Music Trade Review

Issue: 1894 Vol. 18 N. 43

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
BTflE9RGAN
VOL. XVIII. No. 43.
published Every Saturday.
$3 00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES. 10 CENTS.
+ flew Yor% (T\ay 26, 1894.
out the statement above concerning diminishing
values. In 1889 there were dutiable imports in
this line amounting to $1,362,539. In 1890,
$1,316,340. In 1891, $1,161,793. In 1892,
$779,962. In 1893, $780,852, the average of these
periods being represented by $1,080,297. For
the same period ending March 31st, 1894, there
were $535,472, showing a decrease to $544,825,
when compared with the foregoing average, as
well as a decrease to $245,380, when compared
with the amount of the same period of the pre-
vious year.
In a comparative summary of exports it is
found that the values have been fluctuating,
[PREPARED FOR THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.]
some years proving better than others, but the
end is the same—diminished values, as witness
WASHINGTON, D. C, May 15th, 1894.
the figures:
For 1889 there were exports amounting to
There has been a continuation of the decrease
in the valuation of imported musical instruments $775,222. For 1890, $814,285. For 1891,
that first began to be noticed some months ago. $1,071,518. For 1892, $902,321. For 1893,
From the latest official reports it is to be judged $1,573,989, the average showing $1,027,467. For
either that home factories supply the demand or the period ending March 31st, 1894, the exports
else the financial depression of the times has amounted to a valuation of $752,356, showing a
decrease to $275,111, as compared with the fore-
diminished the demand.
going average, and a decrease to $821,633,
The following figures speak for themselves :
Imported musical instruments for March when compared with the same period of 1893.
Much of this decrease may be due to the fact
amounted in value to only $39,051, against
$86,349 for the same month of 1893, and for a that American manufacturers are improving
period of nine months ending March 31st, 1894, every year, and there is, therefore, not so great
the imports amounted to $535,472, against $780,- an exchange of instruments between this and
852 for a corresponding period of the preceding foreign countries. That the commerce is dimin-
ishing, however, there can be no question.
year.
A greater falling off is noted in the valuation
of exports, the total for March an*6unting to
only $102,510, against $140,887 for ilarch, 1893,
and for the nine months period thep were $752,-
346, against $1,573,989 for the sane period of
the previous year. Of this ainoJnt there were
of organs 783, worth $51,487, gainst 1,020,
worth $75,165, for the same ruontl of 1893, and
m£ LARGE and fashionable audience were in
for the nine months period them were 6,704,
®=2 evidence at the complimentary concert
worth $418,615, against 10,664, wjrth $769,220,
given on the occasion of the dedication of the
for the same period of 1893.
New York Autoharp Club Rooms last Wednes-
Of pianofortes there were only 5I, worth $16,- day night. The musical profession was headed
718, against 147, worth $51,587, lor the same by Richard Arnold ; the aristocracy by the
month of 1893, and for the nine n i n t h s ' period princely Cavalli; the go-ahead business man by
there were 466, worth $135,432, »ainst 1,828, Alfred Dolge ; the busy travelers by Herman
worth $687,572, for the same perio« of the pre- Leonard, who evidently forsook the metropolis
vious year.
of the West in order to assist at the debut of the
All other instruments and partAjf the same Autoharp. But why enumerate ? Fair women
exported were placed at a value o«$34,3O5, as and well known men graced the occasion by
compared with $14,135, and for the «ine months their presence. They were received by members
there were $198,309, as compared will $117,197 of the Club, assisted by Mr. Rudolf Dolge, who
for the same period of the previous y«ar.
was indefatigable in his efforts to make every
Reexports of musical instrument*for March one feel at home. He had a smile and hand
were placed at a valuation of $329, » d for the shake for all, and displayed his linguistic re-
nine months the figures are $4,512.
sources by welcoming his cosmopolitan visitors
For the past five years the dutiable Imports of in the language of the Teuton, the Gaul, the
musical instruments has been gradusBy dimin- Saxon and the "American." The following
ishing, and during the nine months pviod end- was the program :
ing March 31st, 1894, the value was pfcced at a
lower figure than it has fallen to in th«past five 1. N. Y. Autoharp Club March,
-
Hermanson
NEW YORK AUTOHARP CLUH.
years. The following comparative Matement
Violin,
covers a period of nine months for the Bve years 2. Dream of the Rose.—For Autoharp and
Prinz Gustav
including and between 1889 and 1893, »nd bear
MR. LOUIS MEI.CHER—MR. H. HERMANSON.
Interesting Figures on
riusical Instruments.
