The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-03-29
FINE CONCERT GIVEN
BY MISS M0RR|sEY ri
Comparison Made With The
New Edison; Excellent
Program Is Given

ava
ProbablySa a number of people who
attended the recital given last night
by Miss Marie Morrisey and Mr.. Har.
old Lyman at the Vine Street Church
of Christ we're at first puzzled and
disappointed when they discovered
phonograph cabinet occupying the
center of the stage. They felt that
they had been beguiled into going to
hear a charming singer and a clever
flutist and naturally thought that they
had been imposed upon.
They hardly were reassured when
Mr.. Lyman appeared on the stage and
commenced to talk about ''reproduc.
tion," "Re-Creation." and other like
matter. 1t finally became apparent
that the phonograph was at least to
receive assistance from the singer
but even then the mental outlook was
not exactly bright.
Mr.. Lyman explained that the pur-
pose of the recital was to illustrate
that Thomas A. Edison, after years OF
work had achieved his ideal to perfect
a musical instrument which would
actually re-create music so perfectly
that the recreation would be indis.
tinguishable from the original. ~,
This was a broad claim but It was
established before the evening was
over for Miss Morrisey actually
stood beside the New Edison Phono-
graph and sang in unison with Mr..
Edison's re-creation-so-called-of her
own voice. This would have proved
little as her voice might easily have
overbalanced the tone OF the instru-
ment-swallowed it up-so to speak;
but Miss Morrisey did more--Or to be
acurate, less. She paused from time
to time, apparently at random and
permitted her re-created voice to be
heard alone. This gave an oppOrtunr
ity to compare one with the other and
1t no more than ust ito state that
there was no dscernable difference
in tone quality.
There must have been slight diff
ference in volume when Miss Morri.
sey stopped singing but 1t was not
noticeable) for the voice which came
from the cabinet was round and lu-
scious with all of the vibrant. pulsat'
ing quality of that which came direct
ly from Miss Morrisey's throat. It
was only by watching the singers
lips that one could be sure when she
sang and when she did not.
Mr.. Lyman offered similar compari-
sons with his instrument playing in di.
rect comparison with the recreation
of his own performance. This proof
was very convincing. If it were not
another proof was offered. After Miss
Morrisey had commenced to sing one
number the lights were turned out
ostensible 80 that the audience could
not watch the singers lips. i;
1t did not seem difficult to deter
mine in the dark when the singer
sang and when she did not. The
writer was pretty sure about it him
self until the lights were turned on
again and it was discovered that Miss
Morrisey was not near the instrument
and that the New Edison alone had
been heard.
One of the most interesting novel
ties in this evening of unique exper.
ience, was when Miss Morrisey sang
duet with her own voice. 1t was as
though two artists with voices of ex
actly the same tone-quality. the same
expression, the same timbre. were
singing together. The effect was
somehow unreal and weird, as though
one artist had been bewitched into
two by some magician's art.
The climax of the evenings enter
tainment was when the room was
darkened in the middle of one Of Miss
Morrisey's selections, and the listen
ers were left with no means but Their
ears of determining when they were
hearing her voice in double volume
and when 1t reached them only from
the New Edison. At first everyone
doubted his own ability to Judge, but
as her previous proofs were forgotten
in the spell of the song, they became
more and more convinced that no In
strument could sing as this voice was
singing, and that Miss Morrisey was
making no more pauses in her own
performances. Suddenly the lights
were snapped on. The audience was
astonished to discover that Miss Nor.
risey was not there at all and that
the New Edison had furnished the
song alone.
ROY KNOCKED FROM