October 5th, 188&
NEW
PUBLICATIONS.
H. BOLLMAN & SONS, St. Louis, Mo.
DR. M. H. WILCOX. "Jesus, lover of my Soul." Solo and Quartette.
The piece may be written in a Christian spirit, but it lacks the musical spirit,
and should be criticised by a clergyman. The notation of the soprano part
in the alto key looks exceedingly funny, and was about all we could consider
enjoyable in the composition.
OLIVEE DITSON & CO., Boston, Mass.
L. O. EMEESON.
"Song Bells." A valuable music-book for public
schools and juvenile singing classes, to which is prefixed a complete course
of elementary instructions, and a variety of one, two, three and four-part
songs.
"W. S. TILDEN,
" The Welcome Chorus." A collection of elementary
rules, practical studies in notation, anthems, choruses, part songs, etc,
CH. TOURVH/LE. Under the collective heading, " Joyful Moments," popu-
lar subjects have been easily arranged for the piano. We have received the
4th Bolero, by Ley back, and " Grand Polka de Concert," by Wallace. The
collection seems to be more entertaining than instructive.
A. BOITO. " Mefistofele." Potpourri.
A selection of the principal
themes of the opera, which is to be performed this season by two opera
troupes. The publication undoubtedly will have a very brisk sale after the
opera has been performed.
A. BOITO. "Mefistofele." Aria.
A very good edition of the aria.
" L 'altra notte," with English and Italian words. The aria demands an artist
with good style and remarkable execution.
DUDLEY BUCK. " When the Heart is Young." Song. Of course, an
earnest work, as is to bo expected from the reputation of the composer.
Only in regard to conception the song seems weak, and the writer becomes
dramatic and passionate where we cannot find any reason for these outbursts.
The last bars of the song would be more adapted for operatic purposes.
T. P. SKELLY. " The Old Maple Tree in the Lane." Song and Chorus.
Let us hope that the old maple tree has been cut down before this song was
written. I t would have been too terrible, if it had existed, to witness the
disgrace.
SUPPE. "Boccaccio." Simpleton Song. An insignificant song, hardly
worth printing as sheet-music, but for the fact that Dexter Smith has fur-
nished the adaptation. Dexter Smith—Simpleton.
G. F. WILSON. "Excelsior." Grand March. It is fortunate the composer
himself calls his March "Excelsior." We are afraid that his opinion will
not find a numerous support. There is a great deal of noise in the composi-
tion, but no originality.
WAIDTEUFEL. "Entrenous." Valse. We always thought that Wald-
teufel was an over-rated man, and this valse is hardly apt to change our opin-
ion. There is a certain routine in the man, but his valses lack dash and
brilliancy. Tne introduction to " E n t r e nous " has no connection with the
valse proper, and could be just as well left out.
C. H. DITSON & CO., New York.
J. EESCH. "Snow Flakes."
Valse. A lively, tuneful set of valse
movements, which are pleasing and unpretentious at the same time.
E. CHOLMELEY JONES. "Heartsease." Gavotte. So many gavottes have
been written of late that the public has become tired of the genre, so much
more, as most of these gavottes do not offer any thing new in style. " Hearts-
ease " belongs to this majority.
G. D. BUSSELL, Boston, Mass.
FRANK H. BRACKETT.
15
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
" Among the Lilies."
Song.
NEW MUSICAL
INVENTIONS.
PREPARED EXPRESSLY FOR THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE EEVIEW, BY
PARK BENJAMIN & BRO., EXPERTS IN PATENTS,
50 ASTOR HOUSE, NEW YORK.
The following new musical devices have recently been patented :
No. 232,346.
UPRIGHT PIANOFORTE.
Mr. Abraham Felldin, of Brooklyn, N. Y., uses a single key to operate
two hammers, which strike two separate scales of strings—a scale being
placed on each side of the Upright piano frame. To do this and also to se-
cure the juxtaposition of two strings of the same tone, plates are connected
together at a suitable distance to enclose between them the sounding board.
The scale is made ascending from left to right on one side, and the reverse
on the other. There are two actions by which either scale may be separately
played upon, or both scales may be coupled, so as to be operated from a
single key-board. In this way novel, but sound effects may be produced.
No. 231,978.
MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
One of the difficulties found in the use of automatic musical instruments
of the orguinette class, is stated to be that of conveying the perforated strip
of paper evenly, or so that it will always correspond with certain notes of the
reed board. Mr. Oliver H. Arno, of Boston, Mass., proposes to remedy this
by using a removable guideway in connection with the pay-out and take-up
rolls ; also by fixing the reed-block between parallel arms which hook over
pins in the guideway. Two guide rollers are employed to hold the paper
over the block. The pay-out and take-up rolls are connected by a belt, the
pulley for which on the full roll is provided with a spring, which allows of
a certain amount of slipping, and thus enables the paper always to be kept
taut.
No. 232,165.
