wood-notes

She retained that sweetness and symmetry, which death itself could not destroy; and though her discourse was incoherent, her voice was still musical, resembling those feathered songsters who warble their native wood-notes wild.

The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom 2004

We knew their "wood-notes wild," and admired their plumage, but they did not inspire the same feeling as their cousin the robin.

Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 26, September, 1880 Various

Geraldine had been well taught, and sang accurately; but, oh! the contrast of the thin, piping voice and expressionless delivery to the rich tones and almost dramatic fervour with which Bluebell poured forth her "native wood-notes wild"!

Bluebell A Novel Mrs. George Croft Huddleston

It is my own favourite humorous song when forced by ladies to sing against my will, which too frequently happens; and notwithstanding my wood-notes wild, it will never be sung by any so well again.

The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume II. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century Various

A heroine of six foot two or three in her sandals, with a bass voice, covers the stage with tremendous strides, and warbles out "her wood-notes" (being a Druidess she worships the _oak_) "wild," with a volume of voice which silences the trombone, and makes the ophecleide sound asthmatic.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, December 11, 1841 Various

Whilst she was singing, we all observed that a nightingale perched upon one of the neighbouring trees continued silent; the moment she stopped, he began to warble forth his 'wood-notes wild.'

The Letter-Bag of Lady Elizabeth Spencer-Stanhope — Volume 1 A. M. W. [Compiler] Stirling

Did his "wood-notes wild" come from him as tunes do from a barrel-organ, where it is necessary only to set the machine and disturb the bowels of it by turning?

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 03, No. 20, June, 1859 Various

He differs, however, from the latter bird, in singing, like a good bullfinch, the airs which be has acquired without any admixture of certain "native wood-notes wild" which, however well enough in their way, are no embellishment to such music as Mozart's.

Mr. Punch`s history of modern England, Volume I -- 1841-1857 Charles Larcom 1921

Like Voltaire, they reckoned Shakespeare a barbarian with native wood-notes wild.

Purcell Runciman, John F 1909

The critic who, borrowing Milton's words, described these carefully wrought poems as "wood-notes wild" showed a singular lapse of penetration.

Ponkapog Papers. 1904