2010/11/12 by Hollis Taylor · 13 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Psychology · #Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior #Marine animal studies overview #Plant and animal studies #Improvisation #Novelty #Mimicry #Variety (cybernetics) #Relevance (law) #Musical #Cognitive science #Aesthetics #Art #Communication #Psychology #Computer science #Literature #Visual arts #Artificial intelligence #Biology #Social psychology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1162/lmj_a_00016
published in Leonardo Music Journal 20, 79-83 (The MIT Press)
openalex publication_date 2010/11/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
This paper challenges the assumption that improvisation is a process unique to humans. Despite the general reluctance of biologists to consider birdsong “music,” they routinely comment on improvisation found in the signals of songbirds. The Australian pied butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) is such a species. Analysis (including transcriptions and sonograms) of solo song, duets and mimicry illustrates their remarkable preoccupation with novelty and variety, and traces improvisation's role in the creation of their complex song culture. The author suggests further zoömusicological case studies for the relevance this research could have to other human (musical) capacities.