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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW/.
Qomplimer;t
it is young America that sends us treasures,
namely, the property of the art patron, M.
Steinert, from Boston and New Haven.
THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PIANO.
When the call of the Princess Pauline von
Metternich was first issued to all people of the
following article, " The Historical De- earth to send their exhibits to the International
velopment of the Pianoforte,'' appeared in Exhibition of music and drama, it was also
the Atisttian News of Music and Drama, Vienna, heard in America. Mr. Director Heinrich Con-
August, 1892. Being highly complimentary to ried, in New York, whose labors in America in
our fellow-citizen, Mr. M. Steinert, it has been behalf of the German dramatic art are well
known, was nominated as a commissioner, and
translated for the Union by S. Spier, Esq. :
•'If a professional musician strolls through displayed great zeal in this matter, and he suc-
the magnificent exhibition he beholds with ceeded in obtaining Mr. M. Steinert's consent to
astonishment the great collection of musical send a part of his celebrated collection of old-
instruments that have been sent here from the keyed instruments from there to Vienna.
"The collection of M. Steinert contains in its
art museums of all countries. It almost appears
like as if a pilgrimage of instruments had taken present completeness 100 exhibits of all kinds
place to the Mecca, to this temple of art, under of keyed instruments, dating from the thirteenth
the majestic canopy of the rotunda pointing century to the year 1825. Only the pedagogical
heavenward. Here, for the first time in the part of the collection is now at Vienna, and
history of music, we find united in peaceful with it is its owner, Mr. M. Steinert, who un-
harmony the most hidden treasures that for derstands how to explain these old construc-
centuries rested in deep solitude—instruments tions scientifically, and also knows how to play
of all nations that all at once, as by the touch on them in masterly style, which latter fact is
of the magician's wand, had been transported of the utmost importance in the field of former
to a new world. All these wonderful treasures Polyphony and in the works of Bach for piano,
were resting in quiet concealment in museums as they were written, as every one knows, ex-
and cells of monasteries, their faces were cover- clusively for the clavichord."
(Here follows a description of the instruments
ed with the black veil of silent stillness of the
grave, although an ideal soul life slumbered in of Mr. Steinert's collection, with illustrations,
them. Where are the sweet sounds their maker which are not published for want of space).
" Now it might be of interest to our honored
in days gone by could breathe into them ? What
has become of the mechanism that formerly lent readers to find a few biographical sketches of
Morris Steinert in the following :
life to the work ?
'' The keys that once served the player to
"Morris Steinert, born March 9th, 1831, at
entice living tones from the lifeless instrument Scheinfeld, near Wuerzburg, in Bavaria, left Ms
have grown yellow, and the strings once full of home as a young man of 23 years, and emigrated
melody are eaten away by modern rust.
to America, where he officiated for some time as
'' Suddenly there appeared like a superterres- violoncellist in the New York opera and also in
trial fairy the art loving Princess Pauline von
Metternich, and her magic call awoke them all
THE
from far and near to one great union, to a mag-
nificent ascension. And thus we find now here
in this exhibition the art historical collections
of instruments of the imperial House of Haps-
burg, of the princely family Eszterhazy, known
for its devotion to art; also those of many arch-
dukes and notabilities of the Austro-Hungarian
empire ; also the wonderful collection of the
house of Rothschild, the precious treasures of
art of the German empire, the private collections
of the Queen of England and of the Prince of
Wales, etc., and the extensive collection from
Great Britain. Also France, Russia, Spain, etc.,
are represented here. Also the treasures of the
musical and singing societies of Vienna, especi-
ally valuable in a historical sense, amongst
them the original instruments of composers and
musicians, such as Bach, Handel, Haydn,
Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn,
MANUFACTURERS OF
Chopin, Schumann, and such composers as
Donizetti, Meyerbeer and others. Worthy of
consideration are the private collections of the
active Mr. DeWitt from Leipsic. Full of won-
FACTORY :
der we stroll from one collection to the other
and our eye feasts on the instruments that are
DERBY, CONN.
beautifully decorated with pictures, whose outer
It is admitted by all that no piano ever put upon the
appearance has been enhanced by the painter's
market
has met with such success as THE STERLING
skillful hand, until we suddenly arrive at a point
which we may consider as the terminus of our and thousands will testify to their superiority of work-
journey. What does this place contain ? Is it manship and durability. Why ? Because they are made
ancient Rome, or Greek Athens, which as the just as perfect as a piano can be made.
celebrated homes of ancient art sent us treasures?
THE STERLING ORGAN has always taken the lead, and
Is it the repository of a monarch or the collec- the improvements made this year puts it far ahead of
tion of a European museum ? No, it is none of
all others. &$f Send for Catalogue.
these. It is the contribution of a new country ;
(\\r.
Sterling Company,
Pianos and Organs,
Uallet 4 Davis Pianos
public concerts. Afterwards he went to the
Southern states as organist and piano teacher,
and married there; and at the breaking out of
the war between the North and the South, he
gave up his position in order to officiate again
as a musician in New York.
" This work as a musician, however, was det-
rimental to his bodily health, and, following
the advice of his physician, he assumed a new
occupation, which consisted in this : that Mr.
Steinert accepted the agency of the celebrated
piano factory of Steinway & Sons, of New York,
and other great firms for the New England and
Western states. His energetic zeal was quickly
crowned with great success, so that he was soon
enabled to open branch stores in seven different
cities in America, for each one of his grown-up
sons, under the firm name of M. Steinert &
Sons Company.
'' This piano business is at present one of the
greatest and most celebrated in the world.
'' During his leisure hours the founder of this
world-reputed firm occupies himself with his
beloved art; and as his state of health does not
permit him to the continuous practice of music,
he has given his attention more particularly to
the collection of old musical instruments, and
it can be well said of him, that at present, he
possesses the largest collection of old keyed in-
struments. Mr. Steinert sacrificed much time
and labor, and thus, through many journeys
through America and Europe, he gained posses-
sion of all these precious treasures- But he was
not satisfied like the average collectors and mu-
seums, to obtain these old broken instruments
merely for inspection. No! His aim was
higher, more ideal. He inspired new life into
these old instruments, by means of thorough
repairs, and he then carefully proceeded to study
gradually their character of tone, in order to be
able to play them in the spirit of former times,
in which effort he was materially assisted by his
wonderful talent of improvisation, so that at
present he stands unsurpassed in this highly
interesting field. As has been stated before
Mr. Steinert is now a guest within our walls,
as a disinterested interpreter of an epoch
of art which was almost believed to be lost.
Musicians and friends of art can surely expect
an artistic treat while inspecting the incompara-
ble collection of Mr. Steinert."—New Haven
Union.
Dyer 9 JHu
of the handsomest pianos we have ever
^53 seen is on exhibition in the rooms of
Hughes, the music dealer. It was manufac-
tured by Dyer & Hughes, of Foxcroft, and has
a polished mahogany frame. On the front the
music rest and side panels, which are usually
made with open fret-work, are solid, and on the
polished surface is engraved handsome bunches
of Scotch thistles. Mr Hughes informs us that
the company will engrave any other design for
purchasers that they may desire. For instance,
an Englishman can have a rose, an Irishman a
shamrock, a Welshman a leek, a Frenchman a
lily, or a Yankee anything he may desire.
This new idea is a great improvement over the
old style, as it does not collect and retain the
dust as the open work does.—Exchange.
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