EDISON'S PHONOGRAPH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 34, 10 February 1891, Page 5

EDISON'S PHONOGRAPH.

A REMARKABLE SUCCESS.

The scene at the Opera House lasb evening, when Edison's phonograph "performed for the firsb time in Auckland," was an eventful one. The majority of those present went to the exhibition in a sceptical frame of mind ; one could see it most plainly depicted on their faces, and while every person present had, without doubb, expected to hear something new and novel, it is perfectly safe to say that the realisation was very far in advance of the anticipation. The stage, by the arrangement of some scenery of pleasant aspect, and an occasional liveningup by the introduction of foliage, and with the space usually occupied by the orchestra also "filled" with New Zealand scenery, made the scene which awaited the audience both bright and cheerful. In the centre of the stage stood the wonderful talking machine; alongside of ib was Professor Archibald, M.A., prepared to unfold his galaxy of concentrated talent whenever the righb moment arrived. In the background was a sheet stretched so as to display some explanatory photographs by means of limelight. Ab eighb o'clock, there stood the phonograph, dumb as a piano without a performer, and resembling very much a good-sized electric battery, with a short funnel - shaped horn projecting towards the dress-circle, to convey Jjhe waves of sound throughoub the hall. Professor Archibald, having ordered the lights to be turned down, proceeded to gratify both bhe curious and those who expected to be entertained. The word phonograph, he said, hardly explained what the machine could do. The word meant " a sound recorder." Many people confused the phonograph with the telephone, bub better acquaintance v. ould no doubt convince them that there was some distinction between these two wonders. The idea of the phonograph occurred to Mr Edison in 1877, but strangely enough, there was a »tory written some two hundred years ago of an inhabitant of the sun who paid a visit to the moon, and on taking his leave presented one of the lunar inhabitants with a small box from which, by turning a handle, they could hear read a chapter oub of a book. Edison had made a phonograph one-eighth the size of that now exhibited, and hoped in time to make one small enough to be pub in a coat-tail pocket, and carried about by all classes of business men for recording matters of impectance. Having used so much of Professor Archibald's interesting introduction, ib will be only fair to allow those who did nob hear the rest to obtain the necessary information by calling upon him at the Opera House this evening. The lights having been turned up, Professor Archibald announced that the phonograph would reproduce a cornet solo played by Mr A. Smibh, firsb cornctist of Covenb Garden Opera Company, and then placing in bhe machine a small hollow cylinder, on which bhis item was impressed in wax, the motive power (electricity) was turned on, and the curiosity of tho audience was appeased. The large hall was filled in all parts with an admirably played cornet solo in three parbs, (a) " Leviathan Polka," (b) "Oood-bye, Sweetheart," and (c) " Amusement Polka." The volume of sound was not fully as great as if produced directly from bhe instrument, but ib was nevertheless Buch as everyone in bhe house could hear disbinctly. The nexb selection to which the audience were treated was a banjo solo comprising a "Medley," introducing a well - known selection of Scotch airs and a duet by the Bohee Minstrels, London. This was a more severe test for the machine because of the softer tones of the banjo, but these were reproduced with clearness, and the merit of the original performance could be plainly recognised and fully appreciated, The next impression put upon the machine was a reminiscence of the old coaching days, a coach horn solo, by Mr Arthur Smibh, and there was no question about the volume of sound here—probably it could have been distinctly heard outside of the building. The effect was very fine indeed, and the audience testified their approval by prolonged applause. Then followed a clarionette and piano duet, played by Tusan's Band, at Edison House, London, most effectively reproduced, even to the cheers and clapping of Mr Edison's students at the other end of the room as the performance concluded. A performance on the tin whistle by an amateur was also reproduced with unerring fidelity to the original, especially where a vigorous but unsuccessful attempt was made to get " a top note," and as Professor Archibald laconically observed " the phonograph couldn't help him out." Another particularly interesting number was tho reproduction of a band performance described as having been " picked up in the streets of Boston." The selection was a good one, including forte and piano passages, both of which were most truthfully presented, the occasional energy of the " brasses " causing occasional titters to run through the audience. Another band selection " picked up in the streets of Adelaide " was highly amusing, " Darling, lam Growing Old," being rendered in somewhat amateurish but very vigorous style, the big brasses having decidedly the besb of bhe performance. An encore was demanded, and was responded to by a march as played by the same band. Those who are only partial to the Highland bagpipes as heard in the distance can have their weakness satisfied, for the phonograph reproduction of the favourite Scottish musical instrument is toned down jusb enough bo be agreeable. The song, «« Warrior Bold," as sung by Mr Bingley Shaw ab Nobtingham in 1889, and previously reproduced 800 or 900 times was a moat interesting item, the words being very clearly given, and tho expression marvellously well preserved. A comic song, " Killaloe," was also well given from the machine, and a "Laughing Song" by Mr R. Wallet.* of Nottingham, was so realistic as to arouse a chord of sympathy in tbe audience, who laughed heartily with the distant performer. O ne of the best reproductions was a selection by the Christchurch Salvation Army Band, in which the alternate exercise of instruments and voices, with occasional interjections by the officers and soldiers, were given in a most realißbic manner. Professor Archibald turned on a third Salvation Army selection by the Napier corps, in which the enunciation of the words sung was most distinct. j_ ]_. Toole was easily recognised as the original of a comic song, entitled " An 'Orrible Tale," at the conclusion of which he asks bhrough bhe phonograph, ••How will bhat do?" and the audience responded most liberally. Tbe singing of "The Heart.Bowed Down," by a man with a bad cold, and who repeatedly protested his inability to sing, together with the interruptions of friends who assured him thab he was getting on splendidly, kept the audience greatly amused for a few moments, and this was followed by a beautiful quartette "Banish o Majorn " as sung by the Cathedral choir, Christchurch. The parts could easily be distinguished, and the harmony was excellently preserved. A recitation, "Charge of the Light Brigade," by Mr Alfred Dampier, was given with much of its original effectiveness, and then Professor Archibald spoke direct into the machine, and reproduced his speech from the phonograph, with unfailing exactness. A song rendered by a gentleman in the audience wbb also reproduced on the spot, and then followed Mr Gladstone's well-known speech to Lord Carrington, as transmitted to Australia per phonograph. This con-: eluded the entertainment, with the exception, of an exhibition given to a small num- > ber of persons, who, by payment of one

shilling, were permitted to hear from the phonograph low tones of speech, vocal, or instrumental music, by means of tubes placed to the ears. Other performances will be given during the present week.