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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
POINTS FOR
PURCHASERS,
Selecting a piaijo.
"THE HIGHEST TYPE."
(FROM THE LYON & HEALY HAND-BOOK.)
holds a strong place in the house-
- j ^ 3 -~ life nowadays, and an essentially bright
and happy one. The man of wealth and the
honest toiler alike feel that a certain air of re-
finement is lacking as long as the best corner
does not hold a piano ; home pleasure and home
comforts are deemed more or less incomplete
without its cheering influence. Where musical
talent in the family circle fails to thrive, the
piano, as an elegant piece of furniture, holds its
own against all new-comers, and gives occasion
to many new and artistic designs for articles of
ornament and convenience. Pianos look and
sound very much alike to the average buyer,
and the great majority of people can not tell the
difference between a good instrument and a
poor one ; even as far as outside looks are con-
cerned, many points of interest present them-
selves which only an expert would notice
readily.
What attracts the eye instantly is the partic-
ular material used for the case. The great
variety of natural woods and colors—rosewood,
walnut, mahogany, cherry, oak, maple, birch,
etc., from darkest shades to spotless white—
will suit every fancy, and match all kinds of
woodwork, decoration or hanging. The grace-
ful outlines of the grand or upright are little
varied in the various makes, and it is more in
the details of the architecture where a careful
purchaser will note particulars. A certain uni-
formity of style in the ornaments will impress
the buyer as more modern and refined ; portions
of the instrument, which are useful and neces-
sary in the outer equipment of the piano, as the
music rack, etc., are more satisfactory the more
they appear unobtrusive and ornamental. The
outside appearance is undoubtedly of great
moment with most people ; yet few value suffi-
ciently a uniform elegance in the architecture
where every part fills its place quietly, nicely,
and without disturbing the harmonious effect of
the tout ensemble. A uniform freshness and
originality of design give a lasting merit to an
elegant exterior and high finish which will be-
come more noticeable in course of time.
What makes the piano desirable as a piece of
furniture does not always make it more valuable
as a musical instrument—the development of
the scale, the character of tone, and the satis-
factory response of the touch are matters which
always claim first consideration.
The development of the scale which gives the
acoustic bearing to the strings and mechanical
sound-producers insures the peculiar qualifica-
tion of tone which the various makes are known
to possess, and the touch should be such that the
keys respond readily to the slightest efforts.
That character of tone which is round and full,
clear and moderately brilliant, will wear best,
but the quality of tone should be throughout
the same, and the various parts of the scale
evenly graded, so that the power of the ba. c s
neither obstructs the singing quality of the
middle part, nor the brilliant treble too markedly
lacks the support of the lower range. A piano
with well regulated tone quality shows no
marked or abrupt changes from a soft to a loud,
HANDS
MANUFACTURED B7
171 AND 173 SO. CANAL STREET,
CHICAGO.
THE
Sterling Company,
MANUFACTURERS OF
Pianos and Organs,
FACTORY :
DERBY, CONN.
It is admitted by all that no piano ever put upon the
market has met with such success as THE STEALING
and thousands will testify to their superiority of work-
manship and durability. Why ? Because they are made
just as perfect as a piano can be made.
THE STERLING ORGAN has always taken the lead, and
the improvements made this year puts it far ahead of
all otheis. JSTSend for Catalogue.
Mallet & Davis Pianos
from a sandy to a harsh tone, and the different
parts of the whole compass are well balanced.
A sweet, pleasing tone, with sufficient power,
is a very desirable quality, much preferable to
a loud tone, whose sonorousness lacks the in-
sinuatiug influence of the former, but where
both characteristic qualities are combined, the
effect is decidedly more gratifying and artistic.
Singers love a sympathetic tone; the instru-
mentalist prefers the brilliant and robust; pol-
ished smoothness strikes a fancy here; a
metallic ring will suit another, while a third
finds a velvety mellowness most desirable. The
peculiar timbre, which gives a variety of tone-
color suitable to every fancy in the different in-
struments, is not easily noticeable at first
hearing, and by comparison only the musical
public can arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.
What pleases the taste mostly in the outside
appearance of the piano strikes the eye more
by comparison, and the particular shade of
color in the case changes its semblance, with
every different light, even to a practiced eye.
As the quality of tone appears to change with
every new combination of sound, and can only
be judged properly even by more than ordinarily
observant people under exactly the same circum-
stances, the same selection should be played by
the same player on the various pianos to reveal
fully the timbre to the satisfaction of the
hearer. Though timbre and pitch are entirely
different from each other—while the former is a
result of tone regulating, the latter is obtained
by tuning—the timbre or tone-quality of an in-
strument cannot be judged properly unless it is
in good tune.
That a great number of instruments of certain
makes have been put into the market is a fact
which, in itself, will always establish confidence
in the musical world as to the reliability of the
firm and the durability of the instrument, but to
properly and advantageously determine on the
relative merits of instruments of various grades,
customers should deal with a house whose relia-
bility and business integrity are irreproachable.
It should be remembered that the great pile
of silver which we have accumulated under
the law of 1890 has not cost the Government
anything except the expense of printing the
Treasury notes, and that whatever we realize
from the sales of silver is so much profit, so
much taxation saved.
The Treasury notes have not caused prices
to stop falling, which shows that we have not
issued money enough and that more ought to
be issued. If Congress, under such circum-
stances, should repeal the law of 1890, without
substituting some law to increase the money
supply, it would have a tendency to produce a
money panic. This much can be predicted
with certainty.
The banks have been vigorous opposers of
the law. The reason was that they wanted to
issue their own notes for money or currency
and have the profits. They saw that if the
Government issued its notes for money, they
could not do it. They know that only a limited
amount of money can be issued without raising
the level of prices in a country and changing
the "standard of value " or payment. Hence
the vigorous opposition of the banks whenever
it is proposed to have the Government issue
any paper money.
GRAND, SQUARE AND UPRIGHT.
Indorsed by Liszt, Gottschalk, Wehli, Bendel, Straus, Soro, Abt,
Paulus, Titiens, Heilbron and Germany's Greatest Masters.
Established over Half a Century.
BOSTON, MASS.