Nightingales: Londonderry Air - 'Actually recorded in Beatrice Harrison's Garden, Oxted' (1927)

On 3 May 1927, the His Master's Voice mobile recording van made a journey to 'Foyle Riding,' Oxted, Surrey, the home of 'cellist Beatrice Harrison (1892-1965), to record both Harrison and the nightingales in her garden. Four sides were subsequently issued. This upload features the nightingales with Harrison playing 'Londonderry Air.'
As Harrison recounted the story, one night she was practising in her garden when she became aware of a nightingale echoing and then answering the notes of the 'cello. When this was repeated on a nightly basis, she contacted the BBC and suggested that this be broadcast, which it was on 19 May 1924. The public reaction was such that broadcasts continued for many years.
The advent of HMV's mobile van in 1927 made it practicable for recordings to be made at remote venues, with the result that several recordings were made of the nightingales. These appear to have sold quite well.
When more than two years ago I uploaded one of the 'Nightingales' sides, I never dreamt that it would become the most accessed recording on this site. Interesting!

[@twiggie7834]

i am here cuz i heard the cellist and nightingale episode in the movie "the dig (2021)", too beautiful to miss it

[@LightStudio-THELINK]

same ahahah. Well said

[@glosaperpleja]

"The birds are the opposite of time. They represent our longing for light, for stars, for rainbows, and for jubilant song"
Olivier Messiaen

[@vintagesounds3878]

Sorry I missed your comment - but what a great quote. Thank you!

[@gianniformica8235]

The Netflix movie "the dig" brought me here.

[@vitallylubin5411]

Same same same 😊

[@martinduplessis2994]

Same

[@erronblack5015]

What was in it!?

[@108hindu]

Absolutely, a great and inspiring movie. Nightingales singing with cello. How wonderful!

[@anadaysofsodom6840]

This is an absolute treasure, this recording touches something deep down in my heart, thank you for uploading chief.

[@theoldbarntheoldbarn4947]

This year is the centenary of the live broadcast at The Music Room in Oxted. There will be a BBC documentary to celebrate this occasion and I will holding a concert here at The Music Room, Foyle Riding on the 19th May 2024. Thank you so much for keeping Beatrice's memory alive.

[@vintagesounds3878]

Interesting to hear!

[@mondellomusic2]

The picture of the garden at 2:44 brings nostalgia in a very big way

[@unclejohnthezef]

Very pretty music by birds and Beatrice, lovely pictures…It’s very silly to suggest it’s faked with human birdcallers. Birds just being birbs.

[@jackhodgson9895]

The BBC admitted it

[@djfmitv]

Think what's quite unique from other samples, is how very clear this one sounds - most of the others I've heard are extremely noisy or overcompensates in noise reduction. This version has none of those feature and is more enjoyable to listen to. Hence why many are probably more interested in the version you have :)

[@vintagesounds3878]

Thanks!

[@violinistoftaupo]

Harrison also did the first recording of Elgar's cello concerto in 1920, whose matter-of-fact style contrasts with this recording. Thank you for uploading.

[@gavinmillar7519]

A great example of location broadcasting! 👏

[@vintagesounds3878]

Certainly interesting!

[@saltburner2]

Do you think they used two microphones? It would be difficult to capture both so so well with one.

[@vintagesounds3878]

It's really difficult to know. There are various stories about these recordings, some saying that they were faked. Whatever the position, they are rather lovely!

[@truesoundchris]

Rather sure there was only one mic: Had a second been available they could have taken advantage of recording the 'cello less distant and thin in tone. Quite obviously from the sonic balance, they aimed at the birds and trusted that the "off-mic" 'cello would be loud enough to come through. It did, but not with the usual fidelity of studio recordings from the same period.

[@michellecrowley3749]

So beautiful

[@khhww]

This is sent to me back to the 1927! and when I hear Nightingale's sound, I am very surprised. It was captured very well.

[@vintagesounds3878]

It's actually quite surprising - almost as if the birds were assembled in front of the microphone!

[@bikemonkey006]

@@vintagesounds3878 , they were not even any real birds involved. They actually used a bird impersonator . Presumably the impersonator was at the mic ?

[@vintagesounds3878]

@@bikemonkey006 Interesting. I haven't heard that.

[@bikemonkey006]

@@vintagesounds3878 , the bird sounds were done by Maude Gould , a music hall performer. She worked under the name of Madame Saberon on stage.

[@vintagesounds3878]

@@bikemonkey006 Well - so interesting. Thanks!

[@philodowd8080]

So uplifting thank you

[@georgejohnson1498]

From a simpler and happier time!
Thanks from George

[@vintagesounds3878]

Agreed, George! A bit more simplicity wouldn't go astray nowadays.

[@scj00380]

A "simpler and happier time" if you're into fake recordings.

[@spmoran4703]

Thank you Ms Harrison and the bird friend .