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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
230
THEY TAKE THE LEAD AGAIN.
GREAT SUCCESS OF THE JEOLIAN ORGAN AND
MUSIC COMPANY.
PIANO-PLAYING BY ELECTRICITY.
The Most Difficult Compositions Accurately and
Brilliantly Performed Toy an Invisible
Power.
SENSATION OF T H E DAY.
N any proper tabulation of the most successful firms
of musical instrument manufacturers in the United
Slates, a very high position must be assigned to the
./Eolian Organ and Music Co. of New York city. For
many years their products have merited the approval of
the connoisseur and elicited the admiration of the pub-
lic. Thousands of persons to whom music is a joy and a
blessing, lack even the crudest knowledge of the musical
art, and to such the yEolian Organs have proved a boon.
The music produced by these wonderful mechanisms is
sweet, melodious, and cheering to the highest degree.
From a structural point of view their exteriors are hand-
some and enduring. They combine, in short, the useful
with the beautiful.
To so high a level have this popular and eminent
firm attained that to speak now-a-days of the yEolian
Organ & Music Co. is to convey the idea of soundness,
reliability, and honorable standing. Like their instru-
ments, they are everywhere regarded with confidence
and admiration. Consequently, when we say that they
are about to transcend their former fame by the intro-
duction of a more wonderful musical invention than any
hitherto brought out by them, our readers will be con-
sumed with anxiety and curiosity to be informed as to
their latest marvel.
This truly extraordinary production is known as The
yEolian Piano. We have good reason for being some-
what impressed by it. A certain member of our staff,
more or less superstitiously inclined, was recently in-
vited to visit the Company's factory in Twenty-fourth
street. As he emerged from the semi-darkness of the
stairway into the work-shop, the tones of a piano, upon
which was being plaved "Home, Sweet Home," with
variations by Thalberg, pleasantly greeted his ears.
Proceeding to the spot from which the music apparently
came, a strange and weird vision met his gaze. There
was the piano, certainly, but where was the pianist?
Moreover, the instrument was closed, The fall-board
was down, not a single human being was in sight, and
yet from this very piano were evolved the most delight-
ful chords. Our terror-stricken quill-driver, who has
faced death by sea and land with equanimity, flew to
the door, with the view of rushing to the nearest corpse-
reviving establishment. Suddenly a voice arrested him
in his downward career. " By the Holy Piper, that is
great!" Slightly re-assured, the seeker after stimulants
and knowledge turned, and beheld another visitor, who
had evidently fallen through the roof. "What do you
think of it?" " Hut what in the name of the saints is
it?" quoth the wondering scribe. " Spooks," replied the
other visitor, lifting the fall-board, whereupon the keys
were observed to be in full operation. " Do not be
alarmed," said the informant, "the name of the spook
is Electricity." A long sigh of relief escaped the dazed
one as the light began to dawn upon him. The hidden
battery and wires were now exposed, and attention was
directed to the roller round which the perforated paper
was pursuing its path of duty. " Home, Sweet Home"
having died upon the welkin, a Tarantelle by S. B. Mills
and a " Moise de Rossini" were played; other difficult
pieces following. Every composition.no matter.how
difficult or how simple, may be performed by the all-
potent electric agent. The perforated sheets are pre-
pared on the premises.
When not in operation, there is nothing about this
piano to indicate that it differs in any respect from an
ordinary one. It can, in fact, be performed upon by
hand in the usual way. When played by the electric
current, however, it would §• hard for a blind music-
ian, no matter how competent, to decide whether or not
it is operated by manual or electric force. While the
tone may be to some extent modified by the use of the
pedals, still further modification is obtained by an in-
genious device which influences the force of the current,
and renders possible fine pianossimo, fortissimo, cre-
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scendo and diminuendo effects. By another contrivance
the necessary changes of time from adagio to prestissi-
mo, and otherwise, are produced with an accuracy not to
be exceeded by the most accomplished pianist. The
current can of course be cut off at pleasure, just as an
electric light is extinguished.
