John, Lynn Blake - Whale Songs

This piece won Honorable Mention for unaccompanied tuba at the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival, 2020.

Whales sing but other than the clicks made by dolphins and other toothed whales, whale sounds remain mysterious.  It may be that whales use “echolocation” to identify potential prey and threats, or to find a mate.   Researchers believe that whale sounds can travel more than 10,000 miles in some levels of the ocean.

Although we don’t know exactly why or how they communicate,  imagining their lives and what they might say to each other is fascinating.

Movements:

1. Calling the Pod
2. Cruising
3. Feeding Time
4. The Orca
5. Where Are You, My Love?