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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Specially Decorated Pianos.
THE EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENT MADE FOR THE
EMPRESS FREDERICK MAX KOCH
SEEMS TO HAVE A MONOPOLY
AS A DESIGNER.
Speaking of fancy pianos, in a recent is-
sue of Pearson's magazine, J. Malcolm
Fraser refers to the twelve hundred guinea
pianoforte made for the Emperor and Em-
press Frederick of Germany, and which
was given them by their Court officials on
the occasion of their silver wedding. It
was constructed to match the room in
which it eventually stood in both color and
design.
As a rule, there is not a great deal to be
said with reference to the outer, or, for
that matter, the inner casing of even an
extraordinary instrument. But in this the
Grand that was presented to their Majes-
ties differs from the rest.
In the first place, three of the residences
of Queen Victoria—namely, Windsor, Bal-
moral and Osborne Castles—were specially
chosen for representation in the three
panels which have been designed and
painted for this instrument. These panels,
by their extreme beauty and family associ-
ations, add enormously to the intrinsic
value of the piano.
Besides this, on the inner part of the lid
a small presentation speech has been in-
scribed, ending with the signatures of the
officials who formed the band of donors.
Beneath all these signatures the Court
artist has painted the state carriage, with
I YOU NOW!
B U T IT REACHES EVERY MUSIC DEALER
IN E U R O P E AND GREATER BRITAIN . . . .
MUSIC
IS THE LEADING ENGLISH TRADE PAPER
PROPRIETORS, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS:
POLSUE & ALFIERI, Lim.
186 WARDOUR ST., W., LONDON
THE
"Brilliant" Sign Letter
i
ATTRACTIVE
THE MOST -j EFFECTIVE
HANDSOMB
and the best advertising letter that can be
placed on a window. Nothing but the bet-
ter class of trade use them.
its eight horses, in which the Emperor
and Empress drove to the thanksgiving
service. It is comforting to note that the
Empress Frederick has not forgotten the
land of her birth, for the British Coats-of-
Arms are entwined upon the sides with
those of Germany. The whole of the de-
signs and wood-carving were carried out
by Max Koch,the President of the Museum
for Decorative Art in Berlin.
Professor Max Koch, by the way, seems
to have a monopoly in the art of designing
pianos. Although only about thirty-five
years of age, he thinks nothing of '"levying
a tax " of ^50 or ^60 for every chair he
designs. For designing a piano, which
thing he only does as a great favor for
Royalty, he expects at least two or three
hundred pounds, and should he do any of
the wood-carving himself, this price would
eventually be raised to ^500.
The ordinary piano-designer is of an in-
dependent disposition, however, and in an
eminent degree is Professor Koch pos-
sessed of this trait.
He refuses point
blank either to supply the designs within a
certain space of time or to give a final esti-
mate for the cost of the undertaking; when
the work has been completed you pay his
price.
A pianoforte designed and carried out
under the direction of Max Koch is the
Rheingold which Messrs. Bechstein con-
sider their chefd'ceuvre. It was shown in
the Berlin Industrial Exhibition of 1896,
and after becoming the cynosure of all
eyes in the musical world, was eventually
purchased by the Exhibition Lottery Com-
mission to be given as the first prize in one
of their lotteries.
The whole of the sides represent the
waves of the Rhine, and are of an emerald
green color, while a couple of swans, rest-
ing lightly on the waters, form the limits
of the keyboard. Upon the legs on either
side two of the Rhine daughters stretch to-
wards the swimming birds. The third leg
is composed of a daughter struggling with
the dwarf Alberich for the treasures of the
German river. In fact, the piano is typi-
cal of the well-known fable, "Das Rhein-
gold," and even the carving and paintings
were done by Max Koch, so that the price
paid for it—very nearly two thousand
The
guineas—does not seem to be in any way
exorbitant.
Where the piano is now is a mystery;
but it is generally believed that a rich
Munich brewer has become its possessor.
The "Rheingold" piano has thus escaped
royal hands. In nearly every other case
such instruments belong to kings and
queens—or Indian princes at least, who,
by the way, are the proud possessors of
some of the most magnificent pianos ever
made.
And Royalty is often most peremptory
in its orders. Not long ago Messrs. Bech-
stein received an order—on the telephone
—from the Kaiser to wire toChristiania for
plans, to construct from them an upright
piano, and to deliver it at his Majesty's
hunting-box near Rominten within a fort-
night. They asked for a little more time
—"A fortnight? It is impossible ! "
The answer was imperial and to the
point: "A fortnight delivered at my hunt-
ing-box, or I won't have it."
So they telegraphed for the plans,stripped
a new upright, recased it in the style re-
quired and delivered it all within the
fortnight.
DETMER MUSIC CO,
JOBBERS
of all kinds
Musical Merchandise,
621 Wabash Avenue,
Sheet flusic,
Books, Etc.
— — CHICAGO
WILLIAM F. HASSE,
MANUFACTURER OF
piANO STOOLS
AND
Scarfs sent on Selection.
115 East 14th Street,
Near Stcinway Hall,
Sehwander..
NEW YORK.
WORLD
RENOWNED
PIANO FORTE
ACTION
T H E BRILLIANT 5IGN LETTER CO.
HERRBURGER & CO.
468 Sixth Ave. Cor. 28th St.
AUG. PALLE, SOLE AGENT FOR UNITED STATES AND CANADA
NEW YORK.
On receipt of a Postal Card enquiry we will call and submit
you design and price on your work.
NEW YORK FACTORY
PARIS FACTORY
88 Lincoln Avenue
16 Rue de l'Evangile
Jtoon&lpmlin
Highest Grade Pianofortes
(WREST-PIN AND STRINGER SYSTEMS.)
LISZT, CHURCH, CHAPEL and PARLOR
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