First Concert of
the Autoharp Club.
3>
a. Wenn ich in deinc Augen seh, -
b. Aus meinen Thriinen spriessen,
Miss LAURA STEINS—MR. LOUIS MELCHER,
4- Nocturne in A Minor,
-
.
-
Leybach
MR. ALDIS J. GERY.
5. Intermezzo—"Cavaleria Rusticana,"
Mascagni
MR. DEDERICK ON WILCOX AND W H I T E " SYMPHONY."
,
a. See the Conquering Hero Comes,
b. Die Loreley,
Handel
Silcher
MR. H. HERMANSON, MR. LOUIS MELCHER,
MR. EMIL MODICK, MR. CHAS. GABLER.
7. Ave Maria,
.
.
.
.
Bach-Gounod
Miss LAURA STEINS.
Autoharp,
Organ,
ME. LOUIS MELCHER.
Violin,
MR. E. L. CRAMER.
MR, H. HERMANSON.
8. Andante in G. from " The Woodland Rose,"
MR. ALUIS [. GERY.
9. Andante irom Kaiser Quartet,
Fischer
-
-
Haydn
NEW YORK AUTOHARP CLUB.
The above program offered an excellent op-
portunity for hearing the autoharp in connection
with the violin, the voice and organ ; also as a
solo and quartet instrument, and in all cases it
exceeded expectations. Mr. Gery gave the
fourth and eighth numbers a very pleasing in-
terpretation, and Miss Laura Steins sang Schu-
mann's beautiful numbers, also the Ave Maria
by Bach-Gounod—the latter number particularly
—with a great deal of expression and musical
feeling.
Mr. Hermanson's violin obligato,
Messrs. Melcher's and Cramer's accompaniments
on autoharp and " Symphony " organ, were
most effective.
Absolute perfection is an impossibility, and
never looked for in an amateur organization,
and when it is remembered that the gentlemen
taking part had not more than six week's prac-
tical acquaintance with the instrument, the de-
gree of execution displayed was surprising and
well nigh impossible on any other instrument of
this character within that time.
And this is the strong point in connection
with the Autoharp.
The knowledge that it can be mastered in so
short a time, and without considerable mental
effort, is the important point in its favor.
Taken all in all, the members of The Auto-
harp Club deserve a great deal of credit—they
done remarkably well. The Autoharp, however,
done better, for its possibilities were demon-
strated and made plain to the audience. It was
unmistakably an autoharp night and it scored a
great success.
After the Concert the audience inspected the
well-appointed and attractive parlors and ex-
amined the different autoharps with a great deal
of interest.
The following are the officers of New York
Autoharp Club :
Mr. Chas. D. Mueller, Pres.; Mr. Joseph
Gasser, Vice-Pres.; Mr. Chas. Gabler, Sec; Mr.
Emil Modick, Treas.; Mr. II. Hermanson, Con-
ductor and Business Manager, and Mr. Louis
Melcher, Assistant Conductor.
It is their intention to supply competent
teachers who will attend to both public and
private instruction on the autoharp.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
other pages of this issue will be found
figures bearing on the exports and ini"
ports of musical instruments, which have been
specially prepared for us. Also comments by
Mr. Sutton on trade with Mexico. Both articles
are of decided moment, of interest to the trade,
and worthy of careful perusal.
r s ^ ^ l ^ H I ((§5) (ig)\@@S2/->
3 EAST 14th STREET, NEW YORK.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage) United States and
Canada, $3.00 per year, in advance; Foreign Countries,
$4 00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion; unless inserted upon rates made by special
contract.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
E coal miners' strike in the West has com-
pelled the Edna Piano & Organ Com-
pany's factory, Monroeville, O., to close down
until the strike is over. They have been unable
to procure coal, and suffer in common with many
industries who are situated in the same way.
Thus we have business depression due to in-
competent legislators and miners' strikes, to
add to the discomforts of the piano manufact-
urers' life.
VOSE & SONS PIANO CO. are about
moving from their old quarters, at 170
Tremont street, to new and handsomely decorat-
ed warerooms at 174 Tremont street, which were
formerly occupied by the Emerson Piano Co.
The entire place will be remodeled and hand-
somely furnished with mirrors and an electric
light outfit, and it is their intention to make it
one of, if not the finest piano warerooms in the
"City of Culture."
* : :
might have been a very serious fire
took place at the factory of the New
England Piano Co., Boston, Thursday night of
last week. Owing to a wise foresight in the
construction of the factory, being divided into
four separate buildings, well provided with all
modern devices for the prevention of fire, the
damage was comparatively trifling, and was
caused more by water than fire. The damage
done will not interfere in any way with the con-
tinuance of business.
