Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-06-27
TO PAY OLD LOAN SINGING into HORN
Greater Ordeal Than WarblIng to
Crowded Theater.
Making Of Photograph Records Con
sldered No Easy Task-Even
"stars" Often Have to Repeat
-" Performances. l@

The latest penalty that fame exacts
| from theatrical and music hall stars
| Is that Of singing to talking machines
For gramophone agents descend on
the star who comes out with new
song success or talking act that takes
the public fancy.
Most artists will tell you-and hard
ened ones, too-that singing to re-
producing machine is to them far
greater ordeal than performing to
crowded theater. 1t Is the strange
conditions under which these voice re.
productions are carried out that 80
often unnerve the most experienced
performers. :.
The setting-the bare barnlike hall
in itself scarcely inspires conf
dence. One end is screened from the
gaze of the occupants by long cur
tain through which monstrous morn
OF brass extends into the room, being
suspended from the ceiling.
Grouped around are a motely as
sembly of musicians with instruments
of weird design. Somehow these In
struments seem familiar, yet no one
ever saw their like in q theater or
chestra. They are especially con-
structed to produce soft sound waves
that do not drown the singers voice.
The violins mo- longer possess the
familiar curves and sturdy frames.
They are hollow tubelike affairs with
strangely arranged strings. The cellos
are in a similar emaciated condition,
their ample sides having apparently
dwindled into slight wooden supports
Every instrument, however. boasts q
little aluminium horn, directed toward
the parent trumpet. in order to con-
centrate the sound waves at one COM
mon point. Perched on high plat
form near the roof is the conductor
whose lofty position is chosen to take
him out of the way Of all important
sound waves.
The performer stands on a little
wooden platform right at the mouth
of the receiving trumpet. A few hur-
ried directions and then strict silence
is the rule No human voice or sound
but that Of the singer must now dis
turb the atmosphere. for the little
machine behind the curtain relentless
ly records every little sound wave.
A red light is flashed and the atten-
uated little orchestra gets to work.
And then the artist has to sing to
this strange little assembly with aban-
don and zest as though the inspiration
Of the brilliant light, of beautiful
clothes and scenery and applauding
audience were all there.
1t is a great ordeal, for one has to
sing with far greater care in front OF
| talking machine than Is required
when audiences of flesh and blood are
to be pleased.
With f1endish cruelty, the revolving
was recording disc gathers in every
little fault. A slight clearing OF the
throat or little swallow, every deep
breath or slight shuttle Of the feet is
sufficient to form sound waves that
imprint their message on the yielding
wax. Such things an audience would
not note. but the obedient record
maker makes no distinction between
the actual and the intended.
When the artist has finished the re-
cord is played over and the inevitable
imperfections criticised. The weak
spots are then rehearsed and the
whole trying business commenced
over again. II the performer makes a
mistake In the course of the song. q
bell rings and fresh start is made.
Not until a record Of pure and dis
tinct tone Is obtained does the ar
tists's ordeal end.