MUSIC OF THE BUSH

Te Ao Hou, June 1960, Page 54

MUSIC OF THE BUSH A Treasury of New Zealand Bird Song. Kenneth and Jean Bigwood (Kiwi EC14–15–16) Reeds, Wellington. Album of 3 E.P. 7-inch plus 40-page booklet. 45s. In recent years, our poor radio programmes plus continuous commercials have caused many listeners to form their own record libraries. This unique set of the songs of New Zealand birds, recorded in their bush setting and combined with background noises of rivers and waterfalls, brings the romance of the outdoors and the voices of “the children of Tane” to your home. Working as a husband and wife team, Kenneth and Jean Bigwood, who are trained photographers and recording specialists, have after years of skilled and patient work, built up a remarkable Kenneth and Jean Bigwood “shoot” a bird in the New Zealand bush. While Jean operates the tape recorder, Kenneth trains the microphone, set in the centre of the parabolic reflector, upon the singing bird. This husband and wife team have, after years of skilled and patient work, built up a remarkable library of bird songs and also of photographs of the birds themselves.