Representing Birdsong is a collaborative project inspired by birdsong, between sound and visual artist Lucy Stevens and tabla player Rishii Chowdhury.

The Swithland Wood Recordings has been created as a digital print, onto a 12 inch record sleeve and pressed vinyl, featuring illustrations of native birds, their songs and trees from Swithland Woods in Leicestershire. The soundtracks were captured using field recording techniques (with support from Geoff Sample) and feature birdsong and musical compositions inspired by birdsong.

Stevens and Chowdhury have come together to explore the magnificent sounds of bird vocalisations, including the variations in pitch, repetition and duration. The sounds of native birds have influenced the artists involved, by fusing field recordings, musical improvisation and drawing techniques.

The soundtracks feature classically trained musicians Rishii Chowdhury (tabla) and Roopa Panesar (sitar), responding to birdsong, with an additional track featuring a live recording of Rishii performing the tabla in the woods, responding to birdsong. The main inspiration for one of the rifts was the 'Coo Coo Cooo' of the Wood Pigeon and the loud call of the Green Woodpecker. 

A short film has been created to document the process of the project and reveal the various stages of creating the work (see the foyer area show reel).

I would like to thank the following individuals and organisations for their generous support towards this project: Rishii Chowdhury, Bill Newsinger, Geoff Sample, Roopa Panesar, Terry Forryan and Lyndall Phelps, Leicester Print Workshop, LCB Depot, Embrace Arts, Leicester City Council and Dub Studio and Senol printing.
For more information please visit: www.representingbirdsong.wordpress.com or stay in touch via Twitter @lucyjstevens #birdsongtabla. This project was supported by Arts Council England's National Lottery-funded Grants for the arts programme.

Birdsong and music composition by Rishii Chowdhury (tabla) and Roopa Panesar (sitar), 2014

These recordings were made by members of the Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group during a weekend workshop in regional Victoria.

Each recording documents the same 2 minute sequence during the dawn chorus, with recorders/microphones in proximity to each other. Recording rigs range from simple and inexpensive to hi-end equipment, and this edit allows them to be compared, with a brief silence between each recorder. 

1. Sound Devices MixPre6-2, with DPA4060 omnis (Vicki Hallett)
2. Zoom H6, internal mics @ 120º (James Harris)
3. Sound Devices 702, with pair of Sennheiser MKH20s in SASS array (Andrew Skeoch)
4. Sound Devices 702, with pair of Sennheiser MKH60s in pistol grips, hand held (Andrew Skeoch)
5. Zoom H4N, internal cardoids (Melinda Barry)

awsrg.org.au

Info

5 field recording rigs compared

21st Century Swing

Borders, Scotland 18.3.2003 11:30am GMT

Tranquility is maybe best considered a state of mind. But it has a strong subjective connection with perceived soundscape. Can that be captured or expressed in a recording?

There was a week in March 2003 when spring rushed in with a pretence of summer up here on the Scottish Borders. Daytime temperatures were high, touching 20˚C in some sheltered moments. Breeze was light. Sound transmission was softened but not crabbed. Animal life responded in their own seasonal ways. Myself included.

I headed out to a nearby loch, lying in a basin on the edge of the hills, which I’d come to regard as a haven when I needed real quiet - a natural amphitheatre, with a fascinating spacious acoustic. 

Here’s a passage by that lochside.

loch of tranquility

Please listen through headphones to experience the binaural effect.
This is an example of the sonic context of the Sfera (2018) ambisonics installation where sound beams emit from the IKO 3D Audio speaker. It is a processed fog signal sound provided by Geoff Sample, recordist of the Foghorn Requiem(2013) performance.

Binaural Fog Signal Harmonics

Self-titled debut full-length by Grey Tapes.
Written and performed by Grey Tapes (Rob Blazey, Niall Calderon, Ryan Collins, Calum Howard, Dan Potter).
Produced by John Martindale at Blank Studios, Newcastle upon Tyne.

06. Something New

A small flock of about 10 adults and young diving for fish and calling offshore at Hauxley Northumberland in late July.

Roseate tern

Wildlife sounds from the North Pennines AONB, England.
Winner of the WSRS Documentary Contest 2018

loch of tranquility

Wildsong

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