Chris Bonds writes:

>>This definition [my def, of music] would include bird calls.
>
>So you're saying birds can be composers?
>
>When a bird sings its song that's not music.
>When a composer (e.g. Messiaen) notates it and puts it in a piece, that's
>music

I would expect that a lot of people on the list would disagree.

>I don't call animal sounds music because we as yet have no way to tell
>if the animals themselves have a concept of music, nor do we have any way
>to distinguish which sounds an animal considers "routine" signalling or
>conversation and which it considers "special," which you will recall (if
>you read my previous posts on the subject) I consider an essential part
>of music's definition.

Well first, just becaure we don't understand it does not mean its not
music, and, I have not seen your definition (maybe before I was on the
list) but I would like to see it (seriously).  You may send it to me
privately if you want to avoid the onslought I am suffering through:-)

Bill Pirkle