The Record Reader
Can a 'record-reading' man correctly identify classical music pieces by examining record grooves?
Claim: A Philadelphia doctor can identify the contents of phonograph records merely by examining the grooves.
Origins: Dr. Arthur Lintgen, a Philadelphia physician, can — within prescribed limits — determine which works of classical music are present on a phonograph record by “reading” the record’s grooves. His ability is not the result of any trickery — he performs the feat by combining a thorough knowledge of classical music with the technique of determining the structure and dynamics of a piece of music by examining the spacing and pattern of the grooves.
Lintgen, an ardent audiophile and classical music devotee, first developed his ability to “read” records after being challenged to try it at a party in 1977. He is able to identify, almost flawlessly, orchestral music from Beethoven to the present. He performs this feat by examining the spacing and contour of the grooves on a record; from this examination he can determine how many movements a piece is divided into, how long each movement is, and the relative loudness and percussiveness of the movements. Drawing upon his encyclopedic knowledge of classical music, Lintgen can accurately identify which work fits the patterns suggested by the record grooves.
Additional Information: Below are links to three articles from various publications about Dr. Arthur Lintgen and his unusual ability.
| A Man Who Sees What Others Hear |
| Read Any Good Records Lately? |
| The Man Who Could Read the Grooves |
Last updated: 23 May 2007
Sources:
Snopes.com
Since 1994
A Word to Our Loyal Readers
Support Snopes and make a difference for readers everywhere.
Editorial
- David Mikkelson
- Doreen Marchionni
- David Emery
- Bond Huberman
- Jordan Liles
- Alex Kasprak
- Dan Evon
- Dan MacGuill
- Bethania Palma
- Liz Donaldson
Operations
- Vinny Green
- Ryan Miller
- Chris Reilly
- Chad Ort
- Elyssa Young
Most Snopes assignments begin when readers ask us, “Is this true?” Those tips launch our fact-checkers on sprints across a vast range of political, scientific, legal, historical, and visual information. We investigate as thoroughly and quickly as possible and relay what we learn. Then another question arrives, and the race starts again.
We do this work every day at no cost to you, but it is far from free to produce, and we cannot afford to slow down. To ensure Snopes endures — and grows to serve more readers — we need a different kind of tip: We need your financial support.
Support Snopes so we continue to pursue the facts — for you and anyone searching for answers.
Team Snopes