An early recording of the hammered dulcimer – Ain't Dat a Shame Medley from 1908.
Ain't Dat a Shame Medley
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| Company |
Edison's National Phonograph Company
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| Cylinder # |
8021
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| Category |
Dulcimer solo
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| Title |
Ain't Dat a Shame Medley
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| Performed by |
William Moriarity
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| Circa |
1908
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| Announcement |
"Dulcimer solo, 'Ain't Dat a Shame Medley', played by William Moriarity. Edison record."
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During this period in the early recording industry, many somewhat
off-the-mainstream musical instruments were exercised in front of
the recording horn in solo performances.
In record company catalogs, one could find recordings of popular tunes
rendered by Zither, Ocarina, Concertina, Bagpipes, Metalophone –
not to mention the more common
Bassoon, Piccolo, Bass & Alto Flute, Bells, Chimes, Guitar, Mandolin, and Accordion.
Oddly, the pervasive piano was rarely a featured soloist on wax cylinders.
Some instruments just recorded better than others.
Here the hammered dulcimer gets its two minutes of fame.
Edison recorded six dulcimer solos on two-minute wax cylinders.
The dulcimer generally recorded well except, as you will hear,
in the higher registers.
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To hear
Ain't Dat a Shame Medley
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For help playing these sounds, click here.
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— This cylinder is from the collection of Al Menashe —
To hear other examples of wax cylinders, see the
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Contacting Tinfoil.com.
