Music Trade Review

Issue: 1894 Vol. 18 N. 25

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
VOL. X V I I I . No. 25.
published Every Saturday. 4- flew Yoi% January 13, 1894.
$3 00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
he made many friends by his winning manners
and quiet courtesy, and by his great knowledge
of every branch of the music trade.
It is needless to say that the piano trade of
the West, and the firm of which he was an
honored member, have suffered a severe loss by
his death.
contemporary quotes from an American paper,
is hard to beat: "Mr. Bronson has the honor
and regret to inform his patrons and friends that
he has just published a new waltz, ' The Breeze
of Ontario,' and lost his daughter, Mary Ann
Deborah, aged fifteen years. The waltz is on
sale at all music-sellers, and the funeral will
take place to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock."
*
John Drew has written a magazine article
which is admirable for a man who all his life
has been speaking other people's ideas. Actors
who are authors of consequence are few and the
temperaments of each are rarely combined in one
man. I can think just now only of Maurice
Barrymore, Louis Harrison, Edward Harrigan,
Duncan B. Harrison, William Gillette, Charles
Coote, Robert Cotton and Wilton Lackaye, be-
sides Jefferson, whose contributions to contem-
poraneous literature have attracted attention
among American actors.
members of the Savage Club gave their
Christmas musicale on the evening of De-
cember 21st, at the club's rooms.
The program consisted of vocal and instru-
mental selections, most artistically rendered by
the following artists, who are members : Trio :
Mr. Victor Herbert, 'cello ; Mr. Louis Kapp,
violin ; Mr. Ward Stephens, piano. Duet: Mr.
Jos. Lynde, baritone ; Mr. Geo. Traverner, tenor.
Tenor Solo : Mr. Payne Clarke. Bass solo : Mr.
Thomas Giesie. Tenor solo : Mr. E. Batteshin,
and a number of selections by Mr. Aug. Young's
orchestra.
After the concert a luncheon was served. All
selections were rendered most artistically, es-
pecially the Berlioz trio by Messrs. Herbert, Kapp,
and Stephens, and Gounod's "Lend Me Your
Aid," by Mr. Payne Clarke, and the Benedict
duet from the " Lilly of Killarney," by Messrs.
Lynde and Traverner, was also accorded much
applause.
*
Signor Paolo Tosti, the composer of "For
Ever and For Ever," lives in London, having a
house in the Finchley Road. He carries about
with him a little pocket-book ruled with musi-
cal lines, in which he jots down themes as they
occur to him ; for they are apt to get lost if not
promptly secured. Each song is now worth to
him about ^400.
The Queen a long time ago expressed a wish
that Signor Tosti should write two short
operettas, to be performed by her daughters and
ladies of the Court. One of these works was
ready for production by Christmas, so we shall
hear of more royal theatricals at Windsor.
Mine, Albani-Gye, who is a special favorite
of the Queen, has been rather chummy of late
with Her Majesty, singing for her many times.
Here is a good comic opera story: Marie
Wainwright was speaking of her nervousness
on the first night of a new production, and she
said that an absurd contretemps nearly threw
her off her balance during a first night. She
continued: "Perhaps you remember that as
Dame Hannah in ' Ruddigore,' I had to go on
with a small dagger, with which I was supposed
to threaten the wicked Baronet's life. When my
turn came round the dagger had disappeared and
was nowhere to be found. Nothing would in-
duce me to go on without my property, and
although Mr. Barrington implored me to appear
without it, I was resolute. Of course there was
a terrible stage wait, and at last Mr. Barrington
grew desperate, and forcing something into my
hand, absolutely pushed me on to the stage.
And what do you think it was ? '' asked Miss
Wainwright, laughing at the reminiscence.
" Of all things, it was a large gas key ! I con-
trived, however, to conceal the absurd make-
shift from the audience, but when I had to hand
my supposed dagger to Mr. Grossmith he most
unkindly gave me away. ' How can I kill my-
self with this thing? ' he said, holding up the
gas key in its entirety to the audience. Of
course, there was a perfect howl of laughter, and
for some minutes we we unable to continue."
