The sounds around. (Books).

The brown thrasher bird performs nearly 2,000 songs, while some of its close avian relatives perform only three or four. Nobody knows why. Nature's wild song has long inspired musicians, as David Rothenberg, a professor of philosophy, writer and clarinetist, writes in the collection The Book of Music and Nature (Wesleyan University Press, $24.95). Vivaldi wrote a "Goldfinch Concerto," and Messiaen transcribed birdsongs for orchestras. The book's contributions vary widely across centuries and genres, and feature musicians' own heartfelt observations about natural inspiration: "To play the piano is to consort with nature," observes Russell Sherman. Rothenberg discourses at more length on creativity and impromptu improvisation in Sudden Music (University of Georgia Press, $29.95). Both books come with musical CDs, so you can actually hear the author and others jam with walruses and pied butcherbirds. --J.M