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Andrew Spallek
Chief Inspector
Username: Aspallek
Post Number: 591
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 5:19 pm: |       |
This is of no direct relevance to the case, but some might be interested. I find it fascinating.
Here are some links to early wax cylinder sound recordings of the late Victorian period, including some from 1888. I find especially haunting the Crystal Palace recording from the Handel concert of 29 June 1888, just weeks before the murders. Who might have been hearing these very sounds? Charles Warren? Montague Druitt? Henry Smith? [Note: the quality of the Crystal Palace recording is so poor as to be barely decipherable. This is partly due to wear and damage to the cylinders, but mostly to the fact that the technology did not yet exist to record live performance].
At any rate the voice recordings do give an indication of 1888 manner of speech, which aids the imagination in considering the words of those involved in the case.
http://cylindersontheweb.angelcities.com/
(check especially "rare recordings" in the links section near the bottom of the page)
http://www.webrarian.co.uk/crystalpalace/
Andy S.
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David O'Flaherty
Inspector
Username: Oberlin
Post Number: 416
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:43 pm: | |
Thanks so much for posting the links, Andy. Very haunting, particularly the choral arrangement. It's a real treat to hear sounds from 1888.
Cheers,
Dave
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Andrew Spallek
Chief Inspector
Username: Aspallek
Post Number: 592
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 5:17 pm: | |
Glad you enjoyed them, Dave.
BBC Radio 4 had an interesting programme this past week called "Gramophones and Grooves" which explored early sound recordings. The links came from that programme's website at BBC Radio 4. (Yes, it appears I've nothing better to do at times than to listen to the Beeb over here in the USA!)
The Crystal Palace recordings are so haunting in part because of their "ghostly" sound quality. But to me what differentiates them from other 1888 recordings available is that we don't have some famous person "hamming it up" for the recording device. We have instead natural sounds -- somewhat innocent sounds of an age that was about to lose some of its innocence.
Andy S.
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