Two birds in my backyard whistle at each other. The first bird whistles a high B♭ to a G, an interval of a minor third. The second bird answers with the same interval, except a whole tone above the first bird, C to A. I guess one bird is a little hotter than the other. Together the two birds create an unintentional song.
Click the score to turn on and off.
And so the verse of a new song was born. It kind of sounds like “Better Man” by Pearl Jam. Was Eddie Vedder also inspired by two chickadees and their aleatoric song?
Here, take a listen.
The title “At Song-Two-Birds” is a play on the Irish comic novel At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O’Brien, wherein the mad King Sweeny transforms into a bird-man and recites poetry on the river ford.
A year to last night
I have lodged there in branches
from the flood-tide to the ebb-tide
naked.
Bereft of fine women-folk,
the brooklime for a brother –
our choice for a fresh meal
is watercress always.
Without accomplished musicians
no jewel-gift for bards –
respected Christ, it has perished me.
The thorntop that is not gentle
has reduced me, has pierced me,
it has brought me near death
the brown thorn-bush.
This is the second Los song inspired by the chickadee. The previous song, “Chickadee (New Wave)”, used the wintry whole tone rather than the spring-time minor third. As summer progresses, the chickadee widens his interval by a step or two. The “fee bees” will be happy major thirds by the end of the summer, but for now they are minor thirds as above.
To all you chickadees out there, may your songs find you true love.
