Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1880 Vol. 3 N. 3-B

September 5th, 1880
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
a foolish violation of the most ordinary rules of commercial morality
could have occurred. In these cases, which are confined as far as we
know to two or three houses in the trade, it would seem not only to
be a violation of the rules of commercial morality, but also of com-
mercial common sense, to think that the business can just as well be
done at arms length and without a personal acquaintance with the
buyer, as it can be by an interested party who is on the ground
continually has an intimate acquaintance with the purchaser, and
often has other ties and inducements which the manufacturer cannot
by any possibility have. But enough of this; it seems almost like
arguing that it is not good policy for a man to do himself a personal
injury, as to explain the evil of such courses which can have but one
result, viz., the exclusion from that market of the instruments of the
houses guilty of such a practice. This policy is seldom pursued in
the case of strong middle men, but advantage is usually taken of
some small agent, who has, by hard work, built up a good trade, and
when the proper time arrives the strong hand is put out to crush
him ; but frequently he proves, as "Carlyle" says, "electrical and a
torpedo."
There is another evil, common to other trades as well as that in
musical instruments, viz., the short-sighted policy of permitting the
quality of the instruments manufactured to deteriorate after a name
and reputation has been established for that particular brand, and
either to fight competition, or to make more money by lowering the
standard of the article without diminishing the price, the latter being
comparatively easy of accomplishment in consequence of the lack of
musical ability to judge on the part of the consumer, and the fact
that many of the small agents are practically in the hands of the
large manufacturers, and the cupidity of the larger agents can be
successfully appealed to.
This evil becomes more powerful from the fact, that there is a
strong effort being continually made by agents throughout the
country to widen the margin between the price at which they buy
the instruments and the price at which they sell them. To this the
manufacturers—particularly the smaller ones—are to a great extent
obliged to yield, as the agent is supposed to know better than anyone
else, how bad a piano it is possible to foist upon the buyer.
Many and various are the methods used to sell pianos, and one
with a humorous side to it was lately brought to our notice. A far-
mer came into the store of a conspicuous western dealer, accom-
panied by his daughter, and inquired what was the price of one of
•" them things," pointing at the same time to the pianos in the store ;
" from $225 to $550,'' was the answer. " Well," said the farmer,
" the school committee in our town have been putting music teachin'
into the school, and my gal can't keep up with her class unless
she has one of them things to practise on, and I'm bound to get one
for her if I have to sell a house to do it." Kesult of introducing music
teaching into the schools—a sale of a piano or organ, to every farmer
in that vicinity who has a daughter old enough to be taught music.
In the meantime the school committee, the teacher and the dealer,
have a perfect understanding with each other.
Another evil which has made itself conspicuous of late, and
is always coming to the front in the dull season of the year, or in
times of commercial depression, is the control of small manufacturers
to a large extent, and sometimes completely, by agents who have the
power and disposition to dictate to the small manufacturer what
kind of an instrument he shall make, very often against his better
•judgment; but as he is unable by reason of small capital to carry
his stock and pay his workmen during the dull season, he is obliged
to listen to the dictates of his agent, or give up his business alto-
gether. This has a still further tendency to depreciate the quality
of the instruments made, without lessening the price to the actual
user.
It would surprise one who has not an intimate acquaintance with
the trade to learn how much is done in the way of lowering the
quality of the instruments, but a little experience would quickly
show how it is that many good mechanics, wlio, after graduating
from some of the celebrated factories, fail to achieve either fortune
or reputation, w4iile others, who may not have as much skill in their
trade, succeed in making their name known all over the country.
The consequence to the consumer and to the trade cannot fail to be
disastrous in the end. The consumer pays, in many cases, a large to be
sum of money for an instrument which he has been literally hum-
bugged into buying, and his experience and suspicions react upon
the trade generally—the just and the unjust, the good and the bad
alike.
It may be asked, what is the remedy for such a diseased condi-
tion of the trade, and various solutions of the vexed question could
be proposed, but the most feasible one is a guild or union of all re-
spectable piano and organ makers, the guild or association to make
itself known through the medium of the press, and a written guar-
rantee to be given to the buyer by every house in the association.
" Why," said a small piano-maker in this city not long since, "if
I were to undertake to make a first-class piano, and used only the
9
best materials in its construction, I would not be able with my pres-
ent capital to carry on the business for six months, because I should
be obliged to sell all the pianos I made, at a loss, until I could con-
vince people that I made as good a piano as anybody, and there is so
much humbug about the business that I might never be able to con-
vince them of it."
CONCENTRATE YOUR ADVERTISING.
