RARE Edison recording, Early 1889 : The Moon hath Raised her Lamp Above

"The Moon hath Raised her Lamp Above", by Julius Benedict, sung by Two Tenors with piano, is a rarely heard Edison white wax cylinder recording made in circa January 1889. Recorded by Edison recording engineer Walter H. Miller, the sound quality starts out OK but deteriorates as the recording progresses. Still a great listen, it is possibly the earliest surviving studio recording of singers with accompaniment.

[@clemstevenson]

It sounds like the guy is singing that famous 1889 hit "whaha my hardyha wwaa waha wishahadyha..." :-)

[@RC-wm7cw]

lol

[@victorianghost16]

...

[@chrissullivan7018]

As is fairly typical of Edison, neither singer is very distinguished and they sound embarrassingly under rehearsed. I suspect it is also being reproduced at the incorrect pitch, but they are at least singing a recognizable piece, viz "The moon hath raised her lamp above" from "The Lily of Killarney" by Sir Julius Benedict. Rarely heard today, it attracted a number of recordings during the acoustically recorded 78rpm era, perhaps most notably that by John McCormack and Reinald Werrenrath for Victor in April 1914. Christopher Sullivan.

[@KeyboardKramer]

Better audio quality than the average Skype call.

[@BrucesPhonograph]

If this is a white wax cylinder (which it would be from 1889) it appears mold free as the composition used with these early cylinders was relatively free of supporting mold unlike brown wax cylinders of 1890-1901. These early cylinders also have a somewhat "muffled" sound as can be heard here, brown wax cylinders have a crisper sound, especially if mold free.

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

1889 is a very weird year, for our records. Some of the natural wax (ceresine, beeswax, stearic acid and carnauba wax) records were around, and also metallic soaps were tried by November 1888, in the winter of 1889 a formula 957 by assistant Jonas Aysworth (who made all brown wax formulations, of which are over 1,056 different experimental Edison cylinder formulas between Jan 1888-October 1889.) which was an aluminum stearate formula was used, unfortunately with red olaic acid, to soften the compound to cut, however these are not white, but a brick red color, these all died, from olate of aluminum ( and lead, some a lead stearate formula) coming to the top and spoiling the blank. Some of the 1888 and 1889 phonographs had metal chisel shaped styli, followed by metal ball and cupped point center styli, and then sapphire that we are familiar with, all used interchangeably in 1889 by the very end of 1889, the familiar Standard Speaker, combo recorder/reproducer was used, and by 1892 the Automatic reproducer was used, with a separate recorder, that was just like the Standard speaker, but with a record only stylus. A very nice recording, and yes it sounds like a square chisel shaped stylus was used to record it, it has the background swish.

[@RC-wm7cw]

Really cool early recording from 1889. There are some other recordings from 1888 on KZbin too. Kinda wish we knew who is singing. This image of Thomas Edison is one of my favorites too. Thanks for posting.

[@williamstephens9945]

Never heard this recording before. Awesome discovery!

[@doctorhamburger1346]

Fascinating!

[@waderaney7]

Glad to hear this!

[@timhuskisson]

The song is 'The Moon Has Raised Her Lamp Above' from an Opera, 'Lily of Killarney' by by Julius Benedict. There is a version on KZbin by Reinald Werrenrath & John McCormack .

[@JimPigMuseumOfSound]

Thank You for identifying the piece ! I need to update my disclaimer...

[@RC-wm7cw]

I love this duet, the one with McCormack and Werrenrath is the best version I've heard.

[@JamesIrwins78s]

@@aileen9553 Of course you do.

[@pianosbloxworld4460]

But this still sounds better than most modern music these days

[@olivermundy4220]

This seems to have been recorded at a very high speed for such an early date; not far short of 180 r.p.m., I would guess, as against the 120 r.p.m. usual later in the 1890s. Is there any contemporary evidence regarding the speeds adopted by Edison's early engineers?

[@joaquinoderda656]

Nice audio

[@RC-wm7cw]

I've always wanted to see pictures or video of some of these very early recordings.... Does anyone know where I could see some?

[@JimPigMuseumOfSound]

A video was made of an 1894 or 1895 recording session in Edison's Black Maria movie studio. See "Dickson Experimental Sound Film".

[@EnderWolfFTW]

Wow! Anyone know (or can take a guess at) what song they're singing?

[@Melicflucius]

Scroll down, info given, also more info above.

[@Melicflucius]

It's actually a duet for Baritone and Tenor; Do we know the artist's names?

[@JimPigMuseumOfSound]

Sadly, the singers remain anonymous

[@Melicflucius]

OK, then: but how do we now it's from 1889: a catalogue? I'd like to know to start a little research (all I have so far s from the Girard and Barnes)

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

The early cylinders have a distinct swish sound, and the tone, is indicative of metal chisel shaped stylus and non metallic wax. I have made enough wax formulas, that amount to a little over 1 ton of cylinder record compound. 1888, non metallic cylinders have a unique sound I made duplicate blanks to those found at ENHP of the early historical recordings. Those records I made are on display on the 3rd floor on the mandrels of the experimental 1887-1888 Edison spectacle phonographs.

[@scp5007de]

The quality of 2014... lol