The phonograph was invented in 1877. While the first versions of the technology had low fidelity and short playback time by modern standards, these limitations gradually lessened, and eventually recordings of classical music pieces were made and sold.
Occasionally, composers would be recorded performing or conducting their own work. Who were the first composers to use phonographic technology to have their own performances of their own work recorded? I'm interested both in examples where the composer performs the piece themselves, and where the composer conducts a large ensemble. I'm aware of Edward Elgar's recordings (as early as 1914), and there's a quote out there that says that Elgar was the first composer to take the phonograph seriously; but I'm curious to know whether there were any earlier examples.
I would also be interested to know about any examples along the lines of Debussy's "recordings" from 1913 on a reproducing piano system. My main question is about phonographic technology, though.
