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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

 

Nat Wolff

Jazz is smooth and cool. Jazz is rage. Jazz flows like water. Jazz never seems to begin or end. Jazz isn't methodical, but jazz isn't messy either. Jazz is a conversation, a give and take. Jazz is the connection and communication between musicians. Jazz is abandon.

Wynton Marsalis

Jazz music is America's past and its potential, summed up and sanctified and accessible to anybody who learns to listen to, feel, and understand it. The music can connect us to our earlier selves and to our better selves-to-come. It can remind us of where we fit on the time line of human achievement, an ultimate value of art.