*
De Lucia, the young tenor who surprised the
Metropolitan's audience recently by his perform-
ance in " I Pagliacci," is one of the few great
singers who began active life as instrumental-
ists. Strange to say his choice was the double
bass, and after three years' hard study at the
Conservatory at Naples, he became a virtuoso.
But at the age of twenty—he is now thirty-
one—De Lucia studied pianoforte playing and
singing and soon turned his attention to vocal-
ism. Like young Campanari, the baritone of
this city who is not unworthy of an important
place in the Abbey-Grau Company and who was
*
CEORCE WASHBURN LYON.
1
L ,,^ sincerely regret to state that Mr. George
Washburn Lyon (of Lyon & Potter, Chi-
cago), died yesterday morning, January 12th, at
Jacksonville, Fla., where he had been sojourn-
ing for some time in the hope of recuperating
from a protracted illness. The funeral will take
place at his home, in Chicago, next Monday,
January 15th.
Mr. George Washburn Lyon was identified
with the music trade throughout his busi-
ness life, both in Boston and Chicago. He mi-
grated to the latter city in 1864, and with Mr.
P. J. Healy foundtd the house of Lyon & Healy.
Mr. Lyon invented many valuable improve-
ments for musical instruments, and was a
learned and skillful player of man)' of them,
having studied the harp under the great Apt.
Thomas, and having, moreover, been a most
diligent pupil of the best teachers of stringed
and brass instruments of his time. His
entire career was devoted to the music business
and to the art of music. As a man of business
he was sagacious and energetic ; as a salesman
he had no superior. He always possessed
the faculty of engaging the interested attention
of customers.
Mr. L) on had personal charge of all the floors
For a combination of business and sentiment
of the vast building on Wabash avenue, where the following announcement, which a French
{Co?itinucd on page TO.)
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
WELCOME visitor to our sanctum during
the week was Mr. Geo. P. Bent of the
celebrated Crown Pianos and Organs. He was
OA his way home from a short vacation which
he enjoyed in company with his daughter in the
land of the "orange blossoms."
Mr. Bent
looked as if he was primed with a new vitality
and we can expect further evidences of his en-
terprise on his return home.
no
3 EAST 14th STREET, NEW YORK.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage) United States and
Canada, $4.00 per year, in advance; Foreign Countries,
$5 00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion; unless inserted upon rates made by special
contract.
piano more in evidence o r
higher in public estimation to-day than
the celebrated instrument manufactured by
George Steck & Co. Their record for the past
year has been one of success from every stand-
point, and the prospects for the future could not
be brighter. This is in every way due to the
honorable reputation which they have honestly
earned as manufacturers of an instrument of the
highest class.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
NOTWITHSTANDING the times, the cele-
brated Emerson piano floats along tri-
umphantly on the top wave of popularity. In
their Western and local houses trade is good,
and while much of this is due to the splendid
management by the gentlemen in charge, yet it
would be foolish to deny that this success could
not be achieved if the Emerson piano did not
fulfill expectations as an art product of a high
class. The Emerson Piano Campany find an
encouraging demand for their pianos through-
out the trade, and they consider the prospects
for 1894 of the brightest.
F. MACDONALD, Vice-President of
the Pease Piano Company, and manager
of the Chicago branch of that concern, is pass-
ing a few days in the metropolis, accompanied
by his son, Charles Wilbur MacDonald, whose
wonderful musical talent has elicited the warm-
est admiration from critical audiences.
jT a meeting of the Henning Piano Com-
pany, held last Tuesday at the Bradbury
factory, Brooklyn, the removal of their factory to
Raymond street, that city, was under considera-
tion. This is a move Mr. Smith has had in con-
templation a long time, as he believes strongly
in concentrating his piano plants.
