The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-25
SINGING TO THE CYLINDERS.
HOW GRACE CHURCH CHIMES WE'RE
CAUGHT ron THE PHoNoGRAPH


nnee. who Gathers Upon the Wax Rolls the
Best Mur.nn Voices and Instrumentation
and Distributes Them Over tho World
A man stood In the belfry Of Grace Church
about eight feet below the chimes. Ono Of the
bells rang: the man pressed button and
shouted In q voice go loud that any skipper
might be proud OF IL. The chimes OF Grace
Church. New York city. as played by Miss
Bertha Thomas"
That night the chimes were heard In Albany.
the next night In Chicago. in less than week
in San Francisco. and two weeks later people
in London were listening to the music OF the
sweet-toned bells.
The man with the strong lungs was Mr..
Edward Clearance. There is no man living
whose voice is heard so often In so many parts
OF the world at the same time For the last
three years he has talked and sung into
monographs. Day after day and week after
week he stands in the middle OF room Mt 257
Fifth avenue and talks and sings. AS fast ms
he fllle the wax cylinders that record his
sounds they are shipped AWAY. and in II few
weeks Mr. Clnrnnce's voice is aired In the sa-
looms OF California and the drug stores Of
Maine. and in hundreds OF parlors and public
places. Many other people talk. sing. and play
musical instruments In the same room, but he
always makes the announcements in the drop
who is heard saving. Mr.. So and So will now
sing this or that" is Mr.. Clnrance He is nj
ways looking for IDEAS for something new
and original. and 80 he determined to take the
music Of the chimes OF Grace Church.
He took four monographs to the belfry and
placed them under the bells. the big brass
horns being pointed upward that they m ght
catch tho sound. When the monographs were
In their proper position m messenger informed
Miss Thomas. who was seated at tho Key
board below. The bells arc rung by electricity,
and when she received word that no was
ready. she touched a key which rang the cue
bell and was an announcement that she
was about to play. When Mr.. Glarance
heard the cue hell he pressed but
ton and an electric current was car
ried from number OF batteries to tho pho
noCraphs. After Miss Thomas rang the cue
bell she counted very slowly to five. While she
was counting. Mr.. Clearance shouted the an
nouncement OF what was to follow. The wind
was strong and q man speaking in the ordi-
nary conversational tone could not be heard
more than three feet away, but Mr.. Claranca
and his voice were equal to the occasion. lie
did not seem to exert himself. but had he
made as much noise on the street he would
have been heard several blocks away. When
Miss Thomas had finished counting. Mr..
Clearance hnn finished talking. and she began
playing. She first PLAYED the melody with the
single bell and then played the second
verse OF the selection with the alto.
When she finished she waited exactly two
minutes. during which time Mr.. Clearance placed
new cylinders in tho Photographs. When the
time had expired. she counted to i've again.
When the hand OF Mr. Clarance's watch showed
that tho two minutes had passed. he made an
other announcement. and another selection
was played. By this arrangement there was
no delay between the announcement and the
playing Miss Thomas played an hour svery
day for n week. and at the end OF that time Mr..
Clearance had over 200 " records" as lie calls
the cylinders which have received an impress
sion o! sound. Most Of them were shipped to
the larger cities in tho various States. some
were sent to Europe and some were kept in
the city for concert and exhibition purposes.
The results were more favorable than had
been expected. The sound Of the bells was
unaccompanied by any Earring.
and the vibrations were recorded perfectly.
One cylinder was sent to Mr.. Edison. who WAS
not only pleased but surprised at the perfect
success OF tho attempts.
In his search for things new and original
Mr.. Clarancc has formed the acquaintance Of
nearly every man and woman In the city who
can play an instrument or sing uncommonly
well. They watch him as closely as he watches
them. When he hears a good voice he drass
the owner to a phonoGraph. and II he hears a
new song that is sue to become popular he
makes the singer leave 1t on a wax cylinder
and rs fast as new songs are introduced he
learns them and sings them into the rhono.
When lie walks on the Rialto he does not 90
far before he Is cornered Ivy Il professions. for
those whose work is acceptable are We! paid.
and some OF the members Of the profession
thus pick up n good many dollars in the sum
msr when they otherw! Sc are idle. ,,
- It's never been heard in public yet but It'll
CATCHY, or for other reasons likely to he suc-
gngement with the singer and give him trial.
II the trial is salts iactory the artist is engaged.
amount the singer, receives does not de-
pend altogether on his or her reputation. but
ability to sing 50 hHt the ph13.
some singers whose voices sound well In halls
have not been able to produce rs good results
ars. Some voices can be heard moro dis
Iinctly than others through the telephone. and
the same is true, Of the pnonogruEh.
One young lady. an actress, who wanted n
trial. forgot to bring with her the music of the
song 7he WAS to 1nT Mr. Frank nonto
who al ways. plays the pian2i. pccompanimcnts.
lust hum it over once and I'll cnteh.iit'
play my own arcompanlnents guess 1 can
yet along without the music"
The young lady had good voice. ana Mr.
Tarance. desiring TO- humor her a lit lie. winked
o Mr.. Bantn, VIII" left, the piano. and she took
his place and sang to her own instrpmcntHl me-
Any audience would have en-
.ored her. for the notes rolled out as fast ms
hey Il" from a drum. When she. nni shed Mr..
rarapce started the, phonograph for her bene-
II and let her hear her playing. There was Il
and jarrinR accompanied by some
wild shreks. and she confessed that she was II
allure, ,,
Perhaps you viii now he willing. to receive
Instructions said Mr.. Clearance. 1t took Mr..
Banta two mont his to get the knack OF playing
or a phonograph and We haven't time to In
instruct you"
At another, time very. pretty actress who
wanted IA trial was standing in front Of four
receiving instructions.
"NSw don't sing rs Wv DO on the stage said
o9ilGhts and then throw the next ono to the
All the notes should be equally loud"
Mr.. Clearance made the announcement and |
stepped back of the Photographs While a |
hort introduction was being played on the
Jiano tho young woman said. Il feel so funny"
Don't say anything" said Mr.. Clearance.
Remember that you are In front OF the
Oh. Of course" she said. and laughed.