Bird Songs
Birds are nature's greatest songsmiths, and have accordingly served as inspiration for composers throughout the centuries – both in imitation of their song or through musical descriptions of their physical or poetic characteristics. This playlist takes you through a broad selection, from the beguiling nightingale to the busy blackbird, through to the graceful, melancholic swan and the soaring condor.
- Saint-Saëns • Le carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) R 125 (Version for 2 Pianos and Chamber Ensemble) • 10. Volière (Aviary)Le carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) R 125 (Version for 2 Pianos and Chamber Ensemble)
10. Volière (Aviary)RCO Chamber Soloists
Lucas Jussen (Piano), Arthur Jussen (Piano)℗ 2017 - Stravinsky • Le chant du rossignol (Song of the Nightingale), Symphonic Poem (1917) • 3. Chant du rossignolLe chant du rossignol (Song of the Nightingale), Symphonic Poem (1917)
3. Chant du rossignolEiji Oue, Minnesota Orchestra℗ 2012 - Granados • Goyescas, Suite for Piano • Book 2 • 4. Quejas o la Maja y el RuiseñorGoyescas, Suite for Piano
Book 2 • 4. Quejas o la Maja y el RuiseñorNelson Freire (Piano)February 2019, Hamburg, Friedrich-Ebert-Halle - Handel • Concerto for Organ and Orchestra No. 13 in F major HWV 295 “The Cuckoo and the Nightingale” • II. AllegroConcerto for Organ and Orchestra No. 13 in F major HWV 295
II. AllegroRichard Egarr (Organ), Richard Egarr
Academy of Ancient Music℗ 2009 - Delius • Pieces for Small Orchestra RT VI/19 (1911-1912) • 1. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in SpringPieces for Small Orchestra RT VI/19 (1911-1912)
1. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in SpringNorman del Mar, Bournemouth SinfoniettaJanuary 1977, Christchurch Priory, Dorset - Eiges • The Cuckoo, for Piano op. 2 (ca. 1905) • The Cuckoo for Piano op. 2 (ca. 1905)The Cuckoo, for Piano op. 2 (ca. 1905)
The Cuckoo for Piano op. 2 (ca. 1905)Jonathan Powell (Piano)August 2012, Oxford, Jacqueline du Pre Music Building - Saint-Saëns • Le carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) R 125 (Version for 2 Pianos and Chamber Ensemble) • 9. Le coucou au fond des bois (The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods)Le carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) R 125 (Version for 2 Pianos and Chamber Ensemble)
9. Le coucou au fond des bois (The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods)RCO Chamber Soloists
Lucas Jussen (Piano), Arthur Jussen (Piano)℗ 2017 - Anonymous (Traditional) • The Cuckoo • The cuckoo is a pretty birdThe Cuckoo
The cuckoo is a pretty birdAlfred Deller (Countertenor), Desmond Dupré (Viola da Gamba)℗ 2014 - Anonymous • Mathew Holmes Lute Books (MS Dd.2.11): Robin is to the Greenwood gone (Bonny Sweet Robin) (Version for Instrumental Consort) • (No tempo indication)Mathew Holmes Lute Books (MS Dd.2.11): Robin is to the Greenwood gone (Bonny Sweet Robin) (Version for Instrumental Consort)
(No tempo indication)The Baltimore Consort2018 - 2018, Notre Dame, Indiana, Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center - Lehár • As Wo die Lerche singt (Where the lark sings), Act I: Durch die weiten Felder • I. As Wo die Lerche singt (Where the lark sings), Act I: Durch die weiten FelderAs Wo die Lerche singt (Where the lark sings), Act I: Durch die weiten Felder
I. As Wo die Lerche singt (Where the lark sings), Act I: Durch die weiten FelderSylvia Geszty (Soprano), Heinz Rögner
