Something to distract today: old, old sounds. The oldest recording is from 1860, in smoke on paper.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Something to distract today: old, old sounds. The oldest recording is from 1860, in smoke on paper, and if you listen to it the woman singing will show up at your bedside at midnight tonight. Also featured: the last castrado without a talk show on Fox.

Link to tweet

Sounds of the 1860s: listen to the earliest recordings known

4 January 2016, 12:15 | Updated: 6 January 2017, 14:45

Before the music world had even heard of streaming and downloads, sound recordings were etched onto wax cylinders or even captured by the smoke from an oil lamp. Some of these recordings still exist today…

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[ZZenith]

1. Thanks for this!

Fascinating.

[underpants]

2. 👂

Listening later. Thanks.

[Jamastiene]

3. What time will the woman appear at my bedside?

I'm bored.



This is fascinating. Thank you.

[The Polack MSgt]

4. Arthur Sullivan wasn't just a noted composer - He was psychic too

"I am astonished and somewhat terrified at the result of this evening's experiments: astonished at the wonderful power you have developed, and terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music may be put on record forever."