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TIMELINE
Listening Guide: "Birds of Fire" (1973) by John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra"
"Birds of Fire" (1973) by Mahavishnu Orchestra | ||
---|---|---|
Introduction | It opens ominously with three hits of a gong. | [00:00-00:18] 00:18 |
Introduction B | Electric guitar begins playing a distorted arpeggiated two-chord progression. Violin and bass riff are added, playing a four-bar passage in unison at 00:42. Drums are added at 00:53. |
[00:18-01:05] 00:47 |
A | Guitar performs an eight-bar call-and-response phrase twice accompanied by bass, guitar, and drums. | [01:05-01:26] 00:21 |
B | Guitar solo begins. Return of the violin and electric bass riff in Introduction B return at 01:50. |
[01:26-2:24] 00:58 |
A | Return to the A above, but this time plays the eight-bar phrase three times. | [02:24-02:49] 00:25 |
Transition | The tempo is slightly slower, led by guitar and accompanied by guitar, electric piano, electric bass, and drums. | [02:49-03:02] 00:13 |
Introduction B | Same violin and bass riff playing a four-bar passage in unison (gradually fades out and in again), accompanied by electric piano, and drums. Guitar solo begins at 03:12. |
[03:02-04:11] 01:09 |
A | Return to the A above, but this time plays the eight-bar phrase three times. | [04:11-04:39] 00:28 |
Transition | The tempo is slightly slower, led by guitar and accompanied by guitar, electric piano, electric bass, and drums. | [04:39-04:52] 00:13 |
Introduction B | Same violin and bass riff as before play a four-bar passage in unison, accompanied by electric piano, electric bass, and drums. The music gradually fades to 05:41. | [04:52-05:41] 00:49 |