Another device for which the same inventor has obtained a separate
patent, is an automatic opening or closing of the valve of a reed organ, by
levers in connection with the moving perforated strip of paper, so that musi-
cal compositions can be played on the instrument by simply turning a crank.
No. 232,269.
FOLDING PIANO.
People who live in modern French flats or other contracted quarters will
be likely to appreciate Mr. A. H. Hastings' recently patented folding piano,
as it tends to save room. Mr. Hastings swings the key-board front, music
rest and panel on centres, so that the whole, when not in use, can be turned
over into a recess made in the case. A centre-plate and brake are provided
to steady the key-board in its movement and a lock to secure it in the recess.
No. 232,231.
FINGER EXERCISING MACHINE.
Mr. Francis L. Becker, of Galveston, Texas, thinks that present piano
finger exercises are tedious, in which view most young pupils will be apt cor-
dially to agree with him. He has the further idea that the best way to get
over this trouble is to take some work off of the learner and throw it on the
piano. Consequently he has patented an arrangement which makes the keys
exercise the fingers, something after the fashion of the Swedish movement
cure machines. The wrist is placed in a rest and the fingers are adjusted on
the keys ; then suitable rollers beneath the latter, which may be varied in
position, cause the rise and falling of the keys and the consequent bending
of the fingers. If all finger-movement in piano playing were limited in ex-
tent to the amount of depression of a key, this device might answer; but as
it is not, we rather doubt the efficacy of the apparatus.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.
PORT OF N E W YORK.
Week ending Sept. 20, 1880.
Exports.
A composition of
Value.
London, 6 organs, .
Bremen, 4 organs,
$650
Liverpool, 3 organs,
British W . Indies, 2 organs, . . .
58
"
2 organs,
Porto Rico, 1 piano,
100
Central America, 1 mus'l instru'ts, .
90
Total,
China, 6 organs,
3*5
Hamburg, 12 organs,
1,212
EASY SONATAS FOR PIANO. Among this collection we find sonatina op.
Imports.
136 No. 2 in G, by Carl Beinecke, fconatina op. 66 No. 3 in G, by H. Lichner,
Musical
instruments,
212,
and sonatina op. 125 No. 2 in C, by G. Merkel. The collection is very valu-
Week ending Sept. 27.
able to young piano students, and has been carefully revised and fingered.
Value.
$240
290
. 1,000
pleasing qualities, although not specially original. Baritones will find it
effective for concert purposes.
V. CIEILLO. " As the Angels Love." Song. This author has a gift for
writing romances, which are well suited to the voice of the performer, and
pleasant to the ear of the listener. This song is no exception.
CARL BEINECKE. " Five Little Piano Pieces." Composed in a manner
which will entertain and instruct children at the same time.
F. A. MULLER. "Sarah Bernhardt Waltzes." A set of valses, which
bear on the title page the portrait of the great French artist. This is about
the only merit of the composition. We are afraid that people will say of the
valses, as they say of the prototype : " Too thin !"
ARTHUR HENSHAW. " Where the Angels Stay." Cradle Song. As angels
have wings, they most probably will fly away when they hear this song; we
cannot blame them, but only wish that we could follow them as quickly as
possible.
C. WOLSIEFFEE & CO., Philadelphia, Pa.
P. M. WOLSIEFPER, JR. "Philadelphia Guide Waltzes." The title page
kindly informs us that this valse is played by all the leading orchestras
throughout the United States. If such be the case, the leaders of these lead-
ing orchestras must have very bad taste. An insignificant introduction,
followed by a hackneyed set of waltzes, of common melody and cheap
texture.
.
$3,955
$21,876
Exports.
Dutch West Indies, 1 piano,
Hamburg,' 2 pianos,
Bremen, 30 organs
Rotterdam, 5 organs,
Australia, 49 organs
Mexico, 3 pianos
Africa, 1 organ
.
.
$250 U. S. Columbia, 3 organs, . .
"
"
13 orguinettes,
1,400
. . . .
2,400 London, 37 organs,
550 Glasgow, 1 organ,
2,417 Liverpool, 3 orguinettes, . . .
i,6co
66
Total,
125
>i45
5°
170
$14,326
Imports.
Musical instruments, 130,
$16,783
PORT OF BOSTON.
Week ending Sept. 17, 1880.
Exports.
Nora Scotia, etc., pianos,
.
.
$600
Imports.
. $1,394
England, musical instruments,
Week ending Sept. 24.
Exports.
THE GAZETTE.
England, organs, . . .
Br. Poss, in Africa, organs,
W. H. Manby, Lancaster, Pa., pianos ; sold out by constable.
Thos. S. Constantine, Chicago, 111., veneering ; judgment, $2,325.
gage, $9,000.
Lynch & Gomien, New York City, pianos ; judgment $222.
Chattel mort-
574
1.445
$7,186
Total
Imports.
England, musical instruments,