Research finds that birds behave like human musicians

The tuneful behavior of some songbirds parallels that of human musicians. That’s the conclusion presented in a recent paper published by an international team of researchers, among them David Rothenberg, distinguished professor of philosophy and music in NJIT’s Department of Humanities. Other members of the team are from the City University of New York (CUNY), the Freie Universität Berlin and Macquarie University in Australia.

more…

CrazyNeutrino said:

Research finds that birds behave like human musicians

The tuneful behavior of some songbirds parallels that of human musicians. That’s the conclusion presented in a recent paper published by an international team of researchers, among them David Rothenberg, distinguished professor of philosophy and music in NJIT’s Department of Humanities. Other members of the team are from the City University of New York (CUNY), the Freie Universität Berlin and Macquarie University in Australia.

more…

In paericular, the butcherbird.

Video

Sometimes birds really behave like musicians

another video

Pied Butcher Birds Duet. Amazing!

CrazyNeutrino said:

Video

Sometimes birds really behave like musicians

another video

Pied Butcher Birds Duet. Amazing!

I doubt thta manu people notice but not only butcherbirds do the calls you hear n duet but for example the mudlarks; one goes pee, the other goes wee and each of them lifts their wings when they play their part of the call. Lots of bitds do it. Kookaburras do it as a trio.

Related article

I’m singing in the rainforest: Researchers find striking similarities between bird song and human music

The song of the musician wren shows remarkable parallels to human compositions: song frequency over time (1.), transcription of the notes of the song (2.), opening melody of the second movement of Haydn’s Symphony #103 (3.), the opening of Bach’s fugue XX in A minor (4.). Credit: Journal of Interdisciplinary Music Studies, 2013

more…

more…

Wow Amazing Butcher Bird Singing

CrazyNeutrino said:

Wow Amazing Butcher Bird Singing

oops

In trying to listen to bird calls every now and then I continually find myself being amazed by how much bird songs vary, for the same bird as well as between birds.

Imagine collecting bird song and composing it to music.

CrazyNeutrino said:

Imagine collecting bird song and composing it to music.

Do a similar thing for whale song

CrazyNeutrino said:

CrazyNeutrino said:

Imagine collecting bird song and composing it to music.

Do a similar thing for whale song

I have a copy of “symphony of the birds” where birdsong forms part of the music. A common practice in new age music but not particularly successful.

CrazyNeutrino said:

Imagine collecting bird song and composing it to music.

Olivier Messiaen “found birdsong fascinating, notating bird songs worldwide and incorporating birdsong transcriptions into his music.”

CrazyNeutrino said:

Imagine collecting bird song and composing it to music.

Some very old songs imitate birdsong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMCA9nYnLWo

mollwollfumble said:

CrazyNeutrino said:

CrazyNeutrino said:

Imagine collecting bird song and composing it to music.

Do a similar thing for whale song

I have a copy of “symphony of the birds” where birdsong forms part of the music. A common practice in new age music but not particularly successful.

I wonder how Bach, Mozart would transcribe bird song?

They were both really good at hearing music, then writing it down.

wonder how the birds feel about their efforts

Mozart had a starling…

CrazyNeutrino said:

mollwollfumble said:

CrazyNeutrino said:

Do a similar thing for whale song

I have a copy of “symphony of the birds” where birdsong forms part of the music. A common practice in new age music but not particularly successful.

I wonder how Bach, Mozart would transcribe bird song?

They were both really good at hearing music, then writing it down.

I find it exceedingly annoying that bird books never write birdsong down in musical notation. I write birdsong down in musical notation. But if I pass that on to a birdwatcher they can’t understand it.

mollwollfumble said:

I find it exceedingly annoying that bird books never write birdsong down in musical notation. I write birdsong down in musical notation. But if I pass that on to a birdwatcher they can’t understand it.

Many birds would require microtonal notation.

Bubblecar said:

mollwollfumble said:

I find it exceedingly annoying that bird books never write birdsong down in musical notation. I write birdsong down in musical notation. But if I pass that on to a birdwatcher they can’t understand it.

Many birds would require microtonal notation.

Not really. Tonal notation suffices to distinguish one species from another, and for different song variations by the same bird. Ditto no need for chordal harmony.
If full accuracy is required then ultrasound frequency recording is more important than microtonal notation.

mollwollfumble said:

Bubblecar said:

mollwollfumble said:

I find it exceedingly annoying that bird books never write birdsong down in musical notation. I write birdsong down in musical notation. But if I pass that on to a birdwatcher they can’t understand it.

Many birds would require microtonal notation.

Not really. Tonal notation suffices to distinguish one species from another, and for different song variations by the same bird. Ditto no need for chordal harmony.
If full accuracy is required then ultrasound frequency recording is more important than microtonal notation.

Or, to put it another way, just record the birdsong to the nearest semitone. It beats the heck out of cheep-cheep.

• It beats the heck out of cheep-cheep.

It sure does…

The two real challenges to writing birdsong in musical notation are first, the fact that some bird calls are distinctly unmusical. The second that everything happens so fast, making it difficult to decide whether to use glissandos, semiquavers or quavers. For example I’d write the call of the whipbird as a long note, then three rising quavers transitioning to a glissando, then iin response two instances of rising falling acciaccatura quaver minim.

mollwollfumble said:

The two real challenges to writing birdsong in musical notation are first, the fact that some bird calls are distinctly unmusical.

Harsh