Wakey, Wakey!

I'm such a night owl the most likely way I ever get to hear the Dawn Chorus is to stay up all night. This would have stood me in good stead if I'd known broadcaster Chris Baines, who invited friends to his home at 4am to help celebrate his birthday by listening to the Dawn Chorus together. Over the years, the idea spread from his home in Birmingham to cover the rest of the UK, and then to over 80 countries!  There's something very magical about hearing Nature's Orchestra begin playing unseen before the start of the day's Grand Opera. 

Here is another Dawn Chorus in the form of words, poetry & images; beginning with a poem by Sasha Dugdale. 

Shakespeare is our early bird/bard, and along the way I learned a new word:

I was reminded of getting a very strong nudge to go to a memorial concert at the Friends Meeting House, Brighton, organized by musician friends of a young man who died tragically just before starting University to train as a doctor. A madcap race along the prom on bikes led to his hurtling down the stairs of an under-pass walkway that he just hadn't seen in time. Too awful. Although I did not know him, it struck me very deeply. I believe he had been celebrating some achievement on that night - a book accepted, or some such. I had the clear call to Go. The concert was a profound experience in so many ways - not only was I touched by the expression of love by his friends, I learned so much about composers I had never known - it opened my eyes. 

I learned about the French composer, Olivier Messiaen, who spent time as a prisoner of war. While in the camp he composed a piece of music based on the 4 instruments available: Quartet for the End of Time, was played to an audience of fellow detainees, and their captors.

He was also captivated by the sound of the blackbird that sang outside his barrack every morning; and determined that if he got out alive, he would compose a piece of music based on that heart-lifting refrain that lifted his soul in such formidable circumstances. The result, 'Le Merle Noir, 1952, is enchanting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7voZLH4kG_M He went on to create a series of short 'tone poems' based on the sound of other bird calls.

The chorus line-up is usually formed of: Blackbirds, robins, song thrushes, black caps,and chiff-chaffs. 

This time of 'Lock Down' is a good opportunity to get better acquainted with this singing troupe - 1st hand, and through poetry. 

Just hearing a short recording of the Dawn Chorus shared by a Facebook friend yesterday was a joy to hear - so uplifting, and sweet; full of hope, and a natural joy that cannot be suppressed: it's a beautiful constant, and a wonderful start to every day. 

 

Thanks for attending my Dawn Chorus party!