The slide whistle is a unique metal woodwind instrument that dates back to the early twentieth century. Many people have heard the whistle’s sliding sound, which is often used as a sound effect in cartoons. The swanee whistle, piston flute, or bicycle pump whistle are all names for this instrument.
The name bicycle pump whistle gives a good indication of the whistle’s appearance. It looks like a metal bicycle pump, with a fipple, also known as a mouthpiece, that resembles the song flute or recorder mouthpiece. The whistle is hollow, but it has a metal piston, also known as a plunger, that can be manipulated by hand to produce a sliding sound.
There are some people who can play single notes on the slide whistle for long periods of time and may even be able to play entire tunes on the instrument. Playing the instrument is comparable to playing a trombone, at least a small one, in this case. To produce different notes, musicians must know exactly how much to pull out the piston. Paul Trietsch, perhaps the most accomplished player to ever play the instrument, was one of the most well-known players in the past. Other well-known musicians, such as Louis Armstrong, could also play an excellent “slide.”
The slide whistle has been used by a number of symphonic composers. It was used in the opera L’enfant et les Sortilèges by Maurice Ravel, who is best known for his work Bolero (The Child and the Spells). Though the whistle has appeared in a few jazz and orchestral works, it was most popular in 1920s jug bands.
The slide whistle’s unique nature fit right in with the variety of handcrafted instruments used by jug bands. Spike Jones, best known for his parodied interpretations of music from the 1930s and onwards, is another composer who has made extensive use of the instrument. Jones frequently used the slide, interjecting it into various points of his “arrangements” to elicit laughter.
Slide whistles are usually quite affordable. They can be used as a fun instrument, a great way to add sound effects, or just a fun noisemaker for kids. Musicians can also purchase whistle instruction books that teach actual notes and songs.