E are glad to note that a strong feeling is growing among the
members of the music trade, both in this city and others
that we have recently visited, against the unwarrantable number
and style of the demands made upon them by all sorts of advertising
schemers. Every fourth man in this country appears to be inflated
with the idea that it is his particular mission in life to start a news-
paper, a theatre programme, a guide book, etc., etc., ad nauseam,
and it is the belief of every such individual that the music trade is
the easiest of all to bleed, and can readily be made, by a sort of trans-
fusion process, to pour its life fluid into the advertising schemer's
pet projects.
There is no trade that depends more absolutely upon the publicity
given to its wares than the music trade, an4 there is no trade which,
in the aggregate, comprehends so little of the true science of adver-
tising as the music trade.
We urge the following bit of well meant elementary advice upon
our readers who are advertisers, and shall make no effort to sound
our own trumpet in connection therewith ;
Concentrate you advertising more. Select only the very best
mediums, and be absolutely sure they are the best mediums. Don't
try to split your advertising among several papers of a similiar class,
with the mistaken idea that you will thereby encourage competition
and break down rates. That which is cheap is never worth even the
small amount of money that is paid for it, and no man can afford to
build up and develop a paper worthy in every respect to represent
the music trades of this country unless he is liberally encouraged,
supported, and endorsed.
Think these matters over carefully, gentlemen of the music
trades; they are well worth your attention; for at present, you seem
disposed to fritter your money away after a fashion which cannot
produce good results, either foryou or anyone else.
W
IT will be seen by an article in another column of this paper, in
which Mr. Hale's remarks concerning a suit, said to have been
brought by him against the Piano Trade Union, are set forth, and in
which one of the leading members of the Piano Trade Union gives
his views upon the same subject, that there is a difference of opin-
ion concerning the buying up and owning of Coward Lockwood's
musical fly-sheet, by Mr. Hale. The member of the Piano Makers'
Union expresses the belief which has passed current for some time
with the entire trade, that this fly-sheet was run on Mr. Hale's
money, and entirely in his interests.
Coior was given to this belief by the fact, pretty well understood
in the trade, that very little or no money at all was spent by miscel-
laneous advertisers for their cards that appeared in the Lockwood
paper. Moreover, it seemed always ready to perform the most
menial service for Mr. Hale, whenever he lifted his finger.
Concerning the practice of publishing unpaid-for advertisements,
we speak more at length in another place, and now only wish to say
that we have hardly believed the report that Mr. Hale was backing
the Lockwood fly-sheet, because we have taken it for granted that
Mr. Hale would be just as shrewd and far-seeing in this case as in
most others.
Lately we have had pretty good proof—Mr. Hale's own word—
that he is not doing any newspaper backing just at present. One of
our staff had a conversation with him a few nights ago, in which
Mr. Hale denied that he, individually, had brought a suit against the
Piano Makers' Union. It was a rumor started by Lockwood's fly-
sheet, which, Mr. Hale remarked, "Was always getting things
wrong."
Mr. Hale also stated that he had sent a written communication,
ordering his advertising card to be taken out of this Lockwood fly-
sheet at least three months ago, but that so far not the slightest
attention had been paid to his peremptory order.
DAVIDSON.—Miss Florence E. Davidson, a young Brooklyn contralto,
who has studied in Milan and Paris, during the last three years, was expected
home last week in the steamship Egypt. She may appear in opera during
the season—or may not.
NETJENDORFF. —The prolific Adolph Neuendorff some years ago wrote a
symphony, which was duly performed once. Now he has finished another
symphony; this second work has this advantage over the first; nobody
has heard it yet.
THOMAS.—An English musician, in a letter to the London Musical
World, calls Theodore Thomas a native-born American. This is a mistake.
Mr. Thomas was born near Hamburg, Germany, and consequently not fit for
Presidential honors, unless his friends are powerful enough to change the
constitution of the United States.
lo
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
September 5th, 1880.
HoLZAPFEii.—A young lady, Mile. Katharina Holzapfel, arrived in New
York a few weeks ago. She is a German singer, has received her musical
education in Munich, and looks for ari engagement in the United States.
Unfortunately she does not sing in any other language but German, and we
do not see that there are great chances for her. German opera has been
dead in America for years, and there is hardly a manager who has the courage
to revive it, except J. C. Fryer, the "reliable" impresario.
OLD BACHELOR.—There is an organist in a San Francisco church who
seems to be a somewhat cynical old bachelor. After a marriage ceremony,
as the bridal party files out of the church, this organist is wont to merge the
jubilant strain of the "Wedding March" into the sad cadences of the hymn,
"Deluded souls who dream of Heaven."
