With hysterical spasms of laughter

An old friend of mine once told me he wanted to make music using bird singing. Later, he gave up, saying what came out wasn't really convincing. However, as with almost all ideas of this kind, this already had been done, in this case in the 1950s by then-CBS musical director Jim Fassett. Semi-professional novelty collectors The Record Robot posted some Fassett stuff earlier and thus Tony from RR is the one I heard about Fassett from. Here's what the description on Em Records' web site says:

"CD reissue of the historical 1950s LP, featuring a three-track multi-speed tape collage "Symphony" made by ONLY the nature birdsongs (it's REAL), plus regular-speed and time-stretched field recordings, and explanations from the man himself. Jim Fassett was the musical director ob CBS radios in 50s-60s, and also famous as the author of another concrete works "Strange to Your Ears" in 50s. The kinda roots of recent field recordings/drones stuffs. Totally birdsong mania!"

Totally birdsong mania indeed. Basically, what Fassett did was - so he says in the explanations - altering the pitch and speed of the field recordings on a tape machine, and although you can't expect much concrete greatness here and it's more of a case for The Record Robot, I give you the "explanatory comments" included on the CD re-issue plus the first movement of the symphony.

Download Jim Fassett - Explanatory comments (192 kbps, 8,79 mb)
Download Jim Fassett - Symphony Of the Birds, First Movement (192 kbps, 9,41 mb)
Buy the Symphony Of the Birds from Dusty Groove America or from Em Records (RIAA-free!)