The Galapagos Islands birdsong

To start our research into creating a new genre of music by using the unique birdsongs of these islands, we first needed audios of the birdsongs themselves. We looked up many different websites and found a recording of many birdsongs from Galapagos Islands birds. This audio footage was recorded by Chris Watson. (www.TouchRadio.org.uk, Chris Watson the Galapagos Islands an audio diary). For several days we analysed these birdsongs. We listened to the melodies, the rhythms and the texture of the birdsongs to see what type of music would be produced. By listening to the audio paired with this section of the project, we have determined the following:

FOREST BIRDS

• Tonality- B Major most common key. Found from using Audacity

• Harmony- repetition of notes, very high in pitch, not much range for harmonies as all notes being heard seem to be within the range of a third.

• Melody- notes seem to be similar but rhythms of melodies very different and a lot could be done with this.

• Rhythm – Many different rhythms, mostly fast 4/4 time, repeated three note phrases, dotted rhythms heard clearly, hard to identify which bird is singing which call,

• Tempo- fast but moderate, many pauses used, dotted rhythmic features heard

• Texture- homophonic as there was a wide use of rhythmic features. Polyphonic in some places.

This audio was recorded in the Scalesia forest on the island of Santa Cruise at six AM. By collecting the above information, we are have now provided the information needed to create a new genre of music by using the influence of the birdsong. We hope to take this information and try to write and compose some music that would act as a prototype of Galapagos Island music.