From: Patent Tactics, George Brock-Nannestad


David Giovannoni wrote:


> Thanks to George Brock-Nannestad for his kind review of our work. As a
> modern pioneer in the study of Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, George's
> good words mean much to us.

Hello, David!

----- I think that maybe people of the kind that adhere to ARSCLIST are
somewhat more blasé than the general public, which has displayed a strong
resonance created by the various FirstSound initiatives, as witnessed by the
number of blogs, websites, etc. that have incorporated Scott material in
their own "artistic" presentations. ARSCLIST adherents are to a large degree
already aware of the historical implications of sonic documents; many already
hold treasures, and the contrast to the well-known does not seem so large.
However, this being the beginnings of recorded sound, obviously there are
very few who have embedded themselves so much in what was at the time
possible, available, and performed that they can put the various phenomena in
context. To this you and your group have contributed tremendously.

>
> As ARSC members know, our website is only one of several ways in which
> First Sounds works to facilitate the preservation of and access to the world's
> earliest sound recordings. For instance, this week I'm meeting with
> colleagues at the Paris institutions with which we've worked over the last
> two years. I have the pleasure of delivering to each electronic images
> that will remain for some time their best form of digital preservation, and
> their best avenue of access to, their own Scott materials.

----- some of the access was indeed oldfashioned and the quality likewise, to
be kind

>
> On Friday we commemorate the 150th anniversary of Au Clair de la Lune by
> Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville - the earliest audibly recognizable
> recording of the human voice yet recovered. Although this anniversary
> will go essentially unnoticed everywhere else, I would expect my colleagues in
> the ARSCisphere to note the occasion in their own special ways.

----- I for one shall take time off to engross myself in the new materials
that I have only scratched so far

>
> On Friday I'll join the Scott de Martinville family in a celebration and
> homage. We'll patronize establishments that Édouard-Léon himself might
> have frequented for conversation, libation, and a good meal. And we'll visit
> places he used to live and work and institutions he aspired to enter.
> Celebrate with us! On Friday (preferably by the light of the moon) raise
> a glass in the direction of Paris and toast an inventor whose experiment
> with sound writing itself - made 150 years ago to the day - succeeded far
> beyond his own expectations.

----- I think he was distinctly unhappy about the whole thing, and at the
time he could or would certainly not see the relevance of reproduction. So I
shall commiserate instead.

> We'll raise our glasses back at you.

----- in my case, direct them north-by-northeast!

>
> And in a more sober moment, check out the primary documents George
> reviewed yesterday that trace the inception, development, and maturation of Scott's
> phonautographic work. They're all at FirstSounds.org.

----- now, there is a reason to celebrate!

Kind regards,


George