Step 2
In this step, we will see the different voices. We learned that there were four separate voices in Step 1. In fact, we see that written on this hymn.
These four voices are called soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. In music, singers are separated into one of these four different voices. When looking at this music, you may have now figured out that there would need to be these four different voices singing at the same time to make this song complete. In music, being complete is sometimes known as being “full”.
Seeing that there are four different voices, and that you are looking for the voice you can play with your Irish Whistle, you may see that you are playing music in place of a person singing. Due to this very truth, even you can not make words out your Irish Whistle, you should sound like you’re singing with your Irish Whistle. This is why ornamentation is second to the sound of your notes, because no matter how much someone plays with their singing, you still don’t to hear them sing if they don’t practice their basic singing.
Let’s look at this piece of music again.
In Step 1, we learned that the lowest note that an Irish Whistle in the Key of D can play is the first note below a staff in treble clef, which is known as d. Let’s see these voices individually in a different color and style so we can see which voice is always above this d.
Same hymn. First Voice shown.
In this view, we see that the first voice never goes below the lowest d on the Irish Whistle in the Key of D. By this, we know we could play this hymn in place of a person who sings in this first voice, known as Soprano.
Same Hymn. Second Voice shown.
In this view, we can see that while most of the second voice can be played by the Irish Whistle, the second voice does dip down below the lowest note on the Irish Whistle in the Key of D. By this, we can see that we can not play this hymn in place of a person who sings in this second voice, known as Alto.
Same Hymn. Third Voice shown.
In this view, we see that we could not play this hymn in place of a person who sings in this third voice, known as Tenor, because the voice is in bass clef.
Same Hymn. Fourth Voice shown.
In this view, we see that we could not play this hymn in place of a person who sings in this fourth voice, known as Bass, because the voice is in bass clef.
After looking at this hymn voice by voice, we can see that out of the four voices shown, in this hymn the Irish Whistle can only play the first voice, soprano, as it is shown.
Also, when we are singing, we see that there are five lines of lyrics. At the end of these lines is one line that is sung after every line called the refrain. At the end of the refrain, we’d start playing the next line and play through again including the refrain. We’d continue this pattern for as many lines of lyrics as their are. That is, we’d play through this hymn five times. Just to get you to think about it one more time, we’d sing this hymn with our Irish Whistle in the correct voice five times.