Topic: Phonautograph Article in NY Times

[Stuart]

For those of you who aren't members of the PWBG, Mary Katherine just posted the following link:

http://tinyurl.com/yqa7zy

Full URL:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/arts/27soun.html?scp=1&sq=%22jody+rose

Elijah posted, "For those who are intrigued by this story, the Times website includes an mp3 of the recording--just ten seconds, but it's the oldest ten seconds of sound we are ever likely to hear......."

[Slack]

POPS N' CLICKS BABY!

 

1860, amazing

[Mr.OMuck]

What is PWBG?
This is freaky exciting! 1860- Vincent Van Gogh was seven years old when this recording was made.
Abraham Lincoln was elected president in that year. It staggers the imagination.
Does anybody remember a twilight zone or outer limits where a guy discovered that sound had been etched randomly into rocks, like the sounds of battle at Gettysburg etc. and this guy all of a sudden started hearing them ,or learned how to extract the sound? I was always intrigued by that idea, it never sounded entirely implausible to me that sound waves could have been randomly inscribed in places.

[Stuart]

What is PWBG?

PWBG is a the "Pre-War Blues Group" (or "Pre-War Blues List")--a Yahoo group. Many of us subscribe. I can't recall with absolute certainty the procedure for subscribing--Slack, Andrew, Waxwing, and of course Bunker Hill--your assistance is required on this one.

(Secret handshake required--a password will not due! )

P.S. Lots of action over there today.

Edited to add: Regarding the Phonautograph, for me Bo Diddley's line, "You should have heard just what I seen" will never be the same.