Ernest Barreto, Physics and Astronomy and the Krasnow Institute, far right,
was the third-place male grand champion in the 2002 International Whistler’s
Convention. With him are, from left, second-place winner Dan Gilliland and first-place
winner Steven Herbst. |
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Music of Mozart Helps Physicist Whistle His Way to Fame
By Robin Herron
Not only does Ernest Barreto, assistant professor, Physics and Astronomy and
the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, have a most unusual hobby, his style
of doing it is unusual, too. Barreto is a champion whistler, having placed third
at the 29th annual International Whistlers Convention in Louisburg, North Carolina,
last April. Barreto doesn’t just whistle any old tune either—his winning
performance featured the music of Mozart.
Barreto, who is self-taught, has been whistling as long as he can remember.
He discovered he has an unusual style among whistlers: rather than blowing through
puckered lips, he whistles with his tongue behind his front teeth. He went to
his first whistlers convention a couple of years ago seeking others who whistle
this way and came up empty-handed. “I did meet a hall-of-fame whistler who
said he had seen it before, and it’s called throat whistling, ventriloquism,
or roof whistling, ‘roof’ meaning the roof of the mouth. That’s
probably the best description,” he says. “I finally met someone who
whistles like me at Puckerama [a whistling festival] in Tulsa, Oklahoma,”
he says.
Having reached its peak of popularity in the 1920s, whistling has become something
of a lost art, Barreto rues. The International Whistlers Convention, which draws
few people from outside the United States, is the only competition of its kind
in the world. About 40 men, women, and teenagers competed this year, and 400 spectators
attended.
Barreto first publicly displayed his skills at a talent show when he was in
college. “It did seem to bring the house down,” he modestly admits.
He followed it up with a performance at a Chicago bar, with less success. “The
audience ignored me for the most part,” he says. Discouraged by that experience,
he withdrew from the public stage.
His interest in whistling was revived when he heard a radio program in which
a Whistlers Convention grand champion, Chris Ullman, was interviewed. Ullman,
a four-time winner, lives in the Washington, D.C., area, and Barreto contacted
him. Ullman urged the physicist to enter the international competition. Barreto
took his advice and entered for the first time last year.
Unfortunately, his first-time jitters led to dry-mouth, fatal for a whistler,
and his performance was stiff. He’s since learned a few tricks about preparing
for competition. In addition to “practice, practice, practice,” he
recommends keeping calm and drinking Gatorade. He’s been advised against
kissing a day before a performance “because it can take the edge off your
pucker.” He also added some theatrical gestures—“like a singer
would do”—to enliven his presentation.
Although Barreto performed both classical and popular music in the competition,
he prefers the classical. “It suits my whistling style,” he says.
“Classical music has a more intricate structure.” In the competition
his classical selections were the first movements of Mozart’s Flute Quartet
in D Major and Flute Concerto in G Major, with his whistle taking the place of
the flute. His popular tunes, “Tico Tico” and “Cherry Pink and
Apple-Blossom White,” were songs from the 1940s and 1950s, which resonate
with the whistling crowd.
Barreto notes that some previous champions often perform with other artists,
and one has even made a CD of his whistling. Barreto is thinking of following
suit. After attending a concert by Bobby McFerrin, known for his upbeat song “Don’t
Worry, Be Happy,” Barreto approached the singer and asked if he’d
be interested in hearing a tape of his whistling. McFerrin immediately gave him
his home address. “Of course, I don’t have a tape,” Barreto
says, “so I guess I’ll have to put one together.”
In the meantime, Barreto plans to get together informally with other whistlers
in the area. “Whistlers are the most receptive audience for other whistlers,”
he says.
For more information about the International Whistlers Convention, see www.whistlingiwc.com.
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