Description (September 18, 2006)

Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project - In an era far, far away, before iPods, CDs, LPs and 78s there were cylinders. From the first recordings made on tinfoil in 1877 to the last produced on celluloid in 1929, cylinders spanned a half-century of technological development in sound recording. As documents of American cultural history and musical style, cylinders serve as an audible witness to the sounds and songs through which typical audiences first encountered the recorded human voice. Listen to the sounds of yesteryear at this site.

Site in Depth / Curriculum Integration

• Cylinder Recordings: A Primer - Use this page to read a history of recorded sound. Students research and create a timeline of music and sound history.
• Investigate the Recommended links.
• Research historical music at these sites. Is there a relationship between technology and music? Discuss.
• Download the MP3 files to your iPod.