Philharmonisches Kammerorchester Dresden℗ 1995 - Messiaen • Catalogue d'oiseaux (1956-1958) • 6. L'Alouette lulu (The Woodlark)Catalogue d'oiseaux (1956-1958)
6. L'Alouette lulu (The Woodlark)Pierre-Laurent Aimard (Piano)August 2017, Berlin, Funkhaus Berlin - Haydn • String Quartet in D major op. 64/5 Hob. III:63 “The Lark” • I. Allegro moderatoString Quartet in D major op. 64/5 Hob. III:63
I. Allegro moderatoDoric String Quartet
Alex Redington (Violin), Jonathan Stone (Violin), Hélène Clément (Viola), John Myerscough (Violoncello)May 2017, Dunwich, Potton Hall - Järnefelt • Leivo (The Lark) • I. Leivo (The Lark)Leivo (The Lark)
I. Leivo (The Lark)Camilla Nylund (Soprano), Ilkka Paananen (Piano)January 2002, Kuusankoski, Kuusaa Hall - Vaughan Williams • The Lark Ascending for Violin and Orchestra (1914/1920) • Andante sostenutoThe Lark Ascending for Violin and Orchestra (1914/1920)
Andante sostenutoJames Ehnes (Violin), Andrew Manze
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 2019 - Sibelius • Lemminkäinen Suite op. 22 • 2. The Swan of Tuonela – Andante molto sostenutoLemminkäinen Suite op. 22
2. The Swan of Tuonela – Andante molto sostenutoMikko Franck, Sveriges Radios SymfoniorkesterDecember 1999, Stockholm, The Berwald Hall - Grieg • Songs op. 25 • 2. En Svane (A Swan)Songs op. 25
2. En Svane (A Swan)Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo-soprano), Bengt Forsberg (Piano)℗ 1993 - Saint-Saëns • Le carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) R 125 (Version for 2 Pianos and Chamber Ensemble) • 13. Le Cygne (The Swan)Le carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) R 125 (Version for 2 Pianos and Chamber Ensemble)
13. Le Cygne (The Swan)RCO Chamber Soloists
Lucas Jussen (Piano), Arthur Jussen (Piano)℗ 2017 - Rautavaara • Cantus articus op. 61 “Concerto for Birds and Orchestra” • III. Joutsenet muuttava (Swans Migrating)Cantus articus op. 61
III. Joutsenet muuttava (Swans Migrating)Leif Segerstam, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 2008 - Beethoven • Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral” • II. Szene am Bach. Andante molto mossoSymphony No. 6 in F major op. 68
II. Szene am Bach. Andante molto mossoÁdám Fischer, Danish National Chamber Orchestra℗ 2019 - Schubert • Schwanengesang D 957 • 14. Die Taubenpost (D 965a)Schwanengesang D 957
14. Die Taubenpost (D 965a)Christoph Prégardien (Tenor), Andreas Staier (Fortepiano)℗ 2008 - Strauss II (Jr.) • Die Tauben von San Marco, Polka française for Orchestra op. 414Die Tauben von San Marco, Polka française for Orchestra op. 414Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Berliner Philharmoniker℗ 1999
- Rameau • Nouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin: Suite in G major RCT 6 • 4. La pouleNouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin: Suite in G major RCT 6
4. La pouleVíkingur Ólafsson (Piano)℗ 2020 - Haydn • Symphony No. 83 in G minor Hob. I:83 "La Poule" (The Hen) • I. AllegroSymphony No. 83 in G minor Hob. I:83 "La Poule" (The Hen)
I. AllegroBruno Weil, Tafelmusik℗ 1994 - Tann • In the Theatre of Air • II. GoldfinchesIn the Theatre of Air
II. GoldfinchesMarsyas Trio
Zubin Kanga (Piano), Helen Vidovich (Flute), Val Welbanks (Violoncello)April 2018, Egham, Royal Holloway Boilerhouse - Messiaen • Catalogue d'oiseaux (1956-1958) • 5. La Chouette hulotte (The Tawny Owl)Catalogue d'oiseaux (1956-1958)
5. La Chouette hulotte (The Tawny Owl)Pierre-Laurent Aimard (Piano)August 2017, Berlin, Funkhaus Berlin - Anonymous (Christmas) • El cant dels ocells (Arr. P. Casals for Violoncello and Orchestra)El cant dels ocells (Arr. P. Casals for Violoncello and Orchestra)CBSO Cellos