& CO., who have represented
the Mason & Hamlin organs in London,
Eng., for some years, have taken the agency for
the Mason & Hamlin pianos. Metzler & Co.
are a very important London house and have
every facility for giving the Mason & Hamlin
piano the prominence which it merits.
4J||T is pleasing to know that the high place
•ff® 8 occupied by the late Mr. Ernest Knabe in
the music trade field of this country has been
suitably recognized abroad by lengthy notices
and extracts in the European musical journals
just to hand. It is a marked compliment to his
memory and to the eminence of the house of
Knabe & Co.
t R.
ROBERT C. KAMMERER, of Geo.
Steck & Co., has been paid a signal
compliment by the receipt of an autograph letter
from Prince Bismarck in acknowledgement of a
complete set of Columbian stamps which Mr.
Kammerer sent the Prince in commemoration of
his birthday, April ist. Mr, Kammerer had the
honor of making the "Iron Chancellor's" ac-
quaintance during his recent trip abroad.
WILCOX & WHITE ORGAN COM-
PANY'S instruments are extremely
popular, not only for their musical but their
selling qualities. This is recognized by wide-
awake dealers in this country and Europe.
Their London agent reports a splendid business,
and the latest news from across the water is the
purchase of one of their style Number 125 by
Prince Henry, of Prussia, brother of the Em-
peror. There is no doubt that the attractive de-
signs of case have added materially to the popu-
larity of these excellent organs.
The latest self-playing " Symphony " styles
are proving to be some of the best selling in-
struments on the market to day, and this is
demonstrated by the busy times at Meriden,
Conn.
origin of the fire in Dr. Talmage's
Church in Brooklyn is the subject of
much dispute between the Insurance Companies
and other parties concerned. They claim that
the fire can be traced to a spark from the elec-
tricity used in the mechanism of the organ. It
must be conceded that there is always a possi-
bility of fire when electricity is used, for an ag-
gregation of dust or want of proper insulation
invariably affords an opportunity for a spark
from the electric current to speed the fire king
on his way. This, however, does not apply to
the Tabernacle organ, which was only recently
built, carefully constructed and provided against
all danger of this kind, as Mr. Jardine, the
builder, demonstrated in a recent interview.
The publicity given to this matter will work a
decided injury in one respect. It will prejudice
church committees against the use of electricity
in connection with organs, and this is the main
thing to be regretted, for electricity is com-
paratively an unexplored field, and will be more
largely drawn upon by organ builders in the
future than to-day.
S
HE SCHUBERT PIANO COMPANY are
now well at home in their new and very
attractive warerooms, Broadway near 39th street,
where they are exhibiting a splendid line of
pianos to good advantage. The Schubert Piano
Co. have undoubtedly secured an excellent loca-
tion, being in the centre of a dramatic and musical
world, so to speak, with the Metropolitan Opera
House and numerous theatres for neighbors.
Mr. Duffy has given evidence of his usual trend
of independence and originality in locating so
far from the recognized piano district. He has,
however, displayed such judicious foresight in
all his undertakings that this move will also be
followed by success.
^
& HEALY'S determination to sell all
<5*fcj sheet music publications at one-half off
the marked price, and referred to at length by
our correspondent on the road in last week's is-
sue, has been the subject of considerable com-
ment throughout the trade during the week.
Lyon & Healy were forced to take this step—
which, by the way, has been approved by all the
other music houses in Chicago, for they have
practically followed suit—by the fact that the
great dry goods firms of that city are selling all
the latest publications at one-half regular price,
thereby seriously injuring legitimate publishing
houses. Speaking yesterday to a well-known
publisher in this city apropos this matter, he
said: "While we deplore anything that tends
to cheapen the value of good music, yet Lyon &
Healy could not avoid taking the course they
did. The situation in New York to-day is very
similar to Chicago. The large dry goods houses
of this city are undermining the music publish-
ing houses, and sooner or later the radical step
inaugurated in the West by Lyon & Healy will
have to be duplicated in this city."
E BRIGGS PIANO COMPANY are con.
stantly striving to reach the ideal in
piano construction. Witness their latest styles.
From any standpoint—quality of tone, perfection
in action mechanism, or attractiveness in case
design—they compel admiration from the most
critical. The Briggs piano of to-day is among
tbe favorites of the trade. It contains improve-
ments that make it popular with purchasers,
hence with dealers, who are wide awake to their
own interests. It was expected that Mr. Fur-
bush would do some good business for the Briggs

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