In India - 1903 to 1949: The 78rpm Phenomenon

An Illustrated Lecture by Robert Millis with Musical Demonstration by Jonathan Ward 

Saturday, January 30, 2016 - 7:30pm

 

Join us for an illustrated lecture with Robert Millis, the result of nearly a year in India photographing record collections, interviewing collectors, and visiting archives and record markets: photographs of shelves groaning under the weight of unimaginable titles, beautiful label and sleeve designs from long gone eras, wind up talking machines, crammed antique shops, forgotten artists, and more that somehow survived (often barely survived) the difficult "archival" issues of India. This presentation will feature several short Sublime Frequencies films, rare music from 78rpm discs, glimpses of the city of Calcutta, the shellac industry, and 78rpm record collectors.

Millis will also be presenting and selling "Indian Talking Machine," a brand new 244-page book with two CDs containing tracks from shellac discs spanning 1903 to 1949. Containing over 300 photographs of 78rpm record collections, collectors, and ephemera, this book is a personal take on the vast worlds of Indian music and the intricacies of collecting sound. Millis is a founding member of Climax Golden Twins, a Fulbright Scholar, a solo artist, frequent contributor to the Sublime Frequencies label and the creator of Victrola Favorites as well as the films "This World is Unreal Like a Snake in a Rope" and "Phi Ta Khon: Ghosts of Isan."

Reservations are $15 & $12 for VPES Members and available here: http://inindia.brownpapertickets.com

 

Images from the event!