first review from Chief Wang:


This album sets out to break away from the idea that, if you have a whistle, you play jigs and reels - end of story. It does so, and with ease. Driven by the crisp and concise jazz drumming of Jamie Murray and with inventive and funky keyboards from Dave Adams and bass from Phil Hardy, the album has a light and, almost, "easy-listening" feel, and that is not to say that "easy-listening" is a bad thing. Here, it's a very good thing. The whistle lines from Phil Hardy are, refreshingly, not what you would expect from a whistle, and are complemented by laid-back and colourful trombone work from Adams. Everything on the album is played by a human being, and that adds to t=
he "feel-good" factor. The production also contributes, with a warm overall sound.
Nice work.

Cheers Chief.
17/01/11 | BACK TRAX

Hi everybody.
I am delighted to announce that ALL of my CD and more will soon be available as CD's.

Low Whistle - 2001
Whistle Works - 2002 *
Highs & Lows 2004 - Remastered
Whistle Graffiti 2006 - Remastered
Revisited 2008 - Compilation *
Can You handle - This 2011 - Hardy-Adams-Murray - New CD *
Peso Whistles - 2004 - Tony Hinnigan

Women at the Edge - 1995 - remastered

* already available - www.kerrywhistles.com/store.php

What a blast from the past.

All Cds priced at £10. inc postage globally.

All good stuff.

Phil.

ps, something very special on the horizon!
14/01/11 | New CD CuhT Hardy-Adams-Murray

Hi Guys, it is with great pleasure that I can announce the release of a new Cd CuhT.
This CD is a complete departure from any whistle music I have recorded in the past. Older recording are of myself playing most of the instruments. It was an interesting time for me as I was new to the whistle and wanted to use my skills in playing , what was for the most part, Irish styled music.
CuhT was inspired by the great jazz music from the late 50's and early 60's, the era of my childhood.
I wanted to work with other people of great stature so I invited Dave Adams and Jamie Murray to join the project.
Dave is a seasoned pro and a multi instrumentalist like myself with roots in all aspects of modern music. His keyboard skills are second to none.
Jamie Murray on the other hand is only 19 with a fresh approach to drumming. He also has a great interest in the same jazz period as myself and has been inspired by the late jazz greats bringing the energy of the past into the modern ear of music.
His enthusiasm for music is a great inspiration so I was delighted he could bring his own particular talent to the project.

The aim of all of this was to have some fun and break away from seasoned beliefs that whistles are only for Folk Music.

Also, the usual format has been dropped, all playing was first take with any mistakes left in as not to loose the vibe of performance.
This has given the CD a new feel that I have not heard on whistle recording of late as most music these days is totally over produced.

With the exception of one track, all tracks contain the same set of instruments, Kit, Grand Piano, Rhodes & Wurlitzer electric piano's Hammond B3 Organ, Double Bass, Telecaster Guitar and Various old whistles. this does give the whole recording a dated yet modern live vibe.

It has certainly been a labour of love and i am very proud to have been in such elevated company in the making of this music.

The CD's will be of limited addition as mp3s seem to have taken over these days.
The CD is 10 tracks of music, most mp3s are price at 79p these days so to cover printing costs we are selling the CD at £1 per track making the CD £10.
You can buy copies from the Kerrywhistles SHOP

The whistle is just an instrument and you can play what ever you like on it, so I did.
Hope you like it.
phil
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