The Dickson Experimental Sound Film, Popular Music, and the Invention of Moving Pictures

2025-02-20 Classification：Dance Click()
Author：Kalinak, Kathryn

Article Title：The Dickson Experimental Sound Film, Popular Music, and the Invention of Moving Pictures

Abstract：
When W. K. L Dickson walked up to the recording horn with his violin sometime in 1894 or 1895 to perform in the earliest known surviving sound film, he played two excerpts from the 1877 French operetta Les Cloches de Corneville (The Chimes of Normandy) by Jean Robert Planquette. Two male employees danced to these very popular pieces of music from an enormously popular entertainment in what might be called the first music video. This essay unpacks this historic pairing of popular music and moving images to see what it can tell us about the role of popular music in the invention of motion pictures.

Keywords: W.K.L. Dickson; Thomas Edison; Chimes of Normandy; Dickson Experimental Sound Film; sound film; popular music and film

DOI: 10.2979/filmhistory.31.4.03

Source：FILM HISTORY

Welcome to correct the error, please contact email: humanisticspider@gmail.com

Related Reading

From Paragone to Symbiosis. Sensations of In-Betweenness in Sally Potter's The Tango LessonFrom Paragone to Symbiosis. Sensations of In-Betweenness in Sally Potter's The Tango Lesson
Ensemble practices in the arts: A reflective matrix to enhance team work and collaborative learningEnsemble practices in the arts: A reflective matrix to enhance team work and collaborative learning
Russia and the creation of jazz in the British everyday imaginaryRussia and the creation of jazz in the British everyday imaginary
Tourism, indigenous peoples and cultural heritage in Mexico and ChileTourism, indigenous peoples and cultural heritage in Mexico and Chile