Discuss: Serenading Belugas in the White Sea

David: I have had music exhanges with both bottlenose and common dolphins. I have written about them in my books. I have written 4 books on cetecean encounters.  My website describes them. I see encouraging similarities with what you describe.  The common dophin encounter wen on for days and got very complex. While it started with music it went on to the dolphin trying to teach us sound sequences.  A sperm whale has also had an exhange with me.  I soon found I lacked te acoustic skills to match it. I use a Lubell speaker. Most of my books are about fishes and marine inverts.

David, great article. When you say you played a “G,” that’s the note you played on the clarinet, right? Since it’s a B-flat instrument, the actual pitch is an “F,” so for example, a flute or piano would play that note, not a G, to replicate the effect.

I’m guessing bloggers linking to this article are going to be repeating that whales respond to G, which isn’t quite correct, if I read correctly.

Hi d:

It was a concert G.
I played an A on the clarinet.

DR

I had no idea people were capable of this. That has to be the strangest thing I have heard this year!

What a lovely life experience to be serenading beluga whales with your clarinet - especially in such a rugged climate!  Whether they responded (scientifically)or not, I’m sure they enjoyed the music.  I know I did.  Do you have plans to continue?  From someone that is holed up in an ashphalt jungle, I thoroughly enjoyed the (Orion)article and am looking forward to your book.

Interesting poem and video.
David, The result will definitely inspire people i am one of them.

Thanks for all your comments, Vinyl Wall, CarmeLa, and Guitar School.

There’s more at http://www.thousandmilesong.com!

DR

I have to say that i enjoyed your requiem quite a bit. it was really fascinating more as a poem than as a song itself, of course the boundary line between both is very thin and at times, even imaginary. as it is, it is one beautiful poem.