The rich tapestry of Irish music, with its heart-rending ballads and foot-tapping jigs, owes a considerable debt to its instrumental maestros. And when discussing the resonant sounds of the low whistle, the conversation inevitably turns to one name: Finbar Furey. A name synonymous with the instrument's rise, Furey's tale is interwoven with the very fabric of the low whistle's history.
An Unexpected Beginning
The story begins with an accident. On tour, Finbar Furey's cherished Indian bamboo whistle met an untimely end. Distraught but determined, Furey approached English flute maker and jazz musician, Bernard Overton, with a mission: to replicate the lost instrument.
Their collaborative efforts, fueled by passion and expertise, took place in the modest confines of Overton's shed in Rugby. The instrument they initially created was an oversized tin whistle made of copper pipe with a wooden plug. This prototype was soon replaced with a more refined aluminum variant, marking the birth of the modern low whistle.
While these early instruments were initially dubbed "Furey/Overton flutes", the final decision was to market them as "The Overton Flute", commemorating the intense effort and innovation Overton poured into the design.
Finbar's Vision and the Rise of the Low Whistle
Overton's initial creations in A were soon followed by Furey's request for a G version, especially for his iconic "Lonesome Boatman" performances. As the story goes, Furey later sought a "Low D" whistle, aligning with the pitch of the concert flute. These instruments were not just novelties; they became an integral part of Furey's tours and performances. The allure of their sound began attracting musicians from Europe, the British Isles, and even the USA.
Yet, the term "Irish low whistle" isn't an homage to its origins, which are undeniably English. Instead, it reflects the instrument's intensive adoption and popularization in Ireland and the broader British archipelago.
Legacy Beyond the Isles
While many instrument makers soon ventured into crafting low whistles, it was the Riverdance tour of the 1990s that truly launched the instrument onto the global stage. Beyond Finbar Furey, other renowned players like Michael McGoldrick, Kevin Crawford, Phil Hardy, Davy Spillane, and John McSherry, among others, championed its unique sound.
Davy Spillane, for instance, ingeniously infused traditional low whistle sounds with genres as diverse as jazz and RnB, further elevating its visibility.
In Conclusion
While the annals of musical instruments are littered with innovations and evolutions, few stories are as intriguing as the modern low whistle's. And at the heart of this tale is Finbar Furey, a musical genius whose passion and drive have immortalized the low whistle's place in the pantheon of Irish music.