3. Plant Rhythms

Available for over a year

Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of East Anglia is on a mission to uncover a world of unexpected rhythm and melody across the natural world. Might a truly universal sense of musicality exist across nature? Ben eavesdrops on some of the most primitive sources of wild music. Could plants be the most oldest and most unexpected musicians in nature? From the flora in the tallest towering forests to aquatic plants deep within in ponds and rivers, sounds are being produced in abundance. Some appear passively acoustic whilst others are buzzing and rhythmically popping and creating what some hear as music at a truly fundamental level. It hints at the possibility of an archaic plant based proto-music, an almost constant rhythmic companion throughout the evolutionary journey of life on our planet. With contributions from palaeobotanist Mary Gagen, Professor of physical geography at Swansea University; David De La Haye, aquatic ecological sound artist. Presented by Professor Ben Garrod Produced by Adrian Washbourne Mixed by Julian Mayers Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar A YadaYada Production for BBC Radio 3