Sheku Kanneh-Mason (Violoncello)℗ 2018 - Vanschothorst • The Caged Owl • I. The Caged Owl
- Tann • In the Theatre of Air • VI. White OwlIn the Theatre of Air
VI. White OwlMarsyas Trio
Zubin Kanga (Piano), Helen Vidovich (Flute), Val Welbanks (Violoncello)April 2018, Egham, Royal Holloway Boilerhouse - Puccini • La rondine • Act I • 14. "Forse, come la rondine" (Magda)La rondine
Act I • 14. "Forse, come la rondine" (Magda)Toby Spence (Tenor), Monica Bacelli (Mezzo-soprano), Alberto Rinaldi (Baritone), Patrizia Ciofi (Soprano), Patrizia Biccirè (Soprano), William Matteuzzi (Tenor), Inva Mula (Soprano), Enrico Fissore (Bass), Angela Gheorghiu (Soprano), Riccardo Simonetti (Baritone), Roberto Alagna (Tenor), Gareth Roberts (Tenor), Andrew Busher (Tenor), Antonio Pappano
London Symphony Orchestra, London Voices℗ 1997 - Brahms • Liebeslieder Waltzes op. 52 • 6. Ein kleiner, hübscher Vogel nahm den FlugLiebeslieder Waltzes op. 52
6. Ein kleiner, hübscher Vogel nahm den FlugMarlis Petersen (Soprano), Stella Doufexis (Mezzo-soprano), Werner Güra (Tenor), Konrad Jarnot (Baritone), Christoph Berner (Piano), Camillo Radicke (Piano)℗ 2007 - Fung • Birdsong for Violin and Piano (2012)Birdsong for Violin and Piano (2012)Civitas Ensemble
Yuan-Qing Yu (Violin), Winston Choi (Piano)℗ 2020 - Davies • Hawk • I. Hawk
- Alomía Robles • El condor pasa (Arr. for Guitar) • I. El condor pasaEl condor pasa (Arr. for Guitar)
I. El condor pasaJohn Christopher Williams (Guitar)℗ 2000 - Anonymous (Traditional) • Le chant des oiseaux (instrumental arrangements) • I. Le chant des oiseauxLe chant des oiseaux (instrumental arrangements)
I. Le chant des oiseauxFrançois Salque (Violoncello), Vincent Peirani (Accordion)℗ 2007, The Eglise du bon Secours - Stanford • Eight Part-Songs op. 119 • 3. The Blue BirdEight Part-Songs op. 119
3. The Blue BirdPaul McCreesh, Gabrieli ConsortJuly 2016, Surrey, Charterhouse School Chapel - Anonymous • I Would I Were a BirdI Would I Were a BirdJean-Guihen Queyras (Violoncello), Sokratis Sinopoulos (Lyre), Bijan Chemirani (Percussion), Keyvan Chemirani (Percussion)2015, Château-Arnoux, Studio Durance
- Haydn • String Quartet in C major op. 33/3 Hob. III:39 “The Bird” • I. Allegro moderatoString Quartet in C major op. 33/3 Hob. III:39
I. Allegro moderatoAlban Berg QuartettLive
Günter Pichler (Violin), Gerhard Schulz (Violin), Thomas Kakuska (Viola), Valentin Erben (Violoncello)1999, Wien, Konzerthaus - Dutilleux • Blackbird (1950)
- Messiaen • Le Merle noir (The Blackbird) for Flute and Piano (1951) • Le Merle noirLe Merle noir (The Blackbird) for Flute and Piano (1951)
Le Merle noirSharon Bezaly (Flute), Ronald Brautigam (Piano)June 2008, Stockholm, Nybrokajen 11 (the former Academy of Music) - Tann • In the Theatre of Air • V. HawkIn the Theatre of Air
V. HawkMarsyas Trio
Zubin Kanga (Piano), Helen Vidovich (Flute), Val Welbanks (Violoncello)April 2018, Egham, Royal Holloway Boilerhouse - Holmboe • Prelude No. 6 'To the Seagulls and the Cormorants' op. 174 M. 337 (1987)Prelude No. 6 'To the Seagulls and the Cormorants' op. 174 M. 337 (1987)Giordano Bellincampi, Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen1999 - 2000, Kongens Lyngby, Lyngby Park Kapel
- Cairos-Rego • Albatross (1933)
- Tamulionis • Sarkela varnela (Little Magpie, Little Crow) • I. Sarkela varnela (Little Magpie, Little Crow)Sarkela varnela (Little Magpie, Little Crow)
I. Sarkela varnela (Little Magpie, Little Crow)Tadas Šumskas, Lithuanian Music Academy Chamber Choir℗ 2011