RIALP.—Signor Rialp, the chorus master of Mr. Mapleson, arrived
here two weeks ago, with orders from his chief, to engage an extra chorus, and
to put " Mehpistophele " and " Rienzi " into immediate rehearsal. Boito's
opera will surely be given ; but about Wagner's work we have our doubts,
because Mapleson generally promises a bulk of new operas, and by-and-bye
the quantity dwindles down considerably.
A FATHER'S PRIDE.—A musician across the water (we mean one of the
two rivers) gave a chamber music concert, in which his daughter took the
piano part. The father admired the girl, and was sure of an artistic success,
but thought that at the same time he would reap some financial benefit.
The evening of the concert came, and the gross receipts amounted to $4.
The father was disappointed, but did not say a word. Two months later he
gave another concert, and invited a pianist from New York to assist. The
concert took place, gross receipts $3. On counting the receipts the father
followed the example, of Lord Admiral Porter, K. C. B.; his bosom swelled
with pride, and he said to one of his friends, with the air and gesture of a
ADELIKA PATTI.—The charming little diva holds her own against all the triumphant hero: "Well, Avho was right? Didn't I tell you that Lizzie
stars that appear from time to time upon the operatic horizon. Her voice draws better than these fellows from New York. I know what I am about,
was never fresher ; its timbre never purer, than now. If she comes to Amer- and the results have proved it." Happy father, who can delight in the
ica this season, opera-goers will have the rarest musical treat of their lives. achievements of his daughter to the value of one hundred cents.
NICOLAI.—We read the statement the other day, that Otto Nicolai's
GrLMORE.—Our special friend, P. S. Gilmore, has turned lecturer. Not
work, "The Merry Wives of Windsor," was essentially an unknown work satisfied with his positions as projector of jubilee festivals, bandmaster,
in New York. Why it should be so we do not know. Mdme. Lucca, Licht- propagator of Sunday services, manufacturer of national anthems, he lec-
may and Fabbri have sung in it so often in former years, that the opera will tured recently at Manhattan Beach, gratuitously, about the necessity of
be remembered by opera-goers of that time. Carl Formes, Herrmanns, and becoming acquainted with the use of life-preservers on board of steamboats.
Speigler, were the respective representatives of Falstaff.
Three seasons at the Beach have made Mr. Gilmore a nautical man.
HATJK.—The Whitehall Review publishes a long interview with Minnie
HONEST EMMA.—English contemporaries ridicule the modest title of
Hauk. If she could sing as well as talk she would be undoubtedly one of Miss Abbott's autobiography, " The Story of a Great Singer." The Amer-
the greatest living prime donne. But Minnie is too well known here, and ican prima donna is innocent of that crime. Her zealous manager, Morris-
everybody knows the capacities of the gifted American girl to their fullest sey, deserved the blame, if there is any.
extent.
BRAKDEIS.—Frederick Brandeis has devoted his summer leisure to the
BEAUHLAN.—Monsieur Gaston de Beauplan, ami intime of Mme. Ambre, composition of several works, which will be sent to the different orchestral
has become a manager, and will bring an opera troupe to New Orleans this conductors of this city in the course of the month. The conductors un-
winter. Last winter he was to be seen in the lobby of the Academy of Music, doubtedly feel happy, and the public happier ; but the happiest of all is
now and then delivering a lecture for the benefit of his friends. On one Brandeis himself, provided—his works written for orchestra are ever per-
occasion, when the "Magic Flute" was wretchedly given inside, and nobody formed.
cared to listen to the tedious performance, M. de Beauplan spoke on the sub-
GERSTER.—Mme. Etelka Gerster is expected here with her impresario ahead
ject of librettos, and made the very sensible remark, that three ideas had
always formed the best plots—the fantastic, the religious and the patriotic. of the rest of the Opera Company. Does she intend to enjoy the sea air for a
Witness for the first: "Robert de Diable ;" for the second, "Huguenots," few days, or has the manager graver reasons to bring her here in good time,
"Juive" and "Prophet;" for the third, " Massaniello " and " Guillaume before the subscription can be opened. " The burned child dreads the fire,"
Tell." It should be understood, that M. de Beauplan did not speak of the and New Yorkers were terribly disappointed last season, being compelled to
merits of the libretti as literary works, but only as being expressly manu- accept old Marimon for young Gerster.
factured to be set to music. M. de Beauplan, it is to be hoped, will show
ROSEWALD.—Mme. Julia Rosewald, a clever little singer, who achieved
common sense as a manager, as he shows intelligence in social intercourse ; great success in Stuttgart, Dresden, and other larger German cities, has re-
but it will take a great deal of common sense to carry a season of live months turned to this city, and accepted an engagement with Emma Abbott's Opera
successfully in New Orleans, with 110 people expressly imported from Company. We are sorry not to see Mme. Rosewald in better company, but
Europe.
we suppose that the old story holds good here again : " Love of money is the
J.—What is August Wilhemlj going to do next season ? All root of all evil."
