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Key Concepts

This chapter introduces five key concepts related to bird song as melodic source:

  1. Birds as Great Masters - The aesthetic and pedagogical principle positioning birds as teachers and models for composers

  2. Microtonal Intervals and the Problem of Transcription - The methodological challenge of notating bird vocalizations using intervals smaller than the semitone

  3. Bird Style (Genre d'oiseau) - A compositional genre characterized by melodies inspired by and modeled on bird vocalizations

  4. Transcription, Transformation, and Interpretation - The three-stage methodology for converting bird vocalizations into composed material

  5. Volleys and Trills - Characteristic vocal patterns in bird song featuring rapid sequences and alternations