Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
T2
DECKER PROS,
HONORED,
4 POINTS OP SUPERIORITY
OF THE
f\ Qo\d [f\eda\ for tl?e Jai)Ko Keyboard. Q g l p l ) T g l . " t e d
THE REPORT.
OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE,
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND THE ARTS,
PHILADELPHIA, September 6, 1893.
Report No. 172$. Subject: Von Janko's Im-
provements in Piano Keyboards.
The Committee on Science and Arts, consti-
tuted by the Franklin Institute of the State of
Pennsylvania, for the promotion of the Mechanic
Arts, to which was referred for examination
Paul Von Janko's Improvements in Piano Key-
boards,
REPORTS : That this invention has for its
object a better arrangement of the keys of a
piano, so that the intervals may be shortened in
order that the reach of the hand may easily
compass a chord greater than the octave, and
also that the fingering may be very much sim-
plified, rendered less fatiguing, and that the
ability to execute complicated scores which it is
impossible to play upon the ordinary keyboard
may be realized in easy and natural movements
of the hand.
The invention has been extensively patented
abroad and also in the United States under No.
360,255, dated March 29, 1887, a copy of which
letters patent is hereto appended, together with
concise and illustrated description of the details
of construction and method of fingering, for
reference.
In appearance the Von Janko Keyboard re-
sembles a flight of six steps, or six rows of keys,
elevated one above the other. Each two of these
rows embrace the entire scale, all of the intervals
of each row being whole tones, so that by play-
ing alternately upon two adjoining rows a con-
tinuous scale of half tones is produced.
This arrangement is repeated in the other two
pairs of rows of keys, so that for each tone there
are three keys in different positions or at differ-
ent elevation. All of the keys of each row being
upon a level there are no narrow spaces between
elevated black keys as in the common form of
keyboard. The touch plates of the notes F
sharp, G sharp, A sharp and D sharp are dis-
tinguished by black bands upon their faces,
while the keys for C, D, E, F, G, A and B are
white, thus preserving the distinguishing
feature of the common keyboard, and obviating
the confusion that any radically new system
would cause.
The new arrangement has just as many keys
as the old, but being arranged in two rows of
regular intervals the scale is materially short-
ened. This contraction enables the smallest
hand to reach an octave easily, and for a man's
hand it is quite possible to strike an extended
chord from C to G.
The symmetric arrangement of the keys and
tones makes the fingering in all keys and scales
exactly alike, so that there are but two scales
(one major and one minor) to learn, instead of
twenty-four, as necessary upon the old key-
board. When one looks back upon the time
spent in familiarizing the hand with all of these
different fingerings, how we envy the learner
upon the new keyboard, who has but two scales
to learn !
It will be readily understood that by reason of
Used Exclusively in Seidl,
Thomas and Gilmore Concerts
at Madison Square Garden,
New York.
"Conover"
Pianos.
AND SWEETNESS of TONE.
^ - S C I E N T I F I C CONSTRUCTION.
(THE ONLY STRICTLY
HIGH GRADE PIANO
MANUFACTURED
IN CHICAGO.)
CHICAGO COTTAGE ORGAN COMPANY,
SOLE FACTORS.
(The Largest Dealers in Pianos and Organs in the World.)
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL WAREROOMS,
(SECOND FLOOR.)
215 WABASH AVE.,
CHICAGO.
Enterprising dealers all over the Country are
fast securing the agency for the wonderful
A.
B.
CHASE
PIANOS.
Wonderful in Tone Quality.
Wonderful in Selling Qualities,
Style, Finish, Strength,
Action, Durability and Popularity,
and
Improvement of Tone by Age and Use.
The Company Scrupulously protect their
agencies,
and
Never change when it can be avoided.
Hence the agency becomes more valuable
every year.
If you can, you should secure it at once,
by writing to
THE A. B. CHASE CO.,
NORWALK, OHIO.
this uniformity of fingering transposition from
one key to another becomes quite a simple mat-
ter, as it means merely a change of position, but
no change of fingering.
Having three different places to strike each
tone, the hand plays in its easiest and most
natural position, the thumb using the two lower
rows of keys, while the fingers play upon the
middle and upper ones. There is also ample
room for overhand playing, so that the hands
need never interfere with each other while play-
ing in the same octave.
There can be no question that the Von Janko
keyboard greatly reduces the technical diffi-
culties and labor of learning to play upon the
piano, and that many of the best compositions
which now are extremely difficult to render may
be much more readily played upon the new key-
board.
Recognizing the piano as one of our social
necessities, we cannot lightly esteem an inven-
tion which shortens by years the path to pro-
ficienc}', which lessens the fatigue of practice,
and puts within the reach of a child's hand the
rendering of the music of the masters, and which
admits of still greater possibilities of execution
than could ever be realized upon ihe old kej"-
board.
It is not to be expected that the older music-
ians will hail with delight any radical improve-
ment which places them at a disadvantage with
the younger student, and yet to acquire skill
upon the new keyboard it is not so difficult that
any good performer on the piano need hesitate
to try to master it. Three months of average
diligence will suffice to make a good player quite
at home also upon this new manuel.
When a good thing comes it comes to stay,
until a better supersedes it, and we must recog*
nize the situation and fall in line with it.
The solid merits of the Von Janko system,
already practically introduced, entitles it to the
encouragement of our highest appreciation, and
we therefore award the Elliott Cresson Gold
Medal to Paul Von Janko for his improvements
in piano keyboards.
ADOPTED at the stated meeting of the Com-
mittee on Science and Arts, held on
Wednesday, May 3, 1893.
[Signed]
H. R. HEYL, Chairman.
Attest: [Signed] WM. H. WAHL, Secretary.
WORTH DOWIZ THE:
September number of The Keynote has
^€> been received at this office. On the front
cover is an excellent half tone likeness of Henri
Marteau. The inside pages contain many in-
teresting sketches and personals of artists well
known in musical and dramatic circles. The
magazine also contains three pieces of music
each of which is worth double the price of the
number, fifteen cents. E. Lyman Bill, 3 East
14th street, New York, is the publisher.—Brant-
ford (Conn.) Opinion.
W. G. METZEROTT & Co., Washington, D. C,
music dealers and owners of Metzerott Hall,
have made an assignment. The firm states that
the cause of failure was the assignment of Hard-
man, Peck & Co. Indebtedness aggregates
$112,000 besides individual debts of members of
firm, amounting to $105,000. These latter are
secured by mortgages. The assets are said to
exceed the liabilities.
130 Fiftlt Avenue, c*rncr xStla Street, New York.
BOSTON,
NEW YORK,
CHICAGO.