The word phonograph was the trade name for the world’s first device for the recording of sound. Thomas Edison filed for its patent on December 24, 1877. The device was quite archaic in design and played cylinders rather than discs. The machine had two needles: one for recording and one for playback. Speaking into the mouthpiece would cause the sound vibrations to be indented onto the cylinder by the recording needle. The world’s first phonograph created a sensation and brought Edison international fame.

The fact that this invention was able to capture various voice frequencies gave the earliest performers of that age a chance to showcase their talents.

Edison Sound Recordings (High Voice Songs) Audio CD from the A2ZCDS series makes up for understandably primitive recording with sheer musicianship. There is no overlooking the virtuosity of the maestros featured on this historical 16 track CD. The ‘Kashmiri Song’ performed by Maggie Teyte (words by Laurence Hope) was first published in 1921, as was ‘La Mamma Morta’, written by Andrea Chenier and performed by Claudia Muzio. You will be treated to the first ever recording of the legendary Bellini’s ‘La Sonnambula’ and will experience Verdi’s ‘O Patria Mia’ as it was first heard by an awestruck world of music lovers. Pagliacci’s ‘Vesti la Giubba’ is also featured amongst the classical greats that Edison’s world-changing invention, the phonograph, immortalized right up to the present day.