Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
wish him a bountiful supply of all these
good things in life which should accrue
to a well deserving and estimable business
man.
* *
*
R. C. Hull, general manager of the
Brockport Piano Co., was in town last
Thursday. Mr. Hull is an energetic busi-
ness man, and takes an optimistic view of
the outlook. They are making the " Ca-
pen " pianos up at Brockport, and what is
more they are selling them. Energy and
hustle count in these as well as in any other
days.
*
I notice in the Buffalo papers extended
notices have been given to Mrs. Alvin
Powell, of the Boston Quintette. Mrs.
Powell seems to have made a decided hit
in Buffalo; more extended notices were
given her than any other member of the
Quintette
Her beautiful soprano singing
has captured the Buffalonians. It will be
remembered that Mrs. Powell is the wife of
the chief of the business staff of Freeborn
G. Smith.
* *
sfc
There are few pianos more effectively
advertised these days than the "Wissner."
All summer it was en evidence at the Seidl
concerts at Brighton Beach, later at the
Madison Square Garden, and now at the
Sunday evening concerts which Anton
Seidl is giving at the " Olympia,"
Last Sunday evening I was compelled—•
agreeably I must admit—to listen to some
very complimentary remarks passed by a
number of musicians at the Seidl concert.
I say compelled, because my seat was in
front of the conversationalists. It is hard-
ly necessary to dilate on the important
knowledge which the public are gaining of
the merits of the Wissner grand, through
the series of Seidl concerts which are now
running close into a year, with this very
excellent instrument as a "leader."
* *
*
An act for the prevention and settlement
of trade disputes has recently received
royal assent in Great Britain. The act is
purely permissive and in no way as stringent
as our State Arbitration Law. The Board
of Trade, according to the English law, is
empowered to intervene in trade disputes,
but it seems to have no power to enforce
its decisions. Our commissioners of ar-
bitration are placed in the same position.
Enforcing the decision of the commissioner
of arbitration in the matter of strikes is the
great important question, and it apparantly
has been overlooked both in the recent
English law, as well as in the law of this
State. In both instances the laws seem to
have been framed as a sop to the working
•man.
* *
If the human eye goes on increasing in
usefulness as it has been doing of late, it is
not at all improbable that eyesight will
usurp the functions of hearing. In the past
a sound has been "heard" only. Marvelous
to relate, it has been found possible to see
a sound and to photograph it in its course. of the lateness of the hour, he continued
This discovery, following closely as it has practicing far into the night, when sud-
upon the X ray and other remarkable dis- denly there came a knock at his door. A
coveries, has set the scientific world to well-groomed valet handed him a note read-
thinking what new problems are left for ing as follows: "Sir,—People come to
men to solve.
Marienbad for rest and quiet, not for the
This latest sensation in science, accord- purpose of hearing hammering and strum-
ing to the Vaughn and Cornish M. S c , ming on the piano. If yon ere determined
shows that if a photographic lens be turned to make such a noise, try, at any rate, not
on a Martini bullet in its flight through to play so many wrong notes! COUNT-
. " Without a word he closed his
the air, the photographic plate shows that ESS
a dark line of compressed air can be seen piano, and sitting down at his desk, indited
in front of the ball.
the following reply:
"Madame,—I am
Experiments made to ascertain what sorry my poor playing should have an-
The
conditions of the atmosphere caused the noyed you." ANTON RUBINSTEIN.
sounds that are made by the striking of a lady's consternation may better be ima-
piano key, revealed the fact that the vibra- gined than described.
tion sent out a succession of pulsations of
the atmosphere, each of which is an elastic
The Center of Attraction.'
air wave independent of those which pre-
cede and follow it.
N one of the show windows of the L.
The photographic lens showed that the
Grunewald Company, Ltd., No. 715
sounds seen were waves, of which the crests
Canal street, is a very handsome cabinet
are separated by distances of about four
grand Behr piano. The instrument is fin-
and a half feet. The particles of air, it
ished in white enamel, in imitation of ivory,
could be seen, were caused to make a for-
the effect being made more charming by
ward and backward swing.
During the
artistic and elaborate gold trimmings.
former the air is compressed; during the
The mechanism of this beautiful instru-
latter it is rarefied, e,ach pulse of com-
ment is as perfect as its exterior finish, and
pressed air being followed by one of rare-
is of that high character that has established
fied air.
a reputation for the Behr pianos in every
Experiments with the vibration of a
corner of the earth where musical instru-
violin string showed that the air is com-
ments are known.—New Orleans "Pica-
pressed and released very suddenly, which
yune," Sept. 27.
gives the sharper sound of the violin as
compared with that of the piano.
How They Do Things in Tunk-
* *
I
hannock.
Ground has already been broken for some
of the buildings which will constitute the
Paris Exposition of 1900. It is said that
the architects who have submitted designs
for the principal building, the Grand Pal-
ace, have been influenced by the architec-
ture of the World's Fair at Chicago.
About forty per cent, of the regular floor
space will be allotted to foreign exhibits,
and it is expected that about fifty thousand
exhibitors will be represented. The direc
tors of the Paris enterprise are evidently
allowing themselves plenty of time in
which to prepare for this great event. In
this respect they are acting very wisely.
* *
*
Some very interesting facts anent the
earnings of street organ virtuosi were re-
cently brought to light in a Brooklyn court
when a wealthy Italian was accused of
stealing a piano-organ valued at $125.
The average daily receipts, it was stated,
were from six dollars to seven dollars per
day. This is a mighty good income and
enables those peripatetic "artists" to leave,
after a few years' starring, for sunny Italy
with a sufficient capital to live as Nabobs in
their old homes.
The following Rubinstein anecdote is well
worth reproducing: The great Russian
was in Marienbad, where, in consequence
of his having to play at a charity conceit,
a piano had been sent to his rooms at the
hotel. Intent upon his work and forgetful
T
HE following humorous item is from
the Scranton, Pa., "Republican":
There is considerable competition atTunk-
hannock between the piano and organ deal-
ers, and each one of them has, as a side line,
a make of sewing machine he is pushing
for expense money. They are very vigi-
lant and in consequence no man goes hungry
for music who can raise the required shek-
els for a down payment. But despite this
vigilance an out of town dealer who could
talk German slipped into their midst the
other day and sold a Steinway piano for
which one of the local dealers has also the
agency.
ALOIS BRAMBACH of the Brambach Piano
Co. left this week on an extended Western
trip.
THE Cluett Bros., Albany and Troy, N.
Y., ran down to the metropolis this week.
R. S. WATSON, formerly of Ottawa, Can.,
is a recent accession to the forces of
Thomas & Barton, Augusta, Ga.
The Trade Directory, tvhicJi is a feature
of The Review each month, is complete. In
it appears the names and addresses of all
firms engaged in the manufacture of musical
instruments and the allied trades. The Re-
view, now is sent to the United States Con-
sulates throughout the world, and is on file
in the reading rooms of the principal hotels
in America.