Music recorded in July 1890
July 1890 was a month marked by simultaneous movements around the world over the "form of the nation." Japan held its first general election for the House of Representatives on July 1, 1890, marking the beginning of the practical implementation of constitutional government, albeit with limited voting rights. Meanwhile, the European powers realigned their spheres of influence in Africa and East Africa with the Anglo-German Agreement (Helgoland-Zanzibar Agreement), signed on the same day, solidifying the imperialist "redrawing of the map" in diplomatic documents. In the United States, the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed on July 2, institutionalizing the idea of restricting the monopolies of large corporations through federal law. The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of July 14 further visualized tensions over currency and monetary policy. Idaho and Wyoming were admitted to statehood on July 3 and July 10 of the same month, solidifying the integration of the West on the political agenda. In the cultural sphere, Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) died on July 29, 1890, and his death symbolized the beginning of a major shift in the evaluation of contemporary art. Furthermore, the aftereffects of the 1889–1890 pandemic (known as the “Russian flu”) were still being reported intermittently until 1890, and concerns about public health and urban life were not yet over.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information on recordings made in July 1890
July 1890 saw an increase in recordings whose actual "recording dates" could be clearly identified in primary sources (such as bell sounds and the voices of historical figures), and at the same time, these recordings began to circulate across borders in the context of "spectacles, correspondence, and donations." In this article, in addition to the recordings directly mentioned in July, we will also look at peripheral information that influenced "recording culture" that month, such as exhibitions, distribution, and equipment prices, in the context of recording history.
On-site recording of Big Ben's bell tower (London / July 16, 1890)
A wax cylinder recording of the strikes of Big Ben in London's Westminster on July 16, 1890, has been preserved. According to the U.S. Edison National Historical Park (NPS) catalog, this recording is an unreleased Edison brown wax cylinder containing the strikes of "half past 10," "quarter to 11," and "eleven o'clock," recorded by Miss Ferguson (dates of birth and death unknown) and Graham Hope (dates of birth and death unknown) for George Edward Gouraud (1842–1912) (NPS object catalog number: EDIS 39839).
On the other hand, in another document (where a list of cylinder recordings is cited) the notation "Big Ben, 4 pm 16th July/90" appears, and there is also a list for the same date that reads "Big Ben, 4 pm 16th July/90", so rather than a difference in time on the same cylinder, it is possible that there is a mixture of different takes (different cylinders) on the same day or different hearsay channels. Currently, both the time information in the NPS catalog (10:30/10:45/11:00) and the "4 pm" notation in the other document can be confirmed.
Florence Nightingale's voice recording (London, July 30, 1890) - Recordist and announcer
On July 30, 1890, Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) recorded a short message on a wax cylinder at her home in London to raise funds for the Light Brigade Relief Fund. The fund was established in May 1890 in response to the growing concern of veterans in poverty, and it is said that this "voice cylinder" survived as part of a series of recordings organized by George Edward Gouraud (1842-1912) to raise funds.
According to the records, this recording was made by C.R. Johnstone (years of birth and death unknown), a recordist who worked at Goulaud's London base (Edison House), and the opening introduction was made by recording manager Mary Helen Ferguson (years of birth and death unknown).
The original recording medium was a wax cylinder, and it was confirmed that two separate performances (alternate takes) of the same content were contained on the same cylinder. The recording was later transcribed from the original cylinder, and we can trace its history back to its commercial release as a 78 rpm record in 1935.
Alfred Tennyson's original reading cylinder (allegedly recorded in July 1890)
The reading cylinder of Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) is said to have been recorded by Charles Steytler (date of birth and death unknown) at Tennyson's home on the Isle of Wight, and is considered to be part of the chain of "voice recordings" made in July.
"Edison House" style recording team and "voice collection" orientation
At the London base (Edison House), several recordists traveled around with their equipment and performed, leaning towards "collecting and preserving" the voices of famous people and iconic sounds, which led to the recordings (of bells and human voices) in July 1890.
Screening of a recording program in Melbourne (July 1890 / "importation and reproduction" of recordings)
At Kreitmayer's Waxworks and Museum in Melbourne, in addition to recordings of performances and singing from around the world, messages from the UK to Australia are also played, giving an idea of how the recordings functioned as an "international sound mail service."
Developments in the vinyl gramophone market (price decision in July 1890)
For the Berliner-style disc system, there is a record that in July 1890, Kämmer & Reinhardt set the factory price at 40 marks for the gramophone itself and 1 mark for the record, marking the start of a "separate route" for the commercialization of recordings that ran parallel to the cylindrical disc system.
