The Journey of Sound: A Personal Reflection
Bob Mondello’s reflections begin with a personal connection to the film The History of Sound, a period drama partially set in 1919, his father’s birth year. The movie features characters David and Lionel, played by Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal, who embark on a journey to capture folk songs. Their equipment consists of wax cylinders, a metal cone, and a diamond-tipped stylus. This technology astonishes those they meet, as it preserves sound, which had previously faded away.
Historical Background
Sound recording traces back to France’s Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, who captured sound waves as lines on soot-covered paper in the 1850s. The invention functioned like a seismograph for sound. It did not play recordings back until digital technology made this possible. In 2008, a research team uncovered a recording from 1860 featuring a rendition of “Au Clair de la Lune.” Then, in 1877, Thomas Edison introduced the phonograph, recording sound on tin foil strips for playback. His first recorded words were the nursery rhyme, “Mary had a little lamb.” Edison foresaw music reproduction and preservation of memories through his invention.
By 1919, Edison’s technology transitioned to wax cylinders. This era aligns with the fictional account of Lionel and David’s trip to Maine and coincidentally, the year of Mondello’s father’s birth. Despite Mondello’s career in sound recording, he neglected to capture his father’s voice. The only audio he had left was a phone message, now lost due to technological changes.
A Personal Discovery
Relating to The History of Sound, Mondello recalls a scene where Lionel, in his later years, discovers a wax cylinder containing David’s voice. It parallels Mondello’s own experience. A friend helped find a recording of his father’s Supreme Court argument from 1963. Chief Justice Earl Warren introduced the case, and Mondello’s father spoke, a voice resonating with youth and confidence.
Justice Hugo Black’s acknowledgment of his father’s strong argument, despite backing a losing cause, did not diminish its value to Mondello. It was a voice he associated with childhood questions and guidance. Listening to this recording decades later felt like a treasured gift, echoing Lionel’s experience in the film.
Mondello expresses deep gratitude for the evolution of sound recording, from Scott de Martinville to modern innovations. These advancements not only enabled Mondello’s career but also allowed a cherished personal connection through his father’s rediscovered voice.