Robert Browning Recites His Poem (1889 Edison Cylinder)

This is one of the most important historic recording from 19th century. This recording contains the voice of great English poet, Robert Browning (1812 - 1889).

It was recorded in a dinner party given by Browning's friend the artist Rudolf Lehmann, on May 6th, 1889.

Colonel Gouraud, the sales manager of Edison Talking machine, had brought with him a phonograph and each of the guests was invited to speak into it. Initially reluctant, Browning eventually relents and can be heard reciting from his poem 'How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix'. Unfortunately, he forgets the words after a few lines, tries again and then gives up, but can be heard expressing his astonishment at this "wonderful invention".

Although the recording is very inaudible, it is still worth to hear one of the greatest poet of Victorian era.

I put the subtitle in this video to understand the words more clearly.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Robert
• Browning
• Recites
• His
• Poem
• How
• they
• brought
• the
• Good
• News
• from
• Ghent
• to
• Aix
• 1889
• Edison
• Cylinder
• Historical

[vielsu]

I'm terribly sorry but I can't remember me own verses XD

[myboomstick]

Must've been one hell of a party - sounds like Bob had one too many. God love him!

[thejackcocking]

something something ROBERT BROWNING BROWN BROWN HIP HIP HOORAY HIP HIP HOORAY

[eclecticdufus]

The October 5, 1888 cylinders of the dinner that featured Arthur Sullivan and Edmund Yates (who Sullivan says had had a little too much wine!) and others are much clearer than this. But how lucky we are to have Browning's voice preserved!

[ivgrhgerukhggieuhrgu]

bla bla bla blubb bla blubb blabbedi blubb bla bla bla blubb bla blubb blabbedi blubb bla bla bla blubb bla blubb blabbedi blubb bla bla bla blubb bla blubb blabbedi blubb hip hip hooray hip hip hooray hip hip hooray

[EmmetEarwax]

Robert Browning may have been failing in all ways, as he died the year he recorded this -or at least tried to, adlibbing at the end like a rowdy !

[EmmetEarwax]

Before 1890, cylinder records were of bottom quality and were mostly home made or experiments. By 1900, they were approaching the qualiity of shellac disks that I have many of.

Robert Browning may have been failing when he cut these grooves....

[cedrickdbz]

everybody got laid that night.

[FriedEggsWithChips]

@Pmitxki I thought that too. It's how a lot of working class British people talk even now, even I say that, e.g. "me shoes" etc. So did my parents at times and my grandparents definitely did.

[Taew2009]

@neymoura I think old Robert Browning might have been speaking to the wrong end of the mic!

[thinkingevil]

I love the way he blurts, "hip hip hooray" as something to holler into the wonderful invention after forgetting his own lines...