Avian Airs and Carols

Listen

Kathleen Blackwell-Plank performs Whence Comes This Rush of Wings. The music is coupled with avian photos by Gail Gibson.

Additional notes

“The Carol of the Birds” (“Curoo, Curoo”) in D major (2-sharps) is from Ireland and dates to at least the mid-nineteenth century. This arrangement included lyrics in English and uses occasional rolled chords, glissandi and left-hand harmonics.

“The Song of the Birds” in D minor (1-flat) is a traditional Catalan Christmas lullaby that was made famous by cellist, Pablo Casals who chose this piece of his native land to open each of his concerts and recitals. Lyrics are provided in Spanish. This piece utilizes grace notes, rolled chords, arpeggios and frequent but well-marked lever changes (involving F# and C#).

“Whence Comes this Rush of Wings” (“Noël des Ausèls”) in G minor (2 flats) is an old carol from the Bas-Quercy region of southwest of France. This carol tells of the birds who flew to Bethlehem to sing their joy at the birth of the Christ child. They followed the “Noël Star” and flew into the stable to sing by the manger. Kathleen Blackwell-Plank’s arrangement for harp utilizes rolled chords, glissandi and grace notes in the introduction and interludes to create the ethereal sounds of birds’ wings and songbird calls to set off this joyous melody. Several E naturals are set before playing but no lever changes are required. All three pieces have chord symbols.