Why Birds Sing

Paul Winter, back cover of book WHY BIRDS SING April 2005
"David Rothenberg is one of the rare musicians who is devoted to exploring the voices of the natural world."

Product Description
David Rothenberg jams with lyrebirds and laughing thrushes, catbirds and bou bou shrikes. This recording has been five years in the making, and it involves cutting-edge musicians from all over the world mixing their sounds with the wonderful musical melodies and tones of birds. Hear the interspecies jams that set the book in motion, as Rothenberg’s clarinets and Michael Pestel’s flute meet a white-crested laughing thrush in the National Aviary, and a wild Australian lyrebird named George in his rainforest home. These pieces are live interactions betweeen humans and birds, and the music lies somewhere along the uncharted flyways of evolution. Back in the studio a stretched-out hermit thrush song meets the bass clarinet, and Maori flutes, Estonian guitars, and live Finnish electronics meet catbirds, starlings, skylarks, and waves.

Also appearing on this record are flutist and performance artist Michael Pestel, Finnish electronic wizard Petri Kuljuntausta, New Zealand Grammy-award winner Richard Nunns, whose Maori-based music appeared in Whale Rider and Lord of the Rings. Also Estonian guitar master Robert Jürjendal, and versatile percussionist John Wieczorek.

The record is co-produced by Rothenberg along with tuba player Patrick Donahue, known for his work as surround-sound mixer on Bowling for Columbine and Control Room.

Why Birds Sing

Tracks:

American Music
Out The Window
Look LIke That
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
Hey Nonny Nonny
Used To Be
Girl Trouble
He Likes Me
Life Is A Scream
Flamingo Baby
Lack Of Knowledge
More Money Tonight
I'm Free

Customer Reviews:

Essential for Road Trips.......2006-11-28

Easily one of the VF's best albums. A great pick for your next road trip. Too bad it never got the attention it deserved.

Incredible Violent Femmes.......2005-07-07

All i can say about this album is that it really grows on you. It's the kind of music you want to hear when you want to dance by yourself in the living room.
If you are a Violent Femmes fan, buy this album... If you are looking for a starter, I'd recommend Add It Up, it covers more bases. This album is great.
"American Music" gets tiring after a few times of hearing it, but the Boy George.. or was it Culture Club... cover of "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" makes up for it.

It's a shame these guys aren't huge..........2004-06-12

...considering the quality of the music they have shared with the world throughout the last 21 years or so.
While not as urgent and raw as their masterpiece first album, Why Do Birds Sing? is their second best. I picked this up in June of 1991, after having heard their first album a few times while in high school a few years earlier and forgetting about them. What sold me on this album was the cover...for some reason, it was (and still is) one of my favorite album covers of all time.
Of course, after unwrapping the cassette and popping it in, I realized it was much more than a nice package. "American Music" should have become an American anthem that summer (a summer when "Right Here, Right Now" by Jesus Jones just wouldn't go away), and "Out the Window" is very catchy (as well as disturbingly funny).
One of my favorite tracks, and still one of the greatest cover tunes of all time, is the Femmes' remake of "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" Gordan Gano changes the lyrics up a bit and makes it an achy, bittersweet tune, as opposed to the keyboarded stiffness of the original.
The addition of strings makes "Used to Be" a little overproduced sounding, but it's a depressing song and the brushed snare drum (one of the Femmes' signature sounds) help make it work. Allow yourself into it for a lovely, melancholy few minutes.
The album closes with "I'm Free," a sweet little ode to Gordan's own life. Almost a country song, it's a great way to finish the album.
Overall, it's a great, great album, and it's shameful that it was so overlooked. Gordan Gano's amazing ability to sound both geniunely sad and geniunely insane at the same time is one of their unique characteristics, and the multi-talented Brian Ritchie brings all sorts of new and fresh musical expressions. As I mentioned earlier, this is their second best, behind their first, quintessential, self-titled album. If you consider yourself a Violent Femmes fan, or you've never heard anything by them, then this is a must have.

Exotically Formal Femmes.......2003-12-27

What a great album. Opens with the notorious "American Music", ends with the country inspired gem "I'm Free", and in between exhibits a vibrant variety of music, using elements of Pop, Folk, Country, Rock and Punk to generate a sort of "undressed new wave sound" that only the Violent Femmes could have the ingenuity to create. As with every Femmes album, "Why Do Birds Sing?" puts an interesting spin on the established Femmes sound. Keyboards and Organs play a previously nonresident role, and many instruments are introduced into the Femmes' musical vocabulary. Ukeleles, Conga Drums, Tambourines, Jaw Harps, Mellotrons, and drummer Victor Delorenzo's own invention, the "Tranceaphone" are among the interesting tools used to create the album. Though do not be fooled by the seemingly odd choice of instrumentation, the Violent Femmes are anything but some obscure emotionless act. Their unique sonances blend with accustomed Rock melodies to develop a very natural and pure sound, creating songs of exclusive charm.

