Music recorded in July 1907
In July 1907, the Second Hague Peace Conference (June 15–October 18, 1907) was underway in The Hague, Netherlands, where discussions were ongoing on peaceful resolution of international disputes and international law of war (particularly rules regarding naval warfare). In East Asia, Emperor Gojong (1852–1919) of the Korean Empire was forced to abdicate (July 1907, although the date varies depending on the source) after sending a secret emissary to appeal to the international community for Japan to become a protectorate. Subsequently, on July 24, 1907, the "Agreement between Japan and Korea, 1907" was signed in Seoul, which stipulated domestic reforms under the leadership of a Resident-General. In Europe, the First Russo-Japanese Agreement (1907) was signed in Saint Petersburg on July 30, 1907, as a means of reconciling interests following the Russo-Japanese War, and progress was made in adjusting the spheres of influence between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan. In the areas of culture and sports, the 1907 Tour de France kicked off in Paris on July 8, 1907, and ran for a total of 14 stages until August 4. In science and technology, the patent application for the manufacturing process of Bakelite by Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863–1944) on July 13, 1907, is considered a turning point in the history of materials chemistry in later years.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information on recordings made in July 1907
In July 1907, the National Phonograph Company of the United States published an advance list of "Edison Gold Moulded Records for July 1907" in its official newspaper, The Edison Phonograph Monthly, as its sales plan for the following month, and we can see that the company continued to specify detailed shipping and retail release times. The magazine also devoted significant space to promoting the company's "Edison Grand Opera Records" (publishing supplements and introducing new singers), attempting to expand the market for high-priced, high-end repertoire alongside so-called popular new releases.
Edison July New Release (Gold Mold)
The Edison Phonograph Monthly contains an "Advance List for July, 1907" that specifies the shipping period, the time when Jobber will re-ship the records, and the time when they will be available in stores (8:00 AM). The list includes a mix of genres, such as instrumental music like "Ballet Music from Faust—Part 3 (Gounod)," vocals, and comedy, suggesting that the monthly release of new records was managed in tandem with sales practices.
Grand Opera (appealing to new singers)
The 1907 issue of the magazine featured Florencio Constantino (dates of birth and death unknown) in the context of grand opera records, introducing his reputation as a singer (including citations of newspaper reviews). This is not just a listing of the recordings themselves, but also an example of sales promotion that uses a narrative about the singer (i.e., the core of the product's value) to stimulate demand.
Grand Opera Addendum (New Artists Added)
The Edison Phonograph Monthly carries an announcement of "New Artists" for "Grand Opera Supplement No. 5," listing singers such as Giuseppe Campanari (years of birth and death unknown) and Robert Blass (years of birth and death unknown). This suggests that the monthly supplements were designed to publicize the expansion of the series as a whole, simultaneously building inventory and promoting sales.
