Music recorded in 1889
The year 1889 was a time when imperial and national systems were being restructured, while urban entertainment and information distribution were moving ever closer to "mass reproduction." In Europe, the French Third Republic held the Exposition Universelle in Paris to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution, and the Eiffel Tower, built by Gustave Eiffel (1832–1923) and others, was imprinted on the cityscape as a symbol of modern technology.
That same year, the German Empire, following the Year of the Three Emperors, saw the accession of William II (1859–1941), intensifying tensions in an era in which national decision-making was closely linked to personal succession. Labor and politics also began to converge, with the Second International being formed in Paris as an international coalition of socialist movements, and the London Dock Strike of 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bringing the labor that sustained cities into the public eye. In the United States of America, Jane Addams (1860–1935) and Ellen Gates Starr (1859–1940) opened Hull House in Chicago as a front for social reform, creating a base for addressing the living issues of immigrants in urban areas. The Oklahoma Land Run of 1889 also took place in the country, demonstrating the dynamism with which settlement and population movement could lead to the emergence of cities in a short period of time.
The political map also changed. In the Empire of Brazil, Pedro II (1825–1891) was forced to abdicate, and the country transitioned to a republic with the Proclamation of the Republic (Brazil) by Deodoro da Fonseca (1827–1892) and others. In Japan, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan was promulgated under Emperor Meiji (1852–1912), solidifying the governing framework of a modern nation in written form. Furthermore, the city and town system was implemented, and the development of administrative units progressed, laying the foundations for education, transportation, and entertainment that were premised on urban life. Disasters also highlight the fragility of modern cities, and in the United States, the Johnstown Flood and the Great Seattle Fire caused great devastation. These events were widely shared through newspapers and photographs, reinforcing the sense that contemporaries were "experiencing the same events with the same information." 1889 also saw the codification of national systems, the reorganization of labor and cities, the proliferation of disaster reporting, and the spectacularization of technology symbolized by the World's Fair, all of which helped to pave the way for the recording, reproduction, and distribution of music and entertainment around the world.
Identified recordings from this year: 1,607
Possibly recorded around 1889 (year and date uncertain)
Here, primary sources and research papers state that the work was created around 1888–1889, 1889–1890, or around 1890.Possibly recorded in 1889The audio sources are compiled here for reference. Because there are various theories about the year and recording date, they are not included in the monthly pages or the annual number of songs (1,503 songs), but are treated separately as "candidates for around 1889."
5 songs possibly recorded in 1889
Edison Exhibition Recordings (Three Demonstration Cylinders, 1888–1889)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Around the World on the Phonograph | n/a |
| The Pattison Waltz | n/a |
| Fifth Regiment March | n/a |
The three demonstration cylinders that Edison produced to showcase his improved phonograph, "Around the World on the Phonograph," "The Pattison Waltz," and "Fifth Regiment March," are collectively listed as "Edison exhibition recordings" in the Library of Congress, with recording dates of 1888–1889. However, since no primary sources remain for the individual recording dates, the MOPM lists them as "Recording date: circa 1888–1889 (possibly 1889)" as reference information separate from the confirmed years.
Hungarian Melody / Emanuel Mohr (Late 1889, estimated date)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| Hungarian Melody | Emánuel Moór |
The "Hungarian Melody" recorded by Theodor Edward Wangemann (1855–1906) during his European tour is described by the U.S. National Park Service as a piano performance by Emánuel Moór (1863–1931), and is estimated to have been recorded "sometime between September and December 1889." Because the exact date cannot be determined from primary sources, MOPM includes the recording year in 1889, but classifies it separately as "Recorded in 1889 (estimated September–December)."
Untitled Violin & Piano Recording (Krahmer / Schmalfuß?)
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| n/a | Krahmer Schmalfuß? |
One of Wangemann's European recordings, Untitled Violin and Piano, is listed in National Park Service documents as "recorded on an unknown date (possibly September 13, 1889), possibly at the Siemens & Halske factory in Berlin." Because the piece's title, performer, and recording date are all only estimates, MOPM assigns the recording year to around 1889 and classifies it separately as "sound sources possibly recorded around 1889."
The Fifth Regiment March (Issler's Orchestra)
"The Fifth Regiment March" by Issler's Orchestra is a march medley that is said to have been recorded in the West Orange area by Walter H. Miller of the Edison Laboratory. The Edison National Historical Park documents list the recording date as "c. March 1889," but the exact date is unclear. While it is almost certain to have been recorded in 1889, it is also an Exhibition Recording and is often associated with the appearance of the "Perfected Phonograph" in 1888, so it seems natural to group it together as a borderline recording around 1888.
| Title | Artist |
|---|---|
| The Fifth Regiment March | Issler's Orchestra |
Gruo's "phonogramic album" (c. 1888–1891)
The Gruaud "phonogramic album" (c. 1888–1891) is a collective term used to refer to the earliest wax cylinder recordings made by George Edward Gouraud (1842–1912) in London and other parts of Europe, as well as his concept of an album compiling "the voices of the world's greatest men." MOPM has organized related recordings from around 1888–1891 under this framework, and has posted a list of the recordings and background information on a dedicated page.
Ruben Collection
The Ruben Collection (Ruben-samlingen) is a collection of Denmark's earliest wax cylinder recordings, produced in Copenhagen by Gottfried Moses Ruben (1837–1897) between 1889 and the mid-1890s. MOPM has collectively organized the wax cylinder recordings made between 1889 and the mid-1890s as the "Ruben Collection," and has posted a list of the recordings on a dedicated page.
