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!