Jukebox: A Choir of Turkeys
Wild turkeys gobble on cue
- By Anika Gupta
- Smithsonian magazine, November 2008, Subscribe
In 1973, Jim Nollman was a recent college graduate with avant-garde musical aspirations. The San Francisco resident had learned that wild male turkeys can gobble on cue—especially in response to loud or high-pitched sounds. So Nollman visited a turkey farm in Sonoma County, sat down among 300 adult male turkeys and serenaded them with the folk song "Froggy Went a-Courtin'." When he raised his voice during the chorus, the turkeys joined in. His recording of the event, "Music to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner By," became a local radio hit.
Hear Froggy-Went-a-Courting (300 Turkeys), and Music to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner By (3 Flute Players and 300 Turkeys)
Music courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways, the non-profit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. Please click here to purchase or for more information
Subscribe now for more of Smithsonian's coverage on history, science and nature.
Comments (19)
I thought the singer and the turkeys were a little shaky at the beginning, but they really got into it as they went along. I really enjoyed the music, but I can't decide how I feel about eating turkey after this.
Posted by Anne David on January 4,2009 | 10:24 AM
I'm wondering what the turkeys were thinking during all this. Was the singer a hot date, a fellow turkey, or did they think he was insane? Either way, it brightened my day.
Posted by Alexis on November 25,2008 | 10:44 PM
It's funny enough; however, it was very random--not on cue at all. It still sent my little sister into hysterical laughter, though, which was nice. (She also liked the idea of a person sitting in a pen with 300 turkeys!)
Posted by a person on November 18,2008 | 06:16 PM
Kudos for you but I agree with Paul Johnson that despite it being quirky Americana, nothing beats Alice's Restaurant for Thanksgiving.
Posted by Peter Kaschak on November 12,2008 | 03:25 PM
Like art, music in in the eye (ear) of the beholder (hearer)
Posted by PATRICIA MARTIN on November 11,2008 | 05:27 AM
What a hoot! My dog & 3 cats enjoyed it too. Kudos for quirky Americana - Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by Karen on November 10,2008 | 04:08 PM
Nothing better than quirky Americana, but neither composition is a serious challenger to the long-reigning #1 Thanksgiving song: Alice's Restaurant.
Posted by Paul Johnson on November 8,2008 | 10:25 AM
I think I have just found a new musical outlet for the flute choir I conduct.
Posted by Harriet Coppoc on November 5,2008 | 09:52 PM
Gives me hope that even I and my accompanying labrador retriever may have a budding musical career ahead of us.
Posted by Brent Jacobs on November 2,2008 | 04:32 PM
finally a good use for that tough old bird.. up till now best i could do was marinate in gator aid before cooking ,,
Posted by william on November 1,2008 | 06:36 AM
This gets me ready for Thanksgiving Day with friends!
Posted by yvonne somerville on October 31,2008 | 11:14 PM
Maybe it was coincidence but the birds outside went crazy when they heard this!!
Posted by Teri on October 31,2008 | 06:15 PM
It sounds like they're laughing at the singer or players. :D
Posted by Yamenah on October 29,2008 | 06:41 PM
They are just charming!! Sure beats anything I ever heard on American Idol!!! These birds don't pretend to be something they are not, nor do they get ourtraged when you tell them they can't sing.
Posted by Gerri Habitz on October 29,2008 | 04:52 PM
Yes I would reccomend the Froggie song for a dinner song .........as for the flute song it was a bit well high pitched ......hummmmmmm .....this is something I could reccomend to swim team teachers to teach their practice classes by for this season...it might make the swimmers swim faster so they can get out of the class sooner....tetehehe......
Posted by Paula on October 29,2008 | 02:50 PM
I think it's hysterical! I'm going to make it my Thanksgiving greeting to all my email friends! Thanks!!
Posted by Shirley Rinehart on October 28,2008 | 04:43 PM
Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!
Posted by Aa and B on October 28,2008 | 08:17 AM
Great story and recording of the turkey chorus! I have 13 turkeys that visit a couple times a day to eat at the 'food tree' where the bird/squirrel/raccoon/possum food is. Sometimes I sing to them, but haven't had any join in yet. I'll try the Froggy song this week to see if they'll accompany me.
Posted by Karen on October 27,2008 | 07:19 AM
I don't thing there are any turkeys "gobbling" on cue. It all sounds pretty random to me. Brian K Toren
Posted by Brian K Toren on October 26,2008 | 03:43 PM
I am a director of junior and senior high school choruses. I have to say that your turkey choir sings out with confidence and makes clear entrances and cutoffs that make me envious. Now, if you could do something about that pitch problem...
Posted by Vaughn Fritts on October 25,2008 | 10:08 AM