PROGRAMME NOTE

Nature is at the forefront of summer. The beach, hikes, sitting outside, even the sun itself all lend themselves to the imagery of the summer season. Without fail, birds gather on trees and telephone poles and sing. There are some slow, hot days where the only thing you can hear is birdsong, and there is nothing to do but listen. ‘On this summer’s day there is only birdsong’ captures the experience of being utterly taken by the sounds of the birds. Whenever I go to a new place, I always notice how different the birds and the trees are first. The sounds of the birds are no exception to this. In Aotearoa the song is quite different to Australia. I find I never get bored of the everchanging lilting melodies, the call and response, the flowing harmonies. There is so much to hear in just one bird’s voice.