The Songs of the Tui

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 48, 13 June 1930, Page 2

The Songs of the Tui

(To the Bditor.) (joutp not a scheme be formulated for broadcasting the tui? This is an opportunity for some enterprising person. Bird lovers who have not heard and seen the tui sing in his natural environments will appreciate very much listening-in and hearing creation’s, greatest ‘song bird. It is a difficult problem to broadcast the tui. I am confident that in the near future the Radio. Broadcasting Company will surmount difficulties and arrangements will be made to have the tui and the choicest gems of his repertoire sent over the air to the millions of listeners in various parts of the world. Those who appreciate music and take a deep interest in the study of the song birds of Maoriland have some . time or other felt a thrilling ecstasy when listening to the.charm and beauty of the melodious, deep, rich, belllike notes of the tui. When once one has heard this bird’s mellifluent singing it will always remain in the memory. . I do not know of any bird to equal the tui for the purity and perfection of his voice. He is master at manipulating the lowest and highest notes of the musical scale which neither human skill and genius nor the human voice can compare. The tui sings best when alone and undisturbed, and in summer evenings. It is-‘one of life’s rarest experiences listening to the faultless-songs of love, happiness and sadness of the tui. The nightingale is his only rival-and a puny one at that-for the tui is credited with several hundreds of songs at his command which would make even the masters of the human voice pale into insignificance as compared with the wonder vocal organs of one of the world’s most charming birds. The tui is a heritage every New Zealander: should be proud of, and a most unique treasure. May we all find in his songs something of joy, pleasure, and happiness even if only to listen to the soothing melodies he pours into the lap of mother earth. It would be a graceful tribute to the "native song birds of New Zealand if the Radio Broadcasting Company condescended to put the tui and his songs over the wireless.-Rore John Josephs (Maniapoto Tribe; Te Kuiti).