1909年2月に録音された音楽

Music recorded in February 1909

February 1909 was a month marked by a convergence of events in the political, social, cultural, and technological spheres that would have a long-lasting impact on later history. On February 12, the call to action that would later lead to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was published, forming a new focal point for the civil rights movement in the United States. On February 17, Geronimo (1829–1909) died, bringing to a close the symbolic era of Apache resistance that had continued since the 19th century. On February 20, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's (1876–1944) Futurist Manifesto was published in the Parisian newspaper Le Figaro, openly launching a major movement in avant-garde art. On February 22, the United States Atlantic Fleet's World Cruise Squadron returned, marking a culmination of international demonstrations of naval power. On February 23, the Silver Dart successfully completed Canada's first powered flight, marking a turning point in aviation history. Furthermore, on February 28, the first National Women's Day was held in the United States, making the connection between the women's suffrage movement and the labor movement visible.

Confirmed recordings this month: 0

Summary of information regarding the recording from February 1909

February 1909 saw a clear expansion of the recording market and a restructuring of sales methods, centered around Edison's Amberol 4-minute cylindrical record. The February 1909 issue of "Edison Phonograph Monthly" reported that Amberol was enthusiastically received in various places, giving new vitality to the business. At the same time, live demonstrations of recordings were emphasized, with concert-style sales in cities and in-store playback in rural areas. Furthermore, the announcement for the April 1909 releases in the same issue featured Maurice Levi (dates of birth and death unknown) and Manuel Romain (dates of birth and death unknown) prominently in promoting new releases, confirming that a sales strategy was underway that combined longer recording times with the appeal of star singers and orchestras, using both 2-minute and 4-minute records.

Amberol's response

The February 1909 issue includes a report on the Eastern Salesmen's Conference held in Orange on January 5, stating that the new Amberol Records were very well received everywhere, breathing new life into the entire business. This indicates that the 4-minute cylinder, which appeared in the fall of 1908, had gone beyond being merely a new product introduction by February 1909 and was becoming, in the experience of salespeople, a "central product driving the business." In the main text of the monthly page, February 1909 is positioned as the point at which the market penetration of long-play recordings can be confirmed in the words of sales reports.

Emphasis on in-store demonstrations

The February 1909 issue of "Demonstrations" states that urban stores can hold "concerts" accompanied by invitations and programs, and that in rural areas, simply opening the front door and letting customers hear the recordings is enough to attract them. It emphasizes that the important thing is not just to let people listen for entertainment, but to make the demonstrations accompanied by a sales intention. The magazine explicitly states that "Edison's demonstrations are entertainment with sales techniques added," indicating that February 1909 was a period of not only the production of recordings themselves, but also the refinement of distribution and display techniques for how to let people listen to and sell those recordings.

Announcement for the April 1909 release and promotion of featured artists

An announcement published in February 1909 indicated that Edison's recordings for April 1909 would be ready for store sales by March 25, 1909. At the same time, Maurice Levi (dates of birth and death unknown) and Manuel Romain (dates of birth and death unknown) were prominently featured as key figures for April. The advertisement featured Levi's orchestra's "Happy Days March" and two of Romain's songs, especially the Amberol recording containing the complete songs, confirming that as early as February 1909, the advantage of long-playing records was being promoted as "the ability to include the entire song." In addition, Amberol's discography also clearly states that the February 1909 listing corresponds to a March 25, 1909 sales start and April 1909 catalog listing, allowing us to understand the time differences between monthly new releases, sales start dates, and catalog inclusions.

January 1909

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March 1909