MUSIC FOR THE MILLION
THE FABULOUS PHONOGRAPH, by Roland Gelatt; Cassell, English price 21/-. T is seldom a reviewer's privilege to say of a book, "This stands alone in its field," but The Fabulous Phonograph is, surprisingly, the first comprehensive history of this scientific, industrial and musical phenomenon to be undertaken, As one would expect, it is written by an enthusiastic scholar, but the author’s humour and flair for feature reporting should make it of outstanding interest to the general reader. The story of the gramophone, from tin foil to hi fi-its tortuous legal battles, mergers, business wars, booms and busts -is like a pocket history of our age. (continued on next page)
It was the first of the great cultural levellers and its effect on the last two generations is incalculable. As far back as 1912, the Victor Company's advertising budget for the year exceeded £300,000; by 1954, 21 recordings of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony alone were available on American LP’s. At the heart of the story are the scientists, businessmen and musicians whose Careers were anchored to the fortunes of the gramophone. There is a memorable picture of Edison, as stubbornly unimaginative in business as he was brilliant in scientific invention; Eldridge Johnson, the modest genius behind the Victor Empire; Francis Barraud, originator of the famous "His Master’s Voice" dog; and there is a legion of great musical personalities, headed by the incomparable Caruso who, incidentally, earned more than £400,000 for recordings during the last ten years of his life. 4 Statesmen reaching back to Bismarck and Gladstone, authors to Lord Tennyson and Browning, and actresses to Ellen Terry, left their voices to the wonderful talking machine. Ravel has been recorded conducting his own compositions. With such a legacy, it seems almost incredible that no public library exists for the preservation of early recordings of great historic value. Perhaps one will be created, before it is too late.
Henry
Walter
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 919, 22 March 1957, Page 12
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321MUSIC FOR THE MILLION New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 919, 22 March 1957, Page 12
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