Andante - Adagio - Allegretto - Chicken Language in Opera Terms

[LBL]

This morning my birds were doing a very distinctive call and response musical performance.

One hen, who I call "Plaid" till I come up with a better name, was Whining in a Rising Pitch.

Then the others all sang their response. Not a normal rooster crow, they sing together in response to Plaid.

And it goes on and on and on.


"Call & Response" is a term I've heard used to describe group vocalizations.

e.g. in a church, the pastor says something, the group sings their response.


If it was actually a human opera, and the first singer sang in a rising pitch - what would that be called ?


I suspect that hidden beneath all the rooster crows is some seriously high quality music.

 

[Debbie292d]

When a hen lays an egg, what she utters for the next few minutes is called her "song." And then, like you said, the others chime in. You might be onto something!

 

[LBL]

I suggest translating your favorite opera, to get a better idea of what the lyrics actually mean.

I really like "O Mio Bambino Caro", sung by Amira Willighagen, in the Alain Rieu band.

The lyrics are approximately,
oh my dear father,
i'm so sad,
i'm in love with the most handsome man,
but I have to buy my own ring,
i'm thinking about jumping in the river
etc.

The chicken language is fairly basic sometimes,
Hen: I just laid an egg and I'm ready for some more rooster genetics.
Rooster: I'm right here, babe !

BUT when the group of 3 hens and 3 roosters carry on for a half hour, I don't know what they're saying but I suspect that they are communicating their basic "love for life".

There has to be an opera term for the musical phrasing that starts with the Whining Plaid Hen, a medium high pitch that is rising in pitch, then answered by the other birds.

 

[GodLovesU]

This might be one of the best threads I’ve ever seen!

 

[Sally PB]

One of my hens sings, Ohhhh! in a rising, then falling pitch using portamento.
"Portamento definition: Portamento is the vocal technique of sliding between pitches continuously instead of jumping between the two notes."

 

[LBL]

Little Orange Guy (rooster) did this last night.

not crowing - just talking.

estimated starting near "C above middle C", then sliding higher in pitch.

Like he was just trying out his voice, but didn't feel like crowing.