Book

Rothenberg, David, 1962-

Thousand mile song : whale music in a sea of sound / David Rothenberg.

New York : Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group, ©2008.

287 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm + 1 audio disc (digital ; 4 3/4 in.)

Whale song is an astonishing world of sound whose existence no one suspected before the 1960s. Its discovery has forced us to confront the possibility of alien intelligence-not in outer space but right here on earth. Thoughtful, richly detailed, and deeply entertaining, Thousand Mile Song uses the enigma of whale sounds to open up whales' underwater world of sonic mystery. In observing and talking with leading researchers from around the globe as they attempt to decipher undersea music, Rothenberg tells the story of scientists and musicians confronting an unknown as vast as the ocean. His search culminates in a grand attempt to make interspecies music the likes of which no one has ever heard (until, that is, they listen to the accompanying CD), by playing his clarinet with whales in their native habitats, from Russia to Canada to Hawaii. [Publisher description].

Whales -- Behavior.

Whale sounds.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 253-257) and index.

Performers on CD: David Rothenberg, bass clarinet, B♭ and G clarinets, electronics ; Robert Jürjendal, guitar ; John Wieczorek, percussion ; Nils Økland, violin ; Michelle Makarski, violin ; and humpback, beluga, killer, blue, fin, minke and sperm whales.

We didn't know, we didn't know : whale songs hit the charts -- Gonna grow fins : humans take up with whale music -- Those orcas love a groove : making music with killer whales -- To hear the dolphin call his name : how smart are they? -- Beluga do not believe in tears : Russian whale music -- The longest liquid song : humpback music and its changes -- Moby click : sperm whales got rhythm -- Thousand mile song : moanin' in the deep sound channel -- Never satisfied : getting through to a humpback whale.

CD tracks: Valentine's Day, 1992 -- Never satisfied -- The far field -- Whiteness of the beast -- Duo Orcanada -- The killer -- Moby Click -- And she married a whale -- Myagostrov, in the deep -- Beluga no believe in tears -- Koholaa! -- The world's last whale.

Table of contents

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599.51594 Rothenbe