Edison, Gouraud, and Sullivan.

In 1888, Thoman Edison sent his 'perfected' phonograph to his agent in England. U.S. Civil war veteran and medal of honor recipient George Gouraud.

On August 14th, Gouraud, playing piano, and an unnamed musician playing the cornet recorded what is thought to be the earliest recording of music. "The Lost Chord" by English composer Arthur Sullivan. 

Gouraud, in Edison's employ, hosted several parties in London to promote the new technologies. Sullivan was invited to one these affairs and on Oct. 5 and recorded a bit of a greeting to be sent to Edison:

"I can only say that I am astonished and somewhat terrified at the result of this evening's experiments: astonished at the wonderful power you have developed, and terrified at the thought that so much hideous and bad music may be put on record forever. But all the same I think it is the most wonderful thing that I have ever experienced, and I congratulate you with all my heart on this wonderful discovery."

The cylinders survived and were discovered in Edison's library in the 1950s. Here they are on one video.