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VOL. XVI. No. 20.
published Every Saturday.
A NEW WORK ON THE PIANO—MISS FANNY MOR-
RIS SMITH'S BOOK—CHRISTMAS ISSUES OF
TRADE JOURNALS—CHEAP PIANOS IN
OMAHA—AN INJUSTICE TO DEAL-
ERS—THE EXHIBITION AWARDS
AND THINGS—MR. THACHER
AND THE " E X P E R T "
QUESTION.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE MODUS OPERANDI—A
MINNEAPOLIS GENERAL GOODS CONCERN
AND PIANOS—THE " INDICATOR " LETS
OFF SOME SHAFTS OF WIT.
NOBLE ART," by Miss Fanny Morris
Smith, is a little work dealing with the
development and construction of the piano, re-
cently published by Schirmer, Union Square.
In its pages Miss Smith leads up to the " Stein-
way, " which she eloquently holds forth as the
acme of excellence. While, on the whole, a
very creditable attempt to divulge and exem-
plify the mysteries of scientific piano making,
the work, originally composed as a series of
lectures, is here and there marked by crude
observations and innocent blunders which a
more practical knowledge of the subject would
render impossible. From her we learn that
"the purity of a pianist's tone depends very
much upon the rapidity with which the finger
attacks the key.'' That is somewhat on a par
with high-class critical remarks upon piano per-
formances wherein we are gravely informed that
Smith's tone "was full and sonorous, " or that
Brown's tone '' was sympathetic and marked by
considerable individuality," etc. The fact is
that the pianist has absolutely no direct con-
nection with the strings in the sense that a
violinist has with the violin bow. He cannot
affect the tone of the piano, for were a connec-
tion established between his finger and the
strings the hammer would block the latter. It
is to avoid this unpleasant contingency '' escape-
ment " is employed, and " escapement " cuts
off the connection of the finger just before the
hammer touches the strings, and the consequence
is that a great part of the force of the blow is
spent on the key bottom on which the key falls.
If Miss Smith can remedy that drawback and
give a pianist a direct connection with the
strings with the power of avoiding '' blocking,''
she will have won a fortune and crowned her-
YorK, Deeember 24, 1892.
self with glory. These, however, are really
small points and in no way detract from her
distinguished and earnest investigations.
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Miss Smith beholds the material operations
of piano making and the members of the Piano
Makers' Union through an idealized and ecstatic
vision. It is kind of her to give the working-
men a share in the general glory, but I confess
that this is hard upon the latter : " In the hour
when I saw this, the walls of the factory wherein
I stood stretched upward to the grandeur of
God's temple ; and the wrinkled face of the
workman beside me, his eyes resting lovingly
and proudly on the beauties of the action before
us, became glorified in a priesthood whose
majesty he knew not. It is the wonder and
pathos of life that they who serve its deepest
mysteries—yes, even the holy of holies—have
no significant initiation, no outward badge.
Their badge is but toil's superscription in the
lines of face and form ; their initiation but the
long discipline of faithful labor. Theirs is but
a matter of regulating a few springs and levers,
but the levers are among those which lift human-
ity." Some of these boys can lift a beer can,
too, in excellent style while performing the
sacred rites ascribed to them by Miss Smith in
her magnificent eulogy. Miss Smith will be
styled a socialist if she gets out anything more
in that fervid and burning way concerning piano
makers—I mean the workmen. I wonder
whether she ever considered the business of
selling one of those things that'' lift humanity,''
or ever allowed her spiritual eye to take in the
operation of selling a $200 piano for $400 spot
cash.
I must, however, despite this attempt at
humor, commend Miss Smith's remarkable and
earnest study of the piano in the warmest man-
ner. It does her research and labor much credit,
and should find a wide sale among professional
musicians and throughout the piano trade. In
holding up the '' Stein way '' as the highest
example of art in piano construction, she is
amply justified by those scientific and practical
demonstrations which have rendered that in-
strument famous throughout the world.
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We are all familiar with the Courier's abuse
of Christmas issues of music trade papers.
From an equal familiarity with the adjustable
principles of that journal and its editor-in-chief,
nothing it does in the way of inconsistency sur-
prises us. Therefore the appearance of a Christ-
mas number of the Courier is not extraordinary,
although I confess that I, for many reasons, was
somewhat surprised at its publication, notwith-
standing the elasticity of conscience prevailing
in that direction. The musical department is
very excellent and the whole issue is a very
creditable holiday publication, although its
editors will insist upon dubbing it a "special."
The "specials " of that journal will soon be a
greater bore than Christmas numbers, for they
J3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
appear upon every favorable pretext. But then
Mr. Blumenberg works for the glory of art and
the advancement of American music, and is not
'' after '' lucre like those bad people who get up
holiday issues.
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Hayden Brothers, of Omaha, Neb., announce
through the Sunday Bee, of that city, that they
sell upright pianos for $195, "new full scale
standard instruments, fully warranted. " They
also advertise that they sell '' twenty other
styles at all prices up to the finest grand Chick -
ering." The question is: What instruments
are those advertised for $195 ? How can a de-
partment house sell anything worthy the name
of piano for that figure without cutting down
the profits which legitimate dealers are entitled
to? Some movement should be organized to
prevent such people from handling pianos to the
injury of dealers at large.
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Again the question of awards ! The matter
has been decisively settled and the next important
move will be the selection of judges. "We
shall secure expert judges in every case " says
Mr. Thacher. '' Our aim will be to get men
the simple announcement of whose names will
inspire confidence among exhibitors. It may
be said that we cannot secure these men, but
our committee is confident that they can be had.
The judges will be appointed by the awards com-
mittee in connection with Director-General
Davis." The character of the awards shall be
as follows : '' Awards shall be granted upon
specific points of excellence or advancement,
formulated in words by the board of judges or
examiners who shall be competent experts.''
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Here are a few more particulars :
The executive committee on awards, through
its regularly appointed judges, shall have the
right to examine every exhibit, domestic or
foreign, whether presented by an individual,
association of individuals, institution, govern-
ment or department thereof; but mention shall
only be made of those exhibits presenting meri-
torious character and excellence.
The work of the judges shall commence not
later than the first day of June, 1893, and shall
progress uninterruptedly until the completion
of the work assigned them, except in the de-
partment of live stock and in those departments
where the nature of the exhibits requires re-
newal from time to time during the exposition.
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Upon the completion of the work of the j udges,
and after its confirmation by the executive com-
mittee on awards, the awards shall be decreed,
and there shall be a formal and public announce-
ment of the awards made.
In addition to the reports by the individual
judges on the various exhibits, each of the thir-
teen committees shall present a comprehensive
report, signed by the president and secretary,
{Continued on page 415.