Gordon Gano, Singer/Guitarist, presents beautifully ambigious songwriting in a class of its own. The reason Femmes songs are loved so dearly by so many different types of people, is that they represent that which we can all relate to; the inevitable clash of venerating, joyous innocence, with dark, dolorous truths which will always haunt our psyche. Harsh realities affect our emotions in a way that nothing else can, and Gordon uses humour to deliver recollections of these disturbingly honest moments we all share. Using humour to describe sorrow, two emotions in such contrast to one another, harnesses a wide range of emotions, all meeting together at one moment; the end result being unsure of whether you should laugh, be confused, angry, or simply break down and cry. These moments of such emotionally plenary uncertainty strike us all in the same way, in the sense that we are all struck in different ways. So quite naturally, it is of impeccable appropriateness that "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" is covered on this album, a song dealing with these exact issues, seemingly written for Gordon's writing style.

While I favor some songs over others, all are interesting in their own way. "Used To Be", perhaps my favorite track on the album, is sad to the point where hopelessness becomes beautiful. I love how well Victor's double snare fits the song, and the tone is Gordon's voice is in magical correspondance to the lyrics. The first 2 tracks, "American Music" and "Out The Window", both found on the "Add it Up" album, are classics. As the chorus of "American Music" sings, "Every time I look at that ugly lake it reminds of me." Brilliant line. Looking at a lake will show you your reflection, and if the lake is ugly and it reminds him of him, well, you get the idea. Gordon always amazes me with using such unique ways to bring up common ideas we all share. We can all relate to "Look Like That", or "Girl Trouble". The witty "Lack Of Knowledge" is a Punk Rock inspired tune about intelligence and confusion. It's impossible to not enjoy Gordon's clever anthem of revenge "More Money Tonight".

Femmes fans who don't already own "Why Do Birds Sing?" must buy this majestic masterpiece for their own sake, as the benefits of this purchase extend far beyond the material world. As good as this album is, it is not the ideal place to start for listeners who haven't heard, or are new to the Violent Femmes. Acquire "Violent Femmes - Deluxe Edition", the highly distinguished self-titled album, first. I definitely recommend the Deluxe Edition as it contains a bonus disc that will reveal to you a whole nother aspect of their genius - the live act. Though the album "Viva Wiconsin" is definitely the ultimate document of the Femmes live, the bonus live disc is an interesting chronicle that you will thank yourself for later.

Do you like American music?.......2002-11-10

1991's Why Do Birds Sing?, the Violent Femmes' fifth album, has never received the acclaim it deserves. Only the trio's first album is more consistently enjoyable. This album does not have the raw passion of the Femmes' earliest music, but it showcases the kind of quirky, unique sound that defines this eccentric band. American Music really should have been a hit, featuring the kind of pop sound that should appeal to a mainstream audience that, to a significant degree, doesn't even know this group exists. Out the Window, Look Like That, Used to Be, and Girl Trouble are toe-tappers easy and fun to sing along with. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me is a classic; don't worry about this being a Culture Club cover because its delivery is so uniquely Femmes that it took me a while to even realize the original source of the song. Hey Nonny Nonny and Flamingo Baby are just fun, somewhat nonsensical tracks. Life is a Scream is, ahem, a real scream, providing the listener with a great outlet for releasing any pent-up frustrations of his/her own. The whole album is rather cathartic, with the final track, I'm Free, basically summing up the effect of this music on the listener.

More Money Tonight is a little celebration of revenge, as lead singer Gordon Gano taunts all the people who laughed at him in the past, proclaiming he can make more money tonight than they can even dream of. One of my favorite VF songs of all time is He Likes Me. Don't get the wrong idea about this one-the "he" Gano is talking about is "her" new man. Anyone who has been forced to be nice to the guy dating the girl you are crazy about will have no trouble relating to these lyrics.

This is probably the Violent Femmes' most mainstream album; there is definitely a pop sound to most of the music. This is in no way a sellout, however--the sound may not be as dark and moody as usual, but this is still vintage VF. Even on his happiest day, Gano has pent-up feelings that just have to come out in his music. If you want to introduce a friend to the incredible music of this quirky trio, this is probably the best album to point them to. The original album is better, of course, but Why Do Birds Sing? provides a great avenue for the uninitiated to discover the passion and unique musical genius of this group.

