Music recorded in November 1894
November 1894 was a month marked by the simultaneous advancement of imperial succession, the progression of war, new technologies, and international relations. In the Russian Empire, Alexander III (1845–1894) died on November 1, 1894, and Nicholas II (1868–1918) ascended to the throne. In East Asia, the First Sino-Japanese War continued, with major developments on the Liaodong Peninsula, including the fall of Lianshan Pass on November 11, 1894, and the Battle of Port Arthur on November 21, 1894. In Australia, Lawrence Hargrave (1850–1915) conducted an experiment on November 12, 1894, in which he demonstrated that a box kite could lift itself off the ground, marking a turning point in the history of aviation technology. In the United States, William C. Hooker (date of birth and death unknown) patented the spring trap on November 6, 1894, and the industrialization of everyday equipment also progressed. On the diplomatic front, the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between the United States of America and the Empire of Japan was signed in Washington on November 22, 1894, marking the beginning of the establishment of systems across the Pacific Ocean.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information on recordings made in November 1894
The history of recording in November 1894 confirms that flat discs, a different format from cylinders, were beginning to gain a stronger presence as a commercial recording medium. However, there are only a limited number of publicly available primary sources that can pinpoint specific cylinder recordings or recording sessions by company to the month of "November 1894."
Publication of the list of commercially available flat disc records and the beginning of the "format wars"
A timeline from the Library of Congress shows that Berliner Gramophone published its record sales list in November 1894. This marked the beginning of the "first format war," during which cylindrical and flat disc records coexisted and a protracted competition ensued over playback methods and distribution dominance.
Berliner recording of "After the Ball" (listed as November 1, 1894)
The biographical article on Emile Berliner (1851–1929) in the Encyclopedia of World Biography states that "After the Ball" was recorded for Berliner on November 1, 1894.
