We humans have long been charmed and fascinated by the sight and sound of birds, so it’s not surprising that so many composers have tried to capture those qualities in music. What is surprising, perhaps, is the great variety of approaches they have taken—almost as many as we find in the birds themselves. In this hour, avian-inspired music, from medieval and renaissance songs to works by Dvorak, Prokofiev, Saint-Saens, Vaughan Williams, Mozart, Rautavaara and others.
Recordings Used
Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky/Ravel) London 417 2992 028941729927
[01] “Ballet des poussins dans leurs coques” (Montreal Symphony, Dutoit)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 DGG Archiv 4399002 028943990028
[02] 11:24 – 11:34 (Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romantique, Gardiner)
Respighi: Pines of Rome, etc. EMI 7243 58654929 724358654929
[03] Pines of Rome 05:40 – 06:00 (London Symphony Orchestra, Gardelli)
Sumer is Icumen In (Hilliard Ensemble) Harmonia Mundi 901154 093046115425
[04] “Sumer is Icumen In” (Hilliard Ensemble)
French Chansons Naxos 8.550880 730099588027
[05] “Le chant des Oiseaux” (Jannequin) (Scholars of London)
La Sophie Chandos CHAN 0598 095115059821
[06] “Le Coucou” (Sophie Yates)
Vaughan Williams Symphonies EMI 724358603026 724358602623
[07] The Lark Ascending (London Philharmonic, Haitink)
From Australia Sony 5K53361 Out of Print
[08] Nigel Westlake: Antarctica “Penguin Ballet” (London Symphony, Daniel; Williams, guitar)
Peter and the Wolf/Carnival of the Animals Naxos 8.550335 730099533522
[09] Peter and the Wolf: “The Bird” (Czechoslovak Radio Symphony, Lenard)
[10] Peter and the Wolf: “The Bird,” “The Duck”
[14] Carnival of the Animals: “Aviary”
Common Birds and Their Songs (Lang Elliott, 1998: Houghton Mifflin Company).
[11] Scarlet Tanager (sound) ISBN: 0395912385
Dvorak Chamber Music (Kohon Quartet) Vox CDX 5166 047163516622
[12] String Quartet in E, op. 96 “American” (Kohon Quartet)
Carnival of the Animals Chandos CHAN10552 095115155226
[13] “The Swan” (Poltera & Stott)
Angel of Light (Rautavaara) BIS CD-1038 675754058722
[15] Cantus Arcticus: Melancholy
Die Zauberflote EMI 586072B 0094635860726
[16] “Der Vogelfanger” (Walter Berry; Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Sawallisch)
Forest of the Amazon (Villa-Lobos) Delos DE1037 013491103723
[17] “Third Bird Song” (Renee Fleming; Moscow Radio Symphony, Heller)
Frederick Delius Collins Classics 13362 Out of print
[18] On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring (London Symphony Orchestra, Wordsworth)