Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Ludwig Koch
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Ludwig Koch
The award-winning Sound Recordist and Musician, Chris Watson nominates his hero, Ludwig Koch.
In 1889, German-born Koch was the first person ever to record birdsong (at the age of 8) onto a wax cylinder recorder, given to him by his father as a toy.
Despite a promising baritone voice and being a very good violinist, the first world war put paid to Ludwig Koch's career as a musician and he began working for the German branch of EMI recording cityscapes, before going on to invent the ‘sound book', a nascent sort of multimedia that became very popular in Germany before the second world war.
As a Jew and an outspoken critic of the Nazi regime, Koch fled Germany in 1936 for England, sadly leaving his many recordings behind. But his theatrical delivery, unique voice and the fact that, as Chris Watson notes, "He was not shy about his achievements", soon made him a household name in broadcasting here in the UK.
Chris Watson is joined by emeritus professor Sean Street. Together and with the aid of archive, they marvel over the great lengths Koch went to to capture his 'performers'.
Produced in Bristol by Ellie Richold
View all episodes
By BBC Radio 4
4.2
465465 ratings
The award-winning Sound Recordist and Musician, Chris Watson nominates his hero, Ludwig Koch.
In 1889, German-born Koch was the first person ever to record birdsong (at the age of 8) onto a wax cylinder recorder, given to him by his father as a toy.
Despite a promising baritone voice and being a very good violinist, the first world war put paid to Ludwig Koch's career as a musician and he began working for the German branch of EMI recording cityscapes, before going on to invent the ‘sound book', a nascent sort of multimedia that became very popular in Germany before the second world war.
As a Jew and an outspoken critic of the Nazi regime, Koch fled Germany in 1936 for England, sadly leaving his many recordings behind. But his theatrical delivery, unique voice and the fact that, as Chris Watson notes, "He was not shy about his achievements", soon made him a household name in broadcasting here in the UK.
Chris Watson is joined by emeritus professor Sean Street. Together and with the aid of archive, they marvel over the great lengths Koch went to to capture his 'performers'.
Produced in Bristol by Ellie Richold
More shows like Great Lives
View all
Global News Podcast
7,639 Listeners
From Our Own Correspondent
375 Listeners
Newshour
1,046 Listeners
In Our Time
5,520 Listeners
The Documentary Podcast
1,799 Listeners
Witness History
964 Listeners
In Our Time: Culture
604 Listeners
Free Thinking
298 Listeners
6 Minute English
1,763 Listeners
Learning English Conversations
1,049 Listeners
Desert Island Discs
1,979 Listeners
Profile
108 Listeners
Last Word
46 Listeners
Thinking Allowed
305 Listeners
Front Row
128 Listeners
Start the Week
164 Listeners
Bookclub
244 Listeners
Private Passions
51 Listeners
You're Dead to Me
3,177 Listeners
Americast
720 Listeners
The Bomb
1,002 Listeners
This Cultural Life
119 Listeners
A Good Read
43 Listeners