audio memories of the world

September 24, 2008 10:25 AM

Sound glimpses into the past. The Phonogrammarchiv was founded in 1899 and is the oldest audiovisual research archive in the world. There are some fascinating sound samples listenable online from the Historical Collections-1899 to 1950, including: The First Expeditions 1901 to Croatia, Brazil and the Isle of Lesbos; Zulu Recordings 1908; Papua New Guinea (1904-1909) and some lovely recordings of old Musical Boxes from Vienna and Prague.

The Austrian Audiovisual Research Archive

For the sound samples of the musical boxes, click on the images.

posted by nickyskye (7 comments total)

I'm just having a quick look but there are some great things here. Thanks!
posted by ob at 11:11 AM on September 24, 2008

I find it somewhat striking that I'm listening to an digital representation of music from a mechanical device built by hand close to two hundred years ago.
posted by hallowdmachine at 12:09 PM on September 24, 2008

Don't forget the box set.
posted by mykescipark at 1:21 PM on September 24, 2008

How to listen to the sound samples:
On the main page index
Click on
"LPs, CDs, etc"
then
Click on
"The Complete Historical Collections 1899-1950"

Scroll down for sound samples of different kinds.
posted by nickyskye at 4:57 PM on September 24, 2008

i can't wait until my connection reverts from dialup speed to broadband at the start of next month :(
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:21 AM on September 25, 2008

Wow Nicky great find! I love the sound of those old music boxes.
posted by vronsky at 11:49 AM on September 25, 2008

This is neat Nicky, Dominoes Made Of Dominoes.
posted by vronsky at 4:23 PM on September 25, 2008