Whistling all the way...

Press, 8 September 1980, Page 1

Whistling all the way...

By

KEN COATES

. ,/ in- London . ■ New - Zealanders .make •’ names for, themselves 1 throughout the world, but few in quite as unusual a way as a former Christchurch man, David Martin, aged 36. He has appeared on 8.8. C. Radio Four’s morning “Mid Week’’ programme, with an audience • of 3 million listeners, as a. New Zealander with rare musical abilities. ■. He whistled and hummed \ simultaneously in harmony, and also performed -what he calls the “Rooster Con-.

certino.” This is apparently an ear-splitting full ■ replication/of the range-of'a rooster’s morning greeting. David Martin, who has a music degree from the University of Canterbury, and who works at the British Museum’s lending’ department, -near Leeds, said that, he “first devised his performances for university capping reviews in Christchurch 10 years ago. He has “just carried on,” arid the producer of the 8.8. C. radio programme apparently heard of his prowess from museum friends.

“I just do it for fun, though I liken the whist- • ling' arid humming in harmony to , two parts on a ■ piano,” he said. “The nearest thing to it musically I can think of is a duet by flute and bas- ; soon.” : Unusual? “Well, not many people are so gifted, though I knew of two other whistler-hummers in New Zealand, and a friend of mine who could also play a recorder at the same . time by sticking it up his . left nostril.” Mr Martin said that his “Rooster Concertino" was

a take-off of a concerto for a so Jo instrument. 1 He does not expect to make a fortune from his unusual gifts, and teaches A more orthodox musical expertise in his spare time.- - ' As for returning to New Zealand, he reflects the dilemma of many expatriates: ‘I miss a lot of things about New. Zealand, especially, North' Otago and the Hakataramea Valley, which I know well: I also love York, a beautiful and historic city, where I live. “Either way, I will ■ be half in exile.”