Whistology – Whistling as a Musical Language

Musical Pieces

(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

Few moments in popular music are as quietly radical as the ending of (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay. After two verses of plainspoken reflection...

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History

The singing airstream: whistling between biology and art

Whistling occupies a singular position in the landscape of human sound-making, poised delicately between the biological necessity of breath and the...

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History

The whistle as a primitive signal: before music, before language

Before music became an art form, before language acquired syntax, and long before humans externalized sound into instruments, the body itself...

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History

Iconic whistled hooks in pop culture history

While whistling albums are rare, whistled hooks have been responsible for some of the biggest earworms in music history. A single whistled refrain...

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Technique

Breath Control, Circular Breathing, Maintenance

For the professional whistler, talent is not enough; athleticism is required. Sustaining a consistent tone and maintaining pitch under pressure...

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History

Modern virtuosos: Andrew Bird and the Indie Revival

In the 21st century, the mantle of "premiere musical whistler" is held largely by Andrew Bird. An indie-rock violinist and singer-songwriter, Bird...

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History

The Maestro of the Spaghetti Western: Alessandro Alessandroni

If there is one sound that defines the American West in the global cultural imagination, it is not the banjo or the guitar, but the lonesome,...

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Technique

Whistling in the studio: the gimmick vs. the instrument

Despite the existence of virtuosos, whistling remains rare in the mainstream music industry. It is often relegated to the status of a "gimmick" or a...

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