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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE " SMALL GOODS " TRADE
The Apollo Harp.
NKW FEATURES INSURE AN EXCELLENCE WHICH
ENABLE THIS CIIARMINO INSTRUMENT TO
MERIT A SPECIAL SUI'PORT.
N instrument which demands a spe-
cial place to-day amonj; the string
family is the Apollo harp, manufactured by
the Flagg Manufacturing Co., of Boston.
Its construction is based absolutely on new
and original lines, and its possibilities are
almost limitless. The present standard of
excellence, which has been obtained after
persistent study and labor, enables the
manufacturers to claim for the Apollo harp
a perfection in all essential details.
Among the features which enable this in-
strument to at'once win its way into popu-
lar favor, command the support of dealers
and the endorsement of musicians, is the
superiority of the symphonic slide, which
has replaced the keyed slide in all the
styles. This novel and meritorious im-
provement, consisting of strips of felt at-
tached to and held in place by metal bars
forming the sliding bridge, entirely cuts
out the notes not employed in the making
of chords and does away with the disagree-
able noise of picking on dead strings.
With the symphonic slide, the transposi-
tion of any key from major to minor can be
effected by simply placing the major or
minor pointers on the key desired and in-
dicated on the instrument. By this means
the most difficult and abstruse musical
work is capable of correct and delightful
interpretation, and a false chord is an utter
impossibility.
A strong point among the commendable
features distinguishable in the Apollo harp
is the stringing process, based on scientific
principles, which equalizes the strain on
back and front, and keeps the instrument
from springing with the change of tem-
perature, thus remaining longer in tune.
The damper attachment—another excel-
lent device—like the soft pedal of the piano,
preserves the purity of the full chords in
changing from key to key, and prevents
the jumbling and confoundingof harmony.
The purity, sweetness and sonority of
the Apollo harp tone is remarkable, and
with its possibilities in the way of har-
monic combinations, it commands a lead-
ing place as an accompaniment to the
voice, as a solo instrument or in combina-
tion with other musical instruments.
Cultivated musical critics, after examina-
tion and trial, have pronounced the Apollo
harp to be an instrument of great musical
worth, and among those who have volun-
teered testimonials are D. L. White, presi-
dent of the White-Smith Music Publishing
Co., of Boston; Fritz Giese, 'cellist; John
Braham, leader of the Park Theatre Orches-
tra, Boston; G. W. Bemis, of the Conser-
A
vatory of Music, Boston; Alice J. Shaw,
siffleuse; J. H. Wadsworth, the well-known
violinist and music editor, Boston; Thomas
W. Henry, cornet soloist; N. Lothian,
leader of the Boston Theatre Orchestra;
J. T. Baldwin, leader of Baldwin's Band,
Boston, and numerous others, while letters
have also been received from instructors of
music and dealers testifying to its value as
an educator.
The Apollo harp is manufactured in
seven different styles, Nos. 72A, 72B, 60,
48, 27, 5, 4. The number of chords corres-
pond with their respective style numbers.
The Flagg Manufacturing Co. are mak-
ing special efforts to push this excellent in-
extremists of the order, finding fault with
C. G. Conn's justified criticism of their ad-
ministration, succeeded in having him ex-
pelled and his paper, the "Washington
Post," blacklisted. This action was to be
expected. Tne Knights of Labor have to-
day lost all authority among the working
men and all the self-respecting and pro-
gressive members are being expelled or are
voluntarily leaving it. There is no better
friend of the upright laboring man than C.
G. Conn and he has demonstrated this fact
time and time again. He has, however,
always been opposed to the fanatic and ex-
treme policy pursued by the order, under
Mr. Sovereign's management, and naturally
this has brought about the enmity of
Sovereign and some of his friends, with the
result chronicled above.
New Zobo Instructor.
T
HE name of Otto Langey on a musical
instrument instruction book is suffici-
ent guarantee that the work has been done
judiciously and well. Mr. Langey has re-
fcently completed a zobo band instrument
instructor which will undoubtedly not only
prove of vast assistance to zobo performers,
but help to still further boom these very
popular instruments.
The book consists of thirty-six pages of
matter, carefully printed and neatly pro-
duced. It is remarkably comprehensive
and, by reason of its lucidity, fully main-
tains Mr. Langey's high reputation for this
class of work.
Full directions are given as to articulation
and tongueing; the matter of rhythm is
dealt with at considerable length with il-
lustrative rhythmical exercises; there are
individual exercises; exercises for mixed
voices for four parts with piano accompani-
ment, also arrangements of popular melo-
dies for both male and mixed zobo bands.
There is a good deal of material in the in-
structor which will prove of value to those
who are but little versed in the rudiments
of music, and we predict a heavy demand
for this very admirable little work.
W. H. Frost is also publishing a
series of compositions for zobo bands, ar-
ranged for male voices by Otto Langey.
No. I. is a catcln r march, entitled "The
Scorcher," written by Mr. Langey him-
self; No. II. contains an excellent arrange-
ment of patriotic airs.
The instructor and music each sell for
twenty-five cents.
strument to the front, and competent men.
who are expert performers on the instru-
ment, are bringing its wonderful possibili-
ties to the notice of dealers and the public-
Mr. Frank Scribner, who is the manager
of the New York office and wareroom of the
Flagg Manufacturing Co., at 419 Broadway,
is enthusiastic about the Apollo harp and
feels confident that, with the recent im-
provements, it is going to make a decided
hit throughout the country. He informs us
that Apollo harp virtuoso Chas. S. Adams,
of Boston, who has thoroughly mastered
the delicate details of his profession, will
give daily exhibitions at the office in this
city, between three and five p. M. , after
Nov. 30th.
We advise dealers and others desirous
of gaining a knowledge of this instrument
to attend these recitals. We are confident
they will be delighted, and perhaps sur-
prised, that such a beautiful variety of
effects in the form of variations and trans-
positions can be so charmingly produced
A VERY unique device in the shape of a
from a clever combination of sounding-
music
chair has won for its inventors, Mr.
board, felt and strings.
and Mrs. W. O. Campbell, of Sulphur
Springs, Ark., a medal of genius bestowed
C. G. Conn and the K. of L.
by the Washington "Recorder." The chair
T the recent assembly of the Knights is said to be something entirely new, being
of Labor held in Rochester, N. Y., a piano stool or chair to hold three per-
General Master Sovereign and the other sons when playing a trio.
A