29 Jun 07 - 11:16 AM (#2090081) Subject: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Vixen I was just sitting outside listening to all the chirps and tweetles of the various songbirds, and I was reminded of the opening notes of "The Holly and the Ivy" and the ending motif of "Sheebeg Sheemor", which both sound like birdsong when played on the whistle (though I don't know which birds...). Anyway, here's the request... What other songs/tunes have "birdsongs" in them? V |
29 Jun 07 - 11:46 AM (#2090121) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Bill D The refrain of this one could BE a bird song: hi-lili-hi-lo On every tree there is a bird Singing a song of love... On every tree there is a bird And every one i'd ever heard Could brake my heart without a word Singing a song of love... The song of love is a sad song Hi lili hi lili hi lo The song of love is a song of woe Don't ask me why i know The song of love is a sad song For i have loved and it's so Hi lili hi lili hi lo hi lo Hi lili hi lili hi lo Hi lili hi lili hi lo hi lo Hi lili hi lili...... hi lo |
29 Jun 07 - 11:52 AM (#2090123) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS A couple of years ago I had a blackbird in my garden that sang the theme tune from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The second year it obviously had passed the tune onto another blackbird because the tune had changed by a couple of notes. |
29 Jun 07 - 11:53 AM (#2090125) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: GUEST,leeneia the opening of the spring concerto in Vivaldi's four seasons Listen to the mockingbird, where it's become traditional to whistle bird-like sounds along with the chorus There's a tune in O'Neill's Music of Ireland called the Goldfinch. One day I decided to play it on the flute in such a way as to make it sound more like a bird. For example, a bird sings no octaves, and its timing is not regular. Try something like that yourself, it's fun. |
29 Jun 07 - 11:57 AM (#2090128) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: beardedbruce Lyric of the song "Rockin Robin" He rocks in the tree tops all day long Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song All the little birdies on Jaybird Street Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet Rockin' robin, tweet tweet tweet Rockin' robin' tweet tweetly-tweet Blow rockin' robin 'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight Every little swallow, every chick-a-dee Every little bird in the tall oak tree The wise old owl, the big black crow Flappin' their wings singing go bird go Rockin' robin, tweet tweet tweet Rockin' robin' tweet tweetly-tweet Blow rockin' robin 'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight Yeah yeah Pretty little raven at the bird-band stand Told them how to do the bob and it was grand They started going steady and bless my soul He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriol He rocks in the tree tops all day long Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song All the little birdies on Jaybird Street Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet Rockin' robin, tweet tweet tweet Rockin' robin' tweet tweetly-tweet Blow rockin' robin 'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight Pretty little raven at the bird-band stand Told them how to do the bop and it was grand They started going steady and bless my soul He out-bopped the buzzard and the oriol Every little swallow, every chick-a-dee Every little bird in the tall oak tree The wise old owl, the big black crow Flappin' their wings singing go bird go Rockin' robin, tweet tweet tweet Rockin' robin' tweet tweetly-tweet Blow rockin' robin 'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight |
29 Jun 07 - 12:04 PM (#2090132) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Dan Schatz On a tree by a river, a little tom-tit Sang "Tit-willow! Tit-willow! Tit-willow!" - Gilbert and Sullivan Dan Schatz |
29 Jun 07 - 01:06 PM (#2090175) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: GUEST,leeneia I've always like the song "Mockingbird Hill." yet I feel stupid singing "Tra la la twiddlee dee dee." I think it would be a good idea to replace that with birdlike whistling or instrumental notes. |
29 Jun 07 - 02:20 PM (#2090244) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Bill D Good grief...I did a Google search for "The Chime Child" and discovered that *I* had posted, and then forgotten, in 1999, "The Broomsquire's Bird Song"...with midi/ABC transcription. It has some places that 'feel' like bird song. (Note...there are other mentions of it in Mudcat threads reminding us that the history of the book is in doubt, and that the author may have written, instead of collected, most of the songs. Nevertheless, 'Broomsquires' is a lovely little song.) |
29 Jun 07 - 04:46 PM (#2090340) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: scouse And don't forget "If I were a Blackbird." as Aye, Phil |
29 Jun 07 - 05:38 PM (#2090404) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: GEST The personal favorite here at GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador is an old song by Patrick Devine, The Chick-A-Dee, with it's all too familiar phrase, chick-a-dee-dee-dee.... chick-a-dee-dee-dee. |
29 Jun 07 - 06:15 PM (#2090425) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: mrdux The musicality of birdsongs was popular with French classical composers of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Paul Dukas (of Sorceror's Apprentice fame) used to encourage his students to listen to the birds. One of his students, french composer Olivier Messiaen, transcribed the songs and worked them into quite a few of his works, including Le Réveil des Oiseaux and Catalogue d'oiseaux. There's also a bit of birdsong in Beethoven's Sixth Symphony -- cuckoos, in particular. |
30 Jun 07 - 02:30 AM (#2090666) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Mr Red Alluette Lark in the morning Magpie counting song? Have we had the birdie song - no? thank goodness. |
30 Jun 07 - 09:24 AM (#2090839) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Bee Thrushes have the best songs, from Robins to Hermits, Grey-Cheeked to Woodies. I have all of them in this neighbourhood, and at evening they all make a mockery of any singing I could do. |
