Evening star., 1949-08-02
This and That.
By Charles E. TraceweU

1t is question whether the lyric soprano
or the violin appeals most to birds
Each, in its way resembles the bird note.
Any one interested may try this for him
self. by making sure that the home phono-
graph or radio is placed where It can be
heard easily just outside the window.
Not only will such researcher find that
the high soprano or the violin is the favorite
with song sparrows, Knockers and others.
but also that most birds prefer classical
music, with one exception.
That exception Is the South American
popular song, preferably the rumba
Operatic numbers go over big with song
sparrows.
AS might be expected from his name, this
sparrow knows good music when he hears it.
He always comes to the rhododendrons by
the dining room window.
In our house, the dining room Is also the
music room.
1t is noticeable that whenever an old
fashioned operate record is played, especial
ly soprano, the song sparrows always come
around.
They join in with few bars of their own.
This is the familiar technique of making
reluctant canary sing.
Give 1t little soft music, and away 1t
goes on its own steam.
A visitor was telling the other day about
a canary of his boyhood in the Far West.
That bird would sing at the nudge Of 4
tea kettle Almost any small steady sound
would set it going.
Records today have more bass. more vital
ity, but they lack something the sparrows
like, a certain sickness of tone, one might
call it.
This is manifested best in the old Kreisler
records, and in the soprano discs.
The old record makers had not learned
how to keep their backgrounds silent. There
was too much hiss" on the old records.
They had something, however, lost to the
present generation. The best of the old
acoustic discs, notably those of Farrar, had
a keen bite to them that sends our song
sparrows.
They listen carefully for a little while,
then pipe up. as If unable to resist the urge.
We think this speaks very well for recorded
music, both the old and new.
The birds undoubtedly prefer good music.
The cheap stuff so often heard leaves
them cold, as rule.
They are not keen for jazz, rag time, be-
bop, or whatever 1t Is.
The better the music, the better they
like it.
Some music lovers today do not seem to
understand how one simple theme can be
a better theme than another simple theme.
They can see no difference. They should
listen more to the best That is the way to
learn. Acquaintance with the better sorts
of musical composition will end by making
any one understand the difference. Then
he will tolerate, but not admire too much,
the incessant flow of cheap. silly little tunes
which make up our popular music. Such
tunes have their place. but mostly they are
not musicians melodies. Or song sparrows'
tunes!
Lest any one think we credit the little
bird with more than its just due, as
musician, let us remind him that the bird
has to its credit more than 1000 melodies.
straight out of the music library Of nature.
The birds have no training. as such, but
they do not need it. They are the worlds
first musicians, and may be presumed 70
understand these matters from the begin
ming. While they compose no symphonies.
they are masters of the theme" without
which there would be no symphonies, arias.
cantatas or any other human musical form.
So don't forget your birds, If you have
something good on the radio or phono-
graph, or play the Kiolin or piano They, too.
are musicians. and know what It n al about.