Volleys and Trills

Definition: Characteristic vocal patterns in bird song—volleys referring to rapid sequences of repeated or varied notes, and trills to rapid alternations between pitches, both representing high-speed articulations beyond typical human vocal capacity.

Messiaen's Treatment: Messiaen identifies "volleys and trills" as characteristic features of bird vocalizations that he seeks to capture in his transcriptions. These represent the most distinctive and technically demanding aspects of bird song—rapid articulations requiring virtuosic instrumental technique to approximate.

Volleys might manifest as:

• Rapid repeated notes
• Quick descending or ascending scales
• Series of short motives in quick succession

Trills appear as:

• Rapid alternations between two pitches
• Extended ornamental passages
• Tremolo-like effects

Modern Context: The emphasis on volleys and trills highlights rhythmic and articulatory aspects of bird song as much as pitch content. This connects to:

• Virtuoso instrumental writing: Demanding rapid articulation and technical facility
• Ornamental tradition: Baroque and Classical ornamentation employing trills and rapid figures
• Modernist instrumental extension: Exploring extreme registers, rapid articulations, and technical limits

Contemporary ornithology recognizes these patterns as characteristic of certain species:

• Wrens: Extremely rapid, complex songs
• Thrushes: Varied phrases with virtuosic passages
• Warblers: Rapid, chattering vocalizations

Messiaen's focus on these patterns emphasizes bird song's rhythmic and articulatory sophistication rather than just melodic contour, connecting to his broader emphasis on rhythm as a primary compositional parameter.

Examples: Volleys and trills appear throughout the bird-style examples, particularly in the rapid figurations and ornamental passages.