Strange, Sexless, Superhuman Tones: An Exploration of the Whistle Register in Western Classical Singing

Abstract

The whistle register is useful, essential even, for certain operatic repertoire, yet it is not always taught. This paper examines how it has been trained historically as well as more recent methods. The modern scientific literature on the mechanism of the whistle register is discussed and case studies of singers of the past with particularly high ranges are provided. Guiding questions include: How does one learn to sing high? What is the mechanism of the whistle register? Who could sing high, and was it even pleasant? Why bother with these notes at all?