30 Jun 07 - 08:54 PM (#2091260) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Artful Codger From the swing/bop world, there's "Bobwhite, Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight" and "'Tis Autumn"--Bob Durough went to town with a scatted "bird talk" line in that one. From the string band world there's "The Crow Song" (with a whole grackle of caws, some fiddled). |
30 Jun 07 - 10:35 PM (#2091313) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: GUEST Vixen Given your opening remarks, this song by the Indigo Girls could be appropriate. LOQUAT TREE Out in the back by the grape stake fence Is a place where nature makes so much sense All the creatures livin' in harmony It's a wild wild party in the loquat tree Fuzzies and furries run walk or fly Havin' a feast beneath a clear blue sky Animals comin' from miles around To bounce the branch and shake the loquat down The squirrel and the sparrow and the mouse and the bee All havin' a party in the loquat tree Eatin' all the yellow fruit they can see It's a wild wild party in the loquat tree Peckin' at 'em pickin' at 'em hidin' 'em away Savin' 'em up for a rainy day No matter how big no matter how small There's more than enough there's plenty for all The squirrel and the sparrow and the mouse and the bee All havin' a party in the loquat tree Eatin' all the yellow fruit they can see It's a wild wild party in the loquat tree Chatter chirp squeak buzz Chatter chirp squeak buzz Chatter chirp squeak buzz Chatter chirp squeak buzz Every little loquat holds the seed For a brand-new baby loquat tree |
01 Jul 07 - 09:50 AM (#2091549) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: van lingle The Lark Ascending- Ralph Vaughan Williams Upon Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring- Frederick Delius Albatross- Peter Green with the early Fleetwood Mac. Don't know if those high parts are supposed to evoke song but the initial theme does bring to mind the flight of a large sea bird. I guess a bunch of O'Carolan tunes like Quarrel with the Landlady, as well as Shebeg sound "birdy" at times. |
02 Jul 07 - 08:20 AM (#2092297) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Vixen Wow! Thank you for all the suggestions... Mudcats are the best! V |
02 Jul 07 - 03:33 PM (#2092579) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: SharonA Refrain from the kids' song "Six Little Ducks" goes: He led the others With a quack, quack, quack. Quack, quack, quack, Quack, quack, quack He led the others With a quack, quack, quack. Refrain from the kids' song "Five Little Ducks" goes: Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack." But only four [three, two, etc.] little ducks came back. Then there's "Cluck Old Hen" and the like. But on to the more melodious birdsongs in songs... - - - - - - - - The Beatles' "Blackbird" recording contains much twittering. - - - - - - - - The intro to "So Long, Farewell" from The Sound of Music: There's a sad sort of clanging From the clock in the hall And the bells in the steeple too, And up in the nurs'ry an absurd little bird Is popping out to say "cuckoo". (Cuckoo, cuckoo) Regretfully they tell us (cuckoo) But firmly they compel us (cuckoo) To say goodbye (cuckoo) to you. - - - - - - - - "Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing" Written by: Robert Hargreaves, Stanley J. Damerell and Tolchard Evans - © 1932 Let's all sing like the birdies sing, Tweet, tweet tweet, tweet tweet. Let's all sing like the birdies sing, Sweet, sweet sweet, sweet sweet. Let's all warble like nightingales, Give your throat a treat. Take your time from the birds, Now you all know the words, Tweet, tweet tweet, tweet tweet. Let's all sing like the birdies sing, Bubbaboo ba-bubbaboo ba-boo. Let's all sing like the birdies sing, Tweet tweet tweet - my that bird sings sweetly. Let's all warble like nightingales, Ah, Mimi...c'est magnifique! Take your time from the birds, Now you all know the words Tweet, tweet tweet, tweet tweet - - - - - - - - "Hummingbird" Frankie Laine (Hummin', hummin', hummin', hummin'.) Humming Bird, Humming Bird should be your name. (Humming Bird should be your name.) Too restless to settle, too wild to tame. (Too restless, too wild to tame.) Too restless to settle, too wild to tame, Humming Bird, Humming Bird should be your name. (Hummin', hummin', hummin', hummin'.) Humming Bird, Humming Bird winging along. (Humming Bird winging along.) No tender young blossom can hold you for long. (No blossom can hold you for long.) No tender young blossom can hold you for long. Humming Bird, Humming Bird winging along. I'd rather be lonely, I'd rather be blue. Yes, I'd rather spend my whole life without you, Than feather a nest to be shattered apart, By the hum, hum of your Humming Bird heart. (Hum, hum, hum, hum.) Humming Bird, Humming Bird, feathered so fine, (Humming Bird, feathered so fine.) If I clipped your wings it would not make you mine. (Oh no, it would not make you mine.) If I clipped your wings it would not make you mine; Humming Bird, Humming Bird, feathered so fine. (Hummin', hummin', hummin', hummin'.) Humming Bird, Humming Bird, fly right on by. Some folks like to gamble but darling, not I. Some folks like to gamble but darling, not I. Humming Bird, Humming Bird, fly right on by. I'd rather be lonely, I'd rather be blue. Yes, I'd rather spend my whole life without you, Than feather a nest to be shattered apart, By the hum, hum of your Humming Bird heart. (Hum, hum, hum, hum, hum.) By the hum, hum of your Humming Bird heart. (Hummin', hummin', hummin', hummin'.) |
02 Jul 07 - 04:32 PM (#2092639) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: mrdux Sharon -- Thanks for mentioning "Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing." I remember the song from an old cartoon (which I found out was made in 1934) from Fleisher Studios. I used to watch it as a kid, and when I saw the title in your post, in my mind's ear I could hear the birds in the cartoon chirping: "Tweet, tweet-tweet, tweet-tweet." michael |
02 Jul 07 - 08:04 PM (#2092793) Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bird songs From: Bert Let's all sing like the birdies sing |