We live in an age of high fidelity. The reproduction of sound can be so good, that the listener might be fooled into thinking they are listening to live sound. This was long before the days of microphones, amplifiers, and stereo. Art needs to be expressed in consideration of the limitations of the medium used.
Stone sculpture is an expression of shape and surface, rather than color.
A painting uses shading and color, to express form. An artist needs to be very aware of the advantages and limitations of the medium they use. The early record industry was well aware of what they could, and could not do with their new art. Voices, such as those owned by Miss Ada Jones, Billy Murray, and Arthur Collins, were employed because of the loud, clear qualities of their voices, which recorded well in the range they sang. Instrumental arrangements were chosen in a similar way.