The invention will be a Godsend for such occasions
as balls and parties at which no musician is present, in
homes that lack pianists, and at various other times and
seasons. Apart from the electrical arrangement, the
instrument is in every particular a first-class piano.
This, however, is a superfluous observation, for it is
well and widely known that the ^Eolian Organ and
Music Company turn out nothing that is not perfect of
its kind, and that they do not cater to any but the very
best trade. The Company will undoubtedly create an
extraordinary sensation with this astonishing invention.
WESTERN NEWS.
[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.!
CHICAGO, January 31, 1889.
There arrived in this city a week ago one of the most
valuable and interesting antiquities in the field of musi-
cal lore. I refer to the score and libretto of the first
opera ever performed, (the copy being one of the origi-
nal first edition, and the only one in existence at the
present time, although a later edition of the same work
is in the British Museum,) " L'Euridice," composed by
Jacapo Peri, and libretto by Octavao Pinuccini, in honor
of the wedding of Maria Medici, Queen of France and
Navarre. The opera was written at Florence in the
year 1600 and was printed by Marescotti. The work
is now the property of the Newberry Library As-
sociation of Chicago, and was purchased from Count
Pio Resse of Florence, together with about 500 other
musical works. When the collection is completed this
library will contain over 3,000 volumes of musical lore.
While on the subject of archaeology I might refer to
some old time instruments mentioned in a catalogue of
a musical museum in Florence, known as the " Musee
Kraus." Possibly every instrument used by every
nationality, civilized and savage, is mentioned in the
catalogue. Of course I was more interested in the piano
representation, and noted that the oldest piano model
was that of Cristofori of Firenze, A. D. 1711; one by
Marius of Paris, I7i6,and one from Dresden, 1721. The
oldest piano-forte was one invented and constructed by
Cristofori in 1726. Old time pianos by Longman &
Broderip, of London; Hoffman, of Vienna, and Pleyel,
of Paris, were mentioned. What a grand place the
" Musee Kraus" would be for an American to place an
upright or grand piano to show the great advance from
the infancy of the art of piano making to the present
seeming state of perfection. I could fill several columns
with matter pertaining to old musical books, etc., on
this wonderful " grotto " but, of course, these matters
are only of secondary interest to the trade.
As to the condition of business in Chicago, dealers
disagree more or less, a few reporting quietness, but the
majority are satisfied with the aggregate transactions.
Manufacturers are all busy add the prospects are en-
couraging in this line. C. A. Smith & Coi will probably
turn out one thousand pianos during the current year.
The Story & Clark Organ Co. are very busy as usual.
W. D. Caldwell is "doing" the South and Capt. M. C.
Christy, of Des Moines, the States of Missouri and
Kansas for the S & C. organs. Phil. Stark recently re-
turned from Michigan.
Mr. George Schleiffarth, the well known composer and
expert salesman, who has been with A. H. Rintleman &
Co. for some time past, is about consummating other
arrangements and will, in all probability, be found here-
after with the Chicago branch of the B. Shoninger Co.
Mr. S. is a genial, popular gentleman, a fine performer
and one who will do a power of good for any house
with which he is connected.
The removal of the main house of Brainard & Sons
from Cleveland to Chicago is an important addition to
our business world. The Company find that they can
publish their music at least twenty-five percent, cheaper
in Chicago; facilities are more adequate, and the saving
resulting from the consolidation of the Chicago and
Cleveland houses will be very great. The presses, type,
etc., of the concern will all be sold and the printing
henceforth be done on contract. The Chicago house,
under the able management of Mr. Albright, had in-
Established 1865.
F. RADLE,
DESKS,
Scroll, Band and Circular Sawing, Variety Moulding,
ENGRAVED PANELS AND PIANO TRUSSES,
611 West 36th Street, Between irtli & 12th Avenues,
USTIEW
OPEEA PIANO!
I I
The finest Upright Pianos in the market. First-class
and at a moderate price. Some unoccupied territory
left. Prices and terms on application
,
% %
PEEK & S O N , Manufacturers,
212 to 216 WEST 47th ST., NEW YORK.