First recorded sound
Background info: Thomas Edison wasn't the first person to record sound. A Frenchman named Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville actually did it earlier.
He invented a device called the phonautograph, and, on April 9, 1860, recorded someone singing the words, "Au clair de la lune, Pierrot repondit." But he never had any intention of playing it back. He just wanted to study the pattern the sound waves made on a sheet of paper blackened by the smoke of an oil lamp.
Suggested procedure:
He invented a device called the phonautograph, and, on April 9, 1860, recorded someone singing the words, "Au clair de la lune, Pierrot repondit." But he never had any intention of playing it back. He just wanted to study the pattern the sound waves made on a sheet of paper blackened by the smoke of an oil lamp.
Suggested procedure:
- Play this track first without any explanation. Have students listen and write down what comes to mind. You may want to listen to it a couple times to give the students time to write down what they think it sounds like. If students are stuck or for an alternative have students draw an image that comes to mind while hearing the sound.
- After students have written or drawn their images have them exchange papers with a partner and the partner will try to interpret what they were trying to express. The creator of the text/image should try to say nothing as they here the interpretation. You could also do this in groups of 3 as well two interpreters talking about the artifact together. Have the students memorize their partners drawing.
- Now have students switch to a new partner, With this new partner they should describe what their original partner drew, and the new partner should try to draw their description--the person describing should not look at their partners drawing until it is finished. (this activity is representative of how people might have shared the idea of sound on before they could record and replay it--of course there are songs and sheet music but if your were trying to describe sound other than music this could have been a method).
- After the group has done this have the class guess when this sound was recorded. Have them try to give there reasoning why they believe this.
- How do you think this sound was recorded?
- Play the sound again. Ask the students what are reasons to record sound. Why would there be a need for it?
- Make a list of sounds that are important to you. The sound of a machine you use, the sound of the curtains in your grandparents house tapping on the wall from the wind, the sound of someones laugh that you know well.
- Now, have students make visual representation of these sounds.
- Now play the original recording of the remastered sound below. Ask the students what they think the recording and permanency of sound means to their daily life.