What is the name of that flute-like instrument on the soundtrack on Titanic / on the Riverdance CD / etc ?
That s a low whistle, the larger version of the tin whistle. Bernard Overton and Finbar Furey may or may not have devised the first low whistle, but Bernard Overton was certainly the first maker to name and popularise the instrument. Originally made in D (eg the bottom note is D an octave below the tin whistle) or C, makers have diversified the range to include just about any key, including extraordinary 4-foot-long pieces of scaffolding pole that play low low G or F. We recently discussed various brands of low whistles, click here for the group’s thoughts and recommendations.
