Klarinet Archive - Posting 000635.txt from 2002/05

From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] More Brahms Trivia
Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 09:13:11 -0400

<<<The first cylinder recording which Edison played on the newly invented
phonograph in 1889 was Brahms playing own his own Hungarian Rhapsodies
(after shouting the greeting: "To Dr Edison from Dr Brahms") ...Glenn
Kantor>>>

This recording has been the source of considerable controversy. The
recording was apparently made by an associate of Edison, and exactly what it
says is subject to various interpretations. It can be heard by doing a web
search for "Brahms" and "Edison."

It sounds to me as though the voice is not that of Brahms, but rather is
Edison's assistant. I think the voice says, "at the house of Dr. Fellinger,
I have Dr. Brahms, Johannes Brahms," after which Brahms begins to play. The
sound of the recording is so poor that it really isn't possible to discern
what piece is being played.

A further connection between Brahms and Edison is that Brahms was reportedly
one of the first people in Europe to have electric lights in his home.

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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