Why Birds Sing
Average customer rating:

Musicians take flight

Why Birds Sing
David Rothenberg
Manufacturer: Terra Nova
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Album Description

David Rothenberg jams with lyrebirds and laughing thrushes, catbirds and bou bou shrikes. This recording has been five years in the making, and it involves cutting-edge musicians from all over the world mixing their sounds with the wonderful musical melodies and tones of birds. Hear the interspecies jams that set the book in motion, as Rothenberg's clarinets and Michael Pestel's flute meet a white-crested laughing thrush in the National Aviary, and a wild Australian lyrebird named George in his rainforest home. These pieces are live interactions betweeen humans and birds, and the music lies somewhere along the uncharted flyways of evolution. Back in the studio a stretched-out hermit thrush song meets the bass clarinet, and Maori flutes, Estonian guitars, and live Finnish electronics meet catbirds, starlings, skylarks, and waves.

The record is co-produced by Rothenberg along with tuba player Patrick Donahue, known for his work as surround-sound mixer on Bowling for Columbine and Control Room.

Customer Reviews:

Musicians take flight.......2006-08-21

Though the brilliant CD recording, WHY BIRDS SING, will inspire
and impress all who listen to it, anyone with a musician's heart
and/or experience will find the work to be particularly special.
The instrumental performances are virtuosic - and in perfect
complement with the great variety of magnificent bird song.

Average customer rating:

Alma Gluck

Manufacturer: Marston
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000004BOD
Release Date: 1997-10-14

Tracks:

ATALANTA: Come, my beloved (Care selve)
SEMELE: Oh sleep, why dost thou leave me?
ZEMIRE UND AZOR: Rose softly blooming
THEODORA: Angels ever bright and fair
HIPPOLYTE ET ARICIE: Rossignols amoureux
LA SONNAMBULA: Ah! non credea mirarti
LA BOHJEME: Donde lieta usci
I PAGLIACCI: Qual fiamma avea nel guardo ... Stridono lassu
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HANSEL UND GRETEL: Suse, liebe Suse
HANSEL UND GRETEL: Der kleine Sandmann bin ich
HANSEL UND GRETEL: Juchhei, nun is die Hexe tot
TZAR'S BRIDE Lyubasha's air
SNEGUROCHKA (SNOW MAIDEN): To the Thunder called the Flying Cloud
SNEGUROCHKA (SNOW MAIDEN): Aller au bois
HUBIKA (THE KISS): Ukolebavky (Cradle Song)
NATOMA: I list the trill in golden throat
LA TRAVIATA: Libiamo, libiamo

Tracks:

Le Nil
L'Heure Exquise
Le Bonheur est Chose Legere
Chanson Hebraique ('Mejerke, main Suhn,')
Hatikvah
Two Folk Songs of Little Russia
The Rose and the Nightengale (Eastern Romance)
Have You Seen but a Whyte Lillie Grow?
As a Beam O'er the Face of the Waters
Canzonetta
The Monotone (Ein Ton)
Passage-birds' Farewell
La Colomba
Tu
Sylvelin
Parla!
Serenata
The Braes O' Balquhidder
Comin' Thro the Rye
Red, Red Rose
Sing Me to Sleep
Will-o-the-Wisp
The Bird of the Wilderness
Irish Love Song
Long Ago, Sweetheart Mine
A Maid Sings Light
From the Land of the Sky Blue Water
Dawn

Average customer rating:

When Birds Do Sing

Manufacturer: Bard
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Delightful light baroque; a great find

Parry's English Lyrics

Manufacturer: Hyperion
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Amazon.com

Locatelli is, of course, an exceptionally tasty sheep's milk cheese related to Romano, but he was also a very important and talented composer of violin music. Later generations looked back at him as the "Baroque Paganini," and his music abounds in technical difficulties and flashy writing for the soloist. Of course, instrumental virtuosity alone doesn't make a great composer, but in this collection of concertos and orchestra suites we see that the challenge of writing other types of music didn't faze Locatelli composer one bit. The so-called "Theatrical Introductions" are what we now call "overtures" or "suites," consisting largely of dance movements arranged in a pleasing sequence. The whole collection is expertly performed by this excellent "authentic" instrument group. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Delightful light baroque; a great find.......2007-01-31

I stumbled on these pieces by hearing one on the radio, loving it, and buying this CD. These are bright, inventive, concerto-style compositions in a style very reminiscent of Vivaldi. From the first bars of the first track, you know you're in for a treat. The first CD contains six "Introduttioni Teatrali", or theater introductions, which were apparently played before theater productions. They are in typical baroque concerto style and might better be called concerti for orchestra. The second CD contains six concerti with varying numbers of movements.

The playing is excellent, full of life and energy. The recording quality is fine, and the hall has a full, rich sound. After listening to this CD a few times, the pieces feel like old friends I've known all my life. If you like Vivaldi concerti, I'm sure you'll enjoy these.

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