KING.—Mr. Frank King, manager of the Rive-King Concerts, has been
the projects about big combinations have been, of course, abandoned again,
and we should not wonder, to learn that the sturdy German violinist goes for weeks on the lookout for a soprano for his concerts. He was very par-
again West on his own chances. It is beyond doubt, that in such case he ticular as to talent and price, and it had become a standing joke among his
will skip some of the smaller places, which did not prove satisfactory last friends, that he wanted to have Adelina Patti for $50 a week, to sing every
winter. We are informed, that on one occasion the gross receipts amounted night. Now, of late, he has engaged Mile. Bellini, who, although not quite
to $14, and when the money was counted over, the treasurer of the troupe up to the standard of La Patti, is said to be an excellent artist ; but if you
made the unpleasant discovery, that he had taken in a nickel fifty-cent piece, ask King in regard to price, he makes a wry face. So we suppose he had to
leaving only $13.50, an amount, which is not in conformity with Mr. Wilhelmj 's come down handsomely.
talent.
RUMMEL.—Franz Rummel, the young energetic pianist, is expected here
PATTISON.—Joseffy wants to play the Henselt Concerto next season. on the 10th inst., and will, of course, get immediately in trim for the season.
John N. Pattison thought that he held a lease on that piece for 99 years, Rummel has many personal friends, and is sure to make his mark again
and now feels grieved that his rights are infringed upon by a new comer. this season.
We understand Pattison's feeling, but he may find consolation in the thought
MOROSINI.—The Italian pianist, G. Morosini, has opened a music school,
that no other pianist will ever touch the "Storm Petrel ?"
and has added singing classes to his institute. Does he teach singing him-
COPLESTON.—Among the young rising artistes who claim public attention, self ? He observes a modest silence on that point.
is the pianiste, Miss Florence Copleston, who works her way slowly but
German violinist, Reinhard Richter, arrived here a few
surely into the favor of the musical community. She is a hard-studying days RICHTER.—A
and will be considered a valuable acquisition. Richter, when
girl, and her laudable ambition is shown by the fact that she has announced quite ago,
young, showed himself very talented, and studied with Professor
three piano recitals in November.
Adolph Griinwald in Berlin. He has of late occupied a prominent position
LEVY.—Juda Levy, the cornet player, has been engaged for the Metro- in one of the Imperial orchestras at St. Petersburg.
politan Concert Hall, after having finished his seaside engagement. The
DOLARO.—The lady by that name, rede Simmonds, nom de guerre Selina
patrons of that hall will get more of " Sweet Sixteen " than they may care Dolaro,
last winter at the Italian opera under Mapleson's manage-
to listen to. Aronson keeps the valse on the programme, and Levy has it ment for appeared
$3 and $3.50 a seat. After two " Carmen " performances she
added to his rich (?) repertoire. So we shall get it in double shape. But returned to
England, and will now make her appearance here as an opera
twice 16 make 32 ; and old maids have lost their sweet charms at that age.
bouffe singer at theatre prices. We doubt her abilities even in that sphere,
BLXJMENBEKG.—A young violoncellist, by the name of Louis Blumenberg, although she may have some qualifications for the lower grade of comedy.
of Baltimore, is expected here in New York, and will probably be engaged as Whether she is going to take up her residence at the Westminster Hotel or
a member of one of the most conspicuous concert companies. Mr. Blumen- not we are riot informed.
berg is a talented young man, and a good performer on his instrument.
AiiVES.—Mr. Carl Alves announces that his method of teaching singing
FERRANTI.—The juvenile baritone-buffo, Pietro Ferranti, has written a pays particular attention to the "formation of a correct taste." We are sorry
new valse for cornet-a-piston, which he will dedicate to Levy, Arbuckle, that Mr. Alves has not added a clearer definition of what he considers " cor-
Liberati, Hoch, Shoebruck, Bent, and some other renowned performers. rect taste," for it may happen that opinions will differ, and others may call
The valse is called "My Nina." Who is "My Nina?" is the general ques- bad what he considers correct. We do not think that there can be any possi-
tion. But Ferranti, in spite of his youth and inexperience in re amoris, can bility of speaking of a correct taste at all, for we may remind him of the old
keep a secret, and is not willing to betray the identity of his fair beloved. Latin words, " De gustibus non est disputandum." Where and what is the
We hope that "My Nina" will enjoy the homage of her ardent lover.
correct taste in Art, which leaves such an enormous field for diversity ?
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