Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => Famous Scientists, Doctors and Inventors => Topic started by: blakestyger on 22/07/2008 20:00:07

Title: Who remembers Ludwig Koch?
Post by: blakestyger on 22/07/2008 20:00:07

Ludwig Koch (1881-1974). A most amazing man who pioneered the recording of bird sounds.
Came from a well-connected German family and knew Liszt, Helmholtz, Bismark etc when young.

The infant Ludwig didn't collect autographs like other little boys but preferred instead to record the voice of the person on his early equipment - among others, he recorded the voice of Bismark who, despite being a big man, sounded very mimsy!

Later famed for lugging tons of heavy recording equipment and miles of cable into marshes, sitting there for hours and cutting a record on site when the bird he was stalking eventually went AAAAAARK.  [;D]

You can read all about him in his book Memoirs of a Birdman (1956), obtainable secondhand for only a couple of quid.

Title: Who remembers Ludwig Koch?
Post by: blakestyger on 13/08/2008 19:42:25

What - nobody?

Title: Who remembers Ludwig Koch?
Post by: Karen W. on 14/08/2008 05:52:03

He actually sounds amazing...I have listened to many a recording of bird calls and sounds.. They are quite calming to me ... even some of the rather squawky ones!I will look up the book!

"Memoirs of a Birdman (1956)" Cool!

Title: Who remembers Ludwig Koch?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 14/08/2008 09:01:21

I know the name

Title: Who remembers Ludwig Koch?
Post by: blakestyger on 14/08/2008 10:02:52

One thing about him that is quite sad is that before 1939 he recorded many notable interpretations of composers like Beethoven and Wagner as well as many early opera and lieder singers but because Koch's family were wealthy and Jewish all his work was destroyed - though they did encourage and assist him to escape to Switzerland before things really kicked off