This album, "Because They Have Songs," is the fourth cycle in Edward Cowie's "Bird Portrait" series, following cycles inspired by birds of Britain, Australia, and the USA.
Performer Biography
Gerard McChrystal, the saxophonist, was the first student to graduate from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) with three awards in 1986.
Album & Artwork
The cover image for this album, "Zulu Ceremony," was created by Heather Cowie, the visual artist wife of composer Edward Cowie.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Edward Cowie's bird music is derived from taking nature to music, in contrast to Olivier Messiaen, who Cowie believes takes music to nature.
Composer Biography
Edward Cowie, the composer, has published several serious scientific publications on birds and birdsong, including a discovery about microtonal differences in European Bitterns.
Compositional Technique
In these bird portrait cycles, the piano is not an accompanying instrument but rather sets the sonic habitat in which the various birds sing and behave.
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