It's time again for Three Tune Tuesday, that day of the week where members of the Hive community shares three songs of their liking with the rest of the community.
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I take a slow, relaxing approach to Three Tune Tuesday: I like to share pre-1924 78rpm songs from my collection, and record them while playing on an appropriate time-period windup phonograph. I encourage you to take a few moments and slow down with me. Settle down, close your eyes, and take yourself back.. way back.. in time, to a distant uncle's parlour in the early 1920's. There are comfortable seats, pleasant conversation, and old music.
This week I'm looking at some early songs, recorded early in the dawn of recorded music.
The first "records" were not flat discs, such as vinyl records, that many of us are familiar with today. Instead, recordings were originally recorded on wax cylinders (check out this wikipedia article). The sound quality - particularly by todays standards - was basic at best, but at the time it was almost magical! Can you imagine being able to, for the first time ever, play wuch a wide array of music that was suddenly becoming available? What a time to be alive that would have been.
In these early days, recording was an entirely acoustic process, relying on the natural sounds captured by large, horn-like devices that funneled the music onto wax cylinders and discs. There were no microphones, no electrical amplification — just the pure, unadulterated sound of the artist and their instruments.
"The Laughing Song" was performed by George W. Johnson, recorded initially in 1891, though the version we have here is from 1898. George W. Johnson holds the distinguished honor of being one of the first African American recording artists in history. Born into slavery in 1846, Johnson's life was a testament to resilience and talent. After gaining his freedom, he moved to New York City, where his infectious laughter and vocal abilities caught the attention of the early recording industry.
My next tune brings us to the world of opera with the legendary Enrico Caruso, one of the most famous opera singers of the early 20th century. Born in Naples, Italy, in 1873, Caruso's powerful voice and emotive performances captivated audiences worldwide. His talent and charisma made him a star in both Europe and America, and he became one of the first truly global celebrities. Opera and classical music were staples of the early recording industry as they were popular and had wide appeal.
"Vesti la giubba" is an aria from the opera "Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo, and it is one of the most iconic pieces in the operatic repertoire. In the opera, the character Canio, a clown, laments his heartbreak and betrayal while putting on his costume for a performance.
"Gavotte" was by Charles D'Almaine, recorded in 1904. Charles D'Almaine was a prominent violinist and one of the pioneering figures in the early days of recorded music. Born in England in 1871, D'Almaine moved to the United States, where he became a leading performer and recording artist. His skillful violin playing and wide repertoire made him a favorite among early recording enthusiasts, and his contributions helped to establish the violin as a popular instrument in the burgeoning recording industry.
Recording string instruments like the violin in the early 1900s presented unique challenges. Without the benefit of modern microphones and electronic amplification, artists like D'Almaine had to rely on the acoustic recording process, which used large horn-like devices to capture sound. These devices required musicians to play with great precision and clarity to ensure that their performances were accurately recorded. Despite these limitations, D'Almaine's "Gavotte" is a testament to the artistry and technical skill of early recording engineers and musicians.
Three Tune Tuesday (TTT) is initiated by @ablaze.
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(c) Victor Wiebe
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