Arabic Wax Cylinder Collection

21 commercial brown wax cylinder recordings, made in the Middle East, possibly around 1900. Recordings are solo and groups of male vocalists accompanied by stringed instruments.

21 cylinders (ca. 2 min.) : [120 rpm?] ; 2 1/4 x 4 in.

Track Listing:

Cyl. 01: Turkey, first edition

Cyl. 02: You are unique in looks ; You captured my heart

Cyl. 03: [Title unknown]

Cyl. 04: Nahavend

Cyl. 05: [Title unknown]

Cyl. 06: My poetry and verses I am happy that you came

Cyl. 07: illegible ; Abdu

Cyl. 08: You make me miss you ; Pledge of Brotherhood

Cyl. 09: In your hands is the prince of branches, 1

Cyl. 10: In your hands is the prince of branches, 2

Cyl. 11: Illegible

Cyl. 12: Turkey, last edition I am in love with you

Cyl. 13: I and your father

Cyl. 14: The first prince of branches ; How are you

Cyl. 15: Pledge of brotherhood, we remember, 1

Cyl. 16: You captured my heart ; Your tears of hope

Cyl. 17: My precious mirror/woman

Cyl. 18: Layhuni (and home recording)

Cyl. 19: We lived and we saw the years

Cyl. 20: My daughter Sabyya departed

Cyl. 21: We lived and saw the years, 2 Not without you

Bought by Ray Phillips in Damascus, Syria, 2001.

Purchased from Ray Phillips, 2002.

Performers not announced.

From the University of California Santa Barbara

Additional Cylinder

Recording by Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje of the Quran (Surah Duha) in Mecca using the Edison Phonograph in 1908-1909, this is the earliest known sound recording of the Quran on wax cylinder.

Arabic Wax Cylinder University of California Collection

(MP3 Googledrive Access)