Ever wondered what goes on behind the doors of the Belfer Audio Archive? Join the audio engineers, media archivists and curators of the Special Collections Research Center to explore the impressive work being done to preserve the history of recorded sound. The Belfer Listening Party will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 4:30–6 p.m. in the Belfer Audio Archive and Preservation Laboratory, adjacent to E.S. Bird Library on the east side.
A selection of recently preserved holdings–including rare and unique interviews, examples of early 20th-century popular music, and recordings of important political and pop culture figures–will be played. Guests are invited to enjoy light fare and refreshments while learning more about the vast collections maintained at one of the most revered audio preservation laboratories in the country.
The playlist will include samples from:
The Mike Wallace Papers: The Mike Wallace Papers consists of transcripts and audio recordings of interviews with a wide variety of personalities, including authors, entertainers, religious leaders and political figures.
Cécile Louise Stéphanie Chaminade: Cécile Louise Stéphanie Chaminade (1857–1944) was a French composer and pianist. The archive recently acquired two recordings of Chaminade playing two of her own pieces (“Les Sylvains“ and “L’Enjoleuse“). Recorded in 1901, they are exceptional examples of the acoustic era of recording.
Sugar, Alcohol, Meat–The Dial-A-Poem Poets: Recorded from 1975-80 in New York City, this two-album set features poetry and spoken word performances by William S. Burroughs, John Cage, Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, Andrei Voznesensky and many others.
Martin Luther King Jr.: “The American Dream”: This 1968 Southeastern Recording Company of America recording presents Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at Syracuse University. The introduction is by Wyatt T. Walker, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
