Ludwig Karl Koch
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Karl Koch MBE
(13 November 1881, Frankfurt am Main - 4 May 1974, Harrow, London
) was a broadcaster
and sound recordist
. An expert on recording animal sounds, he played a significant part in increasing the British public's appreciation of wildlife.
's music circle. Later, he studied singing, and had a short but successful career as a concert singer. This was ended by the outbreak of World War I
. As a child, he had been given an early phonograph
and had recorded several animals, including the first-known recording of bird song, made in 1889.
Because he spoke fluent French, he joined military intelligence
. After the Armistice in 1918, he became chief delegate for repatriation for the French-occupied zone of Germany. He worked for the German
government until 1925. In 1928, he was commissioned by the German subsidiary of Electric and Musical Industries (EMI
) to start a cultural branch of the gramophone industry; this coincided with a revival of his childhood interest in animals. Thus from 1929, he began recording of animal sounds again using up-to-date equipment. He invented the sound-book: attaching gramophone records to an illustrated book.
In January 1936, Koch went on a lecture tour in Switzerland. His return flight ticket was given to him by Hermann Göring
, who, an a bird and animal lover, was a fan of Koch's work. After Koch's last lecture, he was approached by a man who told him he was the Third Reich's representative in Switzerland and that he had followed Koch's lectures and written a very good report about them. It turned out, the man was Wilhelm Gustloff
and he was assasinated the following day. Since Koch had been seen speaking to Gustloff just hours beforehand, he became concerned about his return to Germany, that he would be accused of being involved in the assassination. He called the director of his recording company, a Nazi, who told him, "Just stay where you are. The air in Switzerland is much better than in Germany." Koch then fled to Great Britain. Sir Julian Huxley
helped him to interest the ornithologist and publisher Harry Witherby in a sound-book of British wild birds. In 1936, Songs of Wild Birds was published, followed by two other sound-books by 1938.
Early in World War II
, Huxley introduced Koch to the British Broadcasting Corporation, and his distinctive, yet attractive and rather musical, voice accompanying his sound recordings soon became familiar to listeners. His sound recordings were acquired by the BBC and established the BBC's library of natural history sound. He never lost his strong German accent. His work was parodied by Peter Sellers
. Koch retired in 1951, but continued to make expeditions to record wildlife sounds, visiting Iceland
when he was seventy-one. He was the subject of a 2009 BBC Radio 4
documentary, "Ludwig Koch and the Music of Nature". His recordings and manuscript papers are preserved in the British Library Sound Archive
.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(13 November 1881, Frankfurt am Main - 4 May 1974, Harrow, London
Harrow, London
Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross...
) was a broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
and sound recordist
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
. An expert on recording animal sounds, he played a significant part in increasing the British public's appreciation of wildlife.
Biographical details
Koch was born into a music-loving Jewish family, and as a boy violinist, he was admitted to Clara SchumannClara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
's music circle. Later, he studied singing, and had a short but successful career as a concert singer. This was ended by the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. As a child, he had been given an early phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
and had recorded several animals, including the first-known recording of bird song, made in 1889.
Because he spoke fluent French, he joined military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
. After the Armistice in 1918, he became chief delegate for repatriation for the French-occupied zone of Germany. He worked for the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
government until 1925. In 1928, he was commissioned by the German subsidiary of Electric and Musical Industries (EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) to start a cultural branch of the gramophone industry; this coincided with a revival of his childhood interest in animals. Thus from 1929, he began recording of animal sounds again using up-to-date equipment. He invented the sound-book: attaching gramophone records to an illustrated book.
In January 1936, Koch went on a lecture tour in Switzerland. His return flight ticket was given to him by Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
, who, an a bird and animal lover, was a fan of Koch's work. After Koch's last lecture, he was approached by a man who told him he was the Third Reich's representative in Switzerland and that he had followed Koch's lectures and written a very good report about them. It turned out, the man was Wilhelm Gustloff
Wilhelm Gustloff
Wilhelm Gustloff was the German leader of the NSDAP party in Switzerland; he founded the Swiss branch of the party at Davos in 1932., which grouped Nazi party members who lived outside the German Reich....
and he was assasinated the following day. Since Koch had been seen speaking to Gustloff just hours beforehand, he became concerned about his return to Germany, that he would be accused of being involved in the assassination. He called the director of his recording company, a Nazi, who told him, "Just stay where you are. The air in Switzerland is much better than in Germany." Koch then fled to Great Britain. Sir Julian Huxley
Julian Huxley
Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS was an English evolutionary biologist, humanist and internationalist. He was a proponent of natural selection, and a leading figure in the mid-twentieth century evolutionary synthesis...
helped him to interest the ornithologist and publisher Harry Witherby in a sound-book of British wild birds. In 1936, Songs of Wild Birds was published, followed by two other sound-books by 1938.
Early in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Huxley introduced Koch to the British Broadcasting Corporation, and his distinctive, yet attractive and rather musical, voice accompanying his sound recordings soon became familiar to listeners. His sound recordings were acquired by the BBC and established the BBC's library of natural history sound. He never lost his strong German accent. His work was parodied by Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
. Koch retired in 1951, but continued to make expeditions to record wildlife sounds, visiting Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
when he was seventy-one. He was the subject of a 2009 BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
documentary, "Ludwig Koch and the Music of Nature". His recordings and manuscript papers are preserved in the British Library Sound Archive
British Library Sound Archive
The British Library Sound Archive in London, England is one of the largest collections of recorded sound in the world, including music, spoken word and ambient recordings....
.
External links
- Wildlife recordings of Ludwig Koch - streamed audio from British Library
- Wild Film History: Ludwig Koch - biography and photographs
- Ludwig Koch and the Music of Nature - BBC radio documentary