An early recording of the hammered dulcimer – Ain't Dat a Shame Medley from 1908.
Ain't Dat a Shame Medley
Company
Edison's National Phonograph Company
Cylinder #
8021
Category
Dulcimer solo
Title
Ain't Dat a Shame Medley
Performed by
William Moriarity
Circa
1908
Announcement
"Dulcimer solo, 'Ain't Dat a Shame Medley', played by William Moriarity. Edison record."
During this period in the early recording industry, many somewhat
off-the-mainstream musical instruments were exercised in front of
the recording horn in solo performances.
In record company catalogs, one could find recordings of popular tunes
rendered by Zither, Ocarina, Concertina, Bagpipes, Metalophone –
not to mention the more common
Bassoon, Piccolo, Bass & Alto Flute, Bells, Chimes, Guitar, Mandolin, and Accordion.
Oddly, the pervasive piano was rarely a featured soloist on wax cylinders.
Some instruments just recorded better than others.
Here the hammered dulcimer gets its two minutes of fame.
Edison recorded six dulcimer solos on two-minute wax cylinders.
The dulcimer generally recorded well except, as you will hear,
in the higher registers.
