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Clip description
This 1924 gramophone recording of W Rimmer’s ‘Honest Toil March’ is performed by the Australian Newcastle Steelworks Band.
Curator’s notes
This recording was one of many made in London by the Australian Newcastle Steelworks Band for the Aeolian Company. The sound quality and loud volume of brass bands was well suited to the limited ability of acoustic recording technology available in 1924. With no electronic amplification, acoustic recording equipment converted sound waves directly into mechanical movement of a stylus that would cut the sound into the groove of the disc. The sound mix for acoustic recordings was controlled by placement of the instruments around the recording horn, with quiet instruments placed near the horn to increase their apparent volume and louder instruments placed further away.