S
HE Derby Transcript says that '' the Ster-
ling Piano Company started up full time
of eight hours last Monday, and will continue
manufacturing as long as there is room in the
factory to store the finished goods.'' Hats off
to Mr. Blake ! This resolution does credit to his
pluck and enterprise, and he will reap the re-
ward when the harvest of better days comes
along.
25th anniversary of Mr. Albert G. Cone's
connection with the house of W. W. Kim-
ball Company, Chicago, occurred January 4th,
and while the popular treasurer was at luncheon
a handsome pair of sevres vases, valued at some
$1,000, were smuggled into his office. This
beautiful addition to his sanctum surprised Mr.
Cone, and an explanation was demanded, and
given by Mr. E. S. Con way, who very felicitously
referred to Mr. Cone's valued services tothefirm,
and said that this was a slight tribute from the
employees—who united from the ' ' boss'' to the
office boy—to thus demonstrate the esteem in
which he was held.
excel ent
l
likeness of Mr. L. L. Doud, the
well known secretary of the A. B. Chase
Co., Norwalk, Ohio, adorns our front cover this
week. Since 1875 Mr. Doud has been identified
with the A. B. Chase concern, and has held the
position of secretary since that date. Naturally
he takes great pride in the history and develop-
ment of the business which he has helped to
create. Modest and retiring in his demeanor,
yet he possesses a strong individuality which
has permeated the business department of the
A. B. Chase concern. Mr. Doud is thoroughly
a home man, an Ohioan by birth, and almost
his entire life has been passed in his native
county of Huron, where he never has lost a
residence.
is now known definitely that Hardman &
La Grassa will be the title of the piano
firm in which members of the Hardman family
are interested with Mr. La Grassa. Mr. Dow-
ling's supposed connection amounts, for the pre-
sent at least, to that of an employee. Mr. La
Grassa is at work on the scales of the three sizes
of pianos which they intend to turn out, and
from his long experience good results can be ex-
pected. They expect to occupy three floors of
the building corner of 10th avenue and 44th
street, and will enlarge quarters later on. Mr.
Hardman is desirous and probably will place the
name of " Hardman" on the fall-board of the
new pianos, but its use is questioned by other
parties, and the matter may find its way before
the courts to be judicially decided upon.
which has found a large place in
<<§& public estimation is that manufactured by
the Needham Piano Organ Company. The mag-
nificent display made at the World's Fair has
helped to emphasize the standing of this instru-
ment to a considerable extent, and this is demon-
strated by the increasing popularity of the Need-
ham piano with the dealers. The past year has
been comparatively a prosperous one with the
Needham Piano-Organ Company both in the
piano and organ branches of their business, and
this week the cheering news is at hand that afte r
a short recess for stock-taking, they have started
up their factories with a largely increased force
of employees. This speaks volumes for the
popularity of their products and the prosperity
of the house.
new styles of pianos and organs to be
found in the catalogue of the Sterling
Company, Derby, Conn., are bound to become
exceedingly popular with the trade. It is hard-
ly necessary to speak of their pianos which have
been long recognized as popular instruments.
The Sterling organs, however, have shared, al-
though in a lesser degree, in the many tributes
paid the products of this house, yet the Ster-
ling Company feel that its many merits have
been thrown somewhat in the shade by its sister
product, and one of the New Year resolutions of
the firm is the determination to place the Sterling
organ in the front rank during the present year.
And they will undoubtedly succeed, for their new
and Jin de-siecle case designs, in conjunction with
a splendid quality of tone, cannot fail to popular-
ize them with the progressive and wide-awake
dealers who want an instrument that will prove
a seller and add to their reputation.
prize Columbian medals which will de-
light the heart of the piano exhibitors are
being pushed as rapidly as possible at the Phila-
delphia mint. Sculptor St. Gaudens has been
furnished with plaster casts of the medal, a
description of which is as follows : Upon the
obverse, Columbus is represented stepping from
a boat to the land, and just behind him are three
figures, warriors of his day. One of them bears
aloft the standard of Spain, the folds of which
are so gracefully arranged as to prevent any per-

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