Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
proposed to make of it, and in what way
he proposed to bring it before the trade of
this country and Europe, he replied:
""f have been more interested in the art
THE INVENTION OF MORRIS STEINERT — NOT A PIANOFORTE, HENCE ITS NAME REMARKABLE
than in the practical part. It has been my
EFFECTS POSSIBLE—ITS METHOD OF MANUFACTURE NOT YET DETERMINED.
aim, my dream for many years to perfect
the very part in the piano tone which I
HERE has been considerable discus- the release of the hammer from the string, consider was lacking. I now am confident *
sion in trade circles anent the inven- it disconnects the key from the hammer that I have won that. Working as I have
tion of Morris Steinert, and I confess that after each stroke is made, breaking the over the artistic part, I have perhaps been
my curiosity was somewhat whetted, and continuity of the musical interpretation of as an artist while painting a beautiful pic-
that I looked forward with much interest the player. The blows are also too severe. ture, wrapped in the artistic result of his
to a personal investigation of the Steinert Mine modifies the stroke, and it is possible work rather than in the practical part.
invention. Last week I stopped off at to produce a perfect tone with a minimum Candidly, I do not know to-day, nor have I
New Haven and passed a pleasant hour touch, thereby a piano player can hold considered the matter of the disposition of
with Morris Steinert.
closer relationship between himself and my patents."
"Then, Mr. Steinert," I said, "you do
"And so you have come to see the the instrument. The piano becomes nearer
Steiriertone'? " said Mr. Steinert, after I the violin with the ' Steinertone' in point not state whether you propose to incorpo-
had exchanged salutations in his little of sympathy, hence I claim that my inven- rate a company for the manufacture of the
tion makes this instrument in very truth ' Steinertone,' or whether you propose to
office at the end of the warerooms.
" And that is the name of your new in- more of a musical instrument—a sympa- sell the rights to one firm, or permit any
thetic musical instrument, not ^.pianoforte." one to manufacture it, provided that you
vention, Mr. Steinert?"
The action of the " Steinertone " is sim- are paid a royalty?"
"Yes."
pler
in construction than the ordinary
"No, I do not. Perhaps each point may
" A clever point, truly. There is not
have its advantages as well as disadvan-
only individuality in that but advertising
tages. In a practical way I think I should
as well."
receive some monetary returns; that would
"But," said Mr. Steinert, " I had other
be only right, but still I am interested in
aims in designating my invention by the
seeing it an artistic success, and I feel that
narrie of 'Steinertone 1 than mere advertis-
it would be the greatest benefit to the
ing. Inasmuch as the Steinert action pro-
world, in a musical way, if the 'Stein-
duces a tone which is not a pianoforte tone,
ertone ' were made on the royalty plan.
but a tone purely of my own discovery, I
In that way it would perhaps come before
call it the ' Steinertone.' "
a greater number of people musically in-
" Excellent," I replied, and together we
clined than if one firm should obtain entire
repaired to a recital hall above the ware-
control of the invention."
rooms where there was a Steinway piano
in which the Steinert action was placed.
I believe that, after hearing the " Stein-
"You see," said Mr. Steinert, after he
ertone," that it possesses merit. I am con-
seated himself in front of the piano, " I
fident of this. I am confident also that
have spent forty years of my life in tone
the trade will not discard the old method
study. I have recognized that one great
of building piano actions for the new until
MORRIS STEINERT.
defect in the modern piano is that its tone
the new has been fairly tested by contin-
to a certain extent is colorless, that its piano action. It is divested of all super- ued use. Then, again, it requires time for
mechanism does not admit of the player fluities, there being not a spring used in it a new invention to grow and assert its
expressing fully his emotions as he inter- While the age is iconoclastic I am not pre- hold upon the public.
prets musical art. After all, music is emo- pared to admit that from the mere fact that
I emphasize what I have said pre-
tional, and the nearer we can approach to Mr. Steinert has invented an action which viously in this article, that the "Stein-
correctly interpreting that emotion, the contains many points of merit that it will ertone " is well deserving the attention and
nearer we approach to true music. The immediately supersede all others, or that the investigation of all musical experts and
blows ordinarily made by the hammer action as we know it to-day will immedi- acousticians. It possesses a sufficient merit
upon the piano strings, produce noises and ately become obsolete. Such claims seem to invite the closest attention. It has the
harmonics or over tones which are obvi- to me ridiculous, and I do not believe that advantage of simplicity, hence a reduced
ously out of harmony with the musician's even Mr. Steinert, who is naturally enthu- cost in manufacture. This in itself is an
thoughts as applied to musical interpreta- siastic over his invention, believes anything important item practically speaking; that
tion. Such noises are really not music."
of the sort. I do think, however, that he it costs less and has claims of superiority
Then Mr. Steinert favored me with some has invented an action which is capable of made for it stands a greater chance of suc-
of the effects obtainable with his invention, producing surprising musical effects, that cess than to have increased cost and in-
an effect strongly resembling the tones of it possesses many points of merit, that it creased advantage as well.
an open and stop diapason of the organ, is worthy the attention and investigation
Then back of all this there must be con-
the French horn, the clarionet, the 'cello of the inventive minds of this country. sidered the personality of Morris Steinert.
and the bassoon. After listening to the I believe its future will depend upon its
Mr. Steinert is a man of unquestioned
effects produced on the "Steinertone," merits in relation to piano playing, its nov- musical ability. The study of tone has
and an instrument containing an ordinary elty and the manner in which it is brought been for him a tonic. It has been even
action, I must confess that I was surprised into practical operation throughout the more. It has been an infatuation almost.
at the possibilities of Mr. Steinert's inven- trade.
We question if there is a man living who
tion. It seems on the " Steinertone " that
When I asked Mr. Steinert, if, granting has made as close a study of the piano-
it is possible to produce tones and har- as I did, it was capable of producing won- forte and its precursors as Morris Steinert,
monies endowed with musical color and derful gradations of sound, what would be hence his opinion on matters of musical
nuance. In the " Steinertone " the claim the effect in a large hall if put to a severe inventions, irrespective of his own, must
of the inventor may be summed up in a test by a musical expert, his reply further carry weight. Possessed as he is with an
few words, when he says:
substantiated the belief in my mind that amplitude of this world's chattels, it should
" The ' Steinertone ' at all times enables Morris Steinert has unbounded confidence be considered that the "Steinertone" is
not in any sense a result reached for a
the player to hold control over the hammer. in the "Steinertone."
The old action has an incumbrance; after
When I asked him just what disposition he purely menetary end.
The "Steinertone.
T