Dante Irish Whistles

Every Dante whistle is made by hand, one at a time. Plenty of whistles want a noticeably different breath pressure between the octaves; these do not, and players new to them tend to remark first on how easily they move between registers. The mouthpieces are efficient with air, the tuning carefully dialed in, and the voice is pure without being plain. Fit and finish are excellent throughout, and every whistle comes with a handmade case.

Visitors to the shop rarely play a Dante and put it back down. They come in small batches and do not sit long.

The whistles

The alloy range runs from high F down to low D, with some pitches offered in a wide bore alongside the standard. A narrow bore gives a sweeter, mellower voice. A wide bore gives a thicker, wider tone and takes a bit more pressure before it breaks up, which suits a harder blower. The difference in volume is slight, and neither is the wrong choice.

The Sotto is a tunable aluminum high D with a three-channel airway cut into the fipple block. Covering one, two or all three passages takes it from a whisper up through fuller, though still gentle, dynamics. It is made for quiet practice and intimate playing.

The telescopic whistles collapse for travel and come in a case with a belt loop. Offered in high D, low G and low D.