Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)

Subject: Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)
From: Peter T.
Date: 28 Jun 99 - 12:23 PM

This is probably totally illegal -- but it is my fault -- if you want to sue anyone, New York Times, it's not the Mudcat's doing, all mine. Had to post this. New York Times, June 28, (Sam Howe Verhovek)
SERENADING THE WHALES (WHO SEEM TO LIKE IT)
"If you think about it from the whales' point of view, said Fred West, "mostly what they get from us is a lot of engine noise. And that's certainly not the best human beings have to offer."
And so Mr. West and the group he directs, Seattle's City Cantabile Choir, took to the waters around Washington's San Juan Islands on Sunday to rectify this. Out at sea, they gave a concert for whales -- an underwater speaker system relayed an eclectic repertoire that included Monteverdi's Vespers, Afro-Brazilian songs for the Goddess of the Sea, "When the Saints Go Marching In,""Plovi, Barko" a Serbo-Croat song about the sea, Renaissance madrigals, and the Christian hymn, 'For the Beauty of the Earth". Lynn Danaher, the skipper of the boat, the Odyssey, said she had little doubt the whales that came and circled her boat were intrigued. "But I'm really wondering right now if they want something a little faster, like 'Johnny B. Goode".
The event almost did not come off, after the choral group and two sponsoring environmental groups made the possible mistake of seeking permission. Some fisheries officials asked whether the group might be in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. "The question was, are you seeking to affect the whales' behaviour," said Mike Sato, North Sound director for People for Puget Sound, "and we had to say 'Well, yeah. We want them to come and listen."
Let the record show that in the intended audience, there was no clapping of hands, and no standing ovations. But let it also show that about a dozen killer whales showed up, nearly surrounding the boat at times. It is also indisputably true that during a rendition of "Amazing Grace" two of the whales that had drifted away turned around and headed back to the 64-foot Odyssey. (severely edited from NYT).
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 01:03 AM

Another missed gem. I love it!! Interspecies communication at its best!

Subject: RE: Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)
From: Cluin
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 01:22 AM

Sounds of the attending whales were recorded and later translated...

"Aw, fuck off! More noise pollution? This is going to make carrying on a conversation even more difficult than their monotone engine droning."

Subject: RE: Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)
From: dianavan
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 02:26 AM

Killer whales? Well yeah, theyre as curious about you, as you are about them. They were probably studying you! You were in their space.

d

Subject: RE: Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)
From: Amos
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 08:16 AM

I believe a certain Mudcatter once created a similar stir by singing "Farewell to Tarawatha" at the top of her lungs in the same area. Got a standing ovation from the orcas that evening, too!

A

Subject: RE: Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 08:52 AM

Was it orcastrated Amos? Or was it sung in a lower key?
John

Subject: RE: Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)
From: Amos
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 11:01 AM

I think the orcastration was deferred for a more appropriate occasion, but the soloist was a soprano.


A

Subject: question
From: GUEST,music sheet
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 10:35 AM

does anybody knows something about this site http://www.music-sheet-for-sale.com ?

Subject: RE: Whale Thought for the Day! (June 28)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 11:49 AM

At that hour when all things have repose,
O lonely watcher of the skies,
Do you hear the night wind and the sighs
Of harps playing unto love to unclose
The pale gates of sunrise?

James Joyce
1907