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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
 Posted - 07/12/2007 : 02:46:25
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YouTube has lots of talented animals. Here is a bird that sings the blues:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGJaz64lrJ4
What's cool about this is after the first 16 bar blues phrase, the bird basically stays in key and offers plenty of short motivic variations and "blue notes" (i.e. flat 3rd and 5th in major) to stay in the style. However, the bird sings in a "birdlike" style (but not Charlie Parker) yet retains the blues feel in the pitches.
The question is: Is the bird aware of the blues style and stays by ear in key, or is the pianist aware of what the bird has learned and plays along with his bird song? Keep in mind that the bluesy piano chord progressions are very conventional in the approach to the cadences and if the bird was all over the place in melody, the key structure would not be as straight-forward as it is. 
Also note that the bird gets a little cue – some human whistling at the very start to get going.
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2007 : 03:20:09 [Permalink]
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I don't understand much of that technical stuff about music, but I'm very impressed with the apparent fact that the bird is singing counterpart to the piano theme.
It seems likely that it learned this by the man whistling the bird's part repeatedly along with the piano, but it amazes me that the bird's timing can be so precise. I imagine this ability may stem from instinctive behavior of interaction with other birds' songs. A perfection of this technique might indicate an ideal mate. If so, it may be that the source of at least some of the human aesthetics in music may be instinctual -- and possibly related to language.
I'd love to know out if this bird would or could sing counterpart to an unfamiliar blues tune.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
 Posted - 07/12/2007 : 09:51:03 [Permalink]
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Really good insights, Halfmooner. Aspects of human aesthetics in music possibly being instinctual is an intriguing idea.
I think it is interesting, given what we are aware of the ability of some birds to precisely imitate sounds*, that a human impression can be created of this bird happily, (or sadly because it is the blues,) singing on his own with the accompanying piano. What would happen if the kid played the same bluesy chord patterns in a different key? Would the bird "modulate" (i.e. change keys) to accommodate the change or stay with the same pitches?
*You may have seen the David Attenborough film clips showing birds imitating chain saws and camera shutters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuFyqzerHS8
The Lyre Bird not only imitates saws but also the acoustic sounds of the saws reverberating in the open forrest.
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JEROME DA GNOME
BANNED
2418 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2007 : 12:50:01 [Permalink]
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Another great example of the astounding glory of nature!
Thanks for posting that!
Not that you can read this, but thanks anyways.
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What a man believes upon grossly insufficient evidence is an index into his desires -- desires of which he himself is often unconscious. If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way. - Bertrand Russell |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2007 : 13:47:54 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Chippewa
Really good insights, Halfmooner. Aspects of human aesthetics in music possibly being instinctual is an intriguing idea.
I think it is interesting, given what we are aware of the ability of some birds to precisely imitate sounds*, that a human impression can be created of this bird happily, (or sadly because it is the blues,) singing on his own with the accompanying piano. What would happen if the kid played the same bluesy chord patterns in a different key? Would the bird "modulate" (i.e. change keys) to accommodate the change or stay with the same pitches?
*You may have seen the David Attenborough film clips showing birds imitating chain saws and camera shutters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuFyqzerHS8
The Lyre Bird not only imitates saws but also the acoustic sounds of the saws reverberating in the open forrest.
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Thanks much, but for "insights," my pinnacle was the ape pachyderm cavalry thing. With this lot, that was throwing pearls before swine, though.
I really hope some researcher will at least casually take a look at this talented cockatiel. At least to find the limits of its musical accomplishments. Like, as you mentioned, whether it would change key if the pianist did, and also whether it would provide a different, but aesthetically appropriate, musical counterpart to a different piano melody. I'd be absolutely floored if it did either, but I wouldn't discount the possibility.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2007 : 14:07:32 [Permalink]
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My girlfriend used to have a budgerigar.
It learned to chatter like house sparrows that used to sit in the bushes outside her window, and also like magpies.
She played guitar, and while practicing, her budgie quietly listened. Every time she played a wrong note it made a short cracking sound, as if to say "hey, I noticed that...". |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
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Bird Sings the Blues
