The Worlds Din

Delve into a captivating exploration of sound with 'The World's Din' by Peter Hoar, a meticulously crafted paperback that chronicles the sonic evolution in New Zealand. Measuring 150 x 230 mm and spanning 288 pages, this compelling narrative takes readers on a historical journey through the transformative power of audio technologies that reshaped how New Zealanders experienced sound from the late 19th century onward. Hoar's work vividly documents the introduction of groundbreaking 'talking machines'—beginning with the pioneering phonograph demonstration in a Blenheim hall in 1879. Witness the revolution of auditory experiences as these machines evolved through the golden ages of radio, cinema, and early television. This thorough examination not only outlines the technological advancements but also paints a picture of how sound began to dominate public and private spaces, crafting an enduring cultural legacy. 'The World's Din' brilliantly captures the essence of this 'sonic revolution' while reflecting on the advancements that lead to today’s digital sound era with iPods, streaming, and Spotify. This book is an essential addition for music lovers, technology enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding how sound and listening practices have been forever altered. Discover the rich tapestry of listening and engage with the dynamic auditory history that continues to resonate in New Zealand’s soundscapes.

Author: Peter Hoar Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 150 x 230 mm
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 15-03-2018

New Zealanders started hearing things in new ways when new audio technologies arrived from overseas in the late 19th century. From the first public demonstration of a phonograph in a Blenheim hall in 1879, people were exposed to a succession of machines that captured, stored and transmitted sounds - through radio, cinema and recordings. In The World’s Din, Peter Hoar documents the arrival of the first such ‘talking machines’, and their growing place in New Zealanders’ public and private lives, through the years of radio to the dawn of television. In so doing, he chronicles a ‘sonic revolution’ in how New Zealanders heard the world. The change was radical, signifying a defining break from the past. Human experience of the world changed forever during the late 19th and early 20 centuries because we learned to capture, store, and transmit sounds and moving images. ‘Audio’ since then has been a continued refinement of the original innovation, even in the contemporary era of digital sound, with iPods, streaming audio and Spotify. The World’s Din is a beautifully written account that will delight music-lovers and technophiles everywhere. Without further ado, it is time to crank the gramophone, or tune the wireless, or open the Jaffa box as the cinema lights dim, and hearken to the richness and variety of listening in New Zealand’s past soundscapes.