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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
the fact that the Boston Music Trade Asso- sembly room, which will be in the upper part
ciation is a member of the Associated Board of the building, and is to be furnished some-
of Trade. This organization is influential in what after the manner of a drawing room,
the promotion of trade interests throughout where private concerts, artists' exhibitions,
New England. It represents thirty different lectures, etc., etc., can be held. This room
industries and hundreds of millions of capital. will fill a place analogous, in some sense, to
It is pleasing to see our Boston friends and that occupied here by the room in the Astoria,
although it will,perhaps,not be on so grandiose
indeed the industry so signally honored.
a scale.
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On the whole, as will be seen, this under-
Writing on the retail advertising of pianos,
taking
is of a most ambitious character, and
Ella Levin has the following to say in a con-
it
cannot
but prove a very valuable reinforce-
tribution to the latest issue of "Printers'
ment of the musical and artistic forces of
Ink:"
Chicago, where the greatest interest is mani-
" There is one point that might be made
fested
in its progress, which assumes, as may
Seldom has there assembled such a gather- in piano advertising, which as far as I know
be
well
understood, semi-public character
ing of the leading lights in music and society
has not been made. A good piano makes it
as came together at the Waldorf-Astoria on
easy to learn how to play; a hard touch is
Monday evening when a dinner was tendered
difficult to overcome, harsh sounds, set the
to Prof, and Mrs. Franz Rummel with their
teeth on edge and result in complaints from
immediate friends by Chickering & Sons prior
the neighbors; fine resonance makes the
to his departure on his concert tour through
study of tone-color simple, etc. It is the idea
the States. The affair took place in the
of using the piano that I wish to emphasize—
palatial State suite, and the menu and sur-
not the appearance of the case or the low
roundings were of that elegance only obtained
price—although they are to be considered.
from manager Geo. C. Boldt and his com-
" Women do most of the practicing, and
petent assistants. Those invited were: Prof,
certainly select the pianos; should not the
and Mrs. Rummel, Mr. Thomas F. Clark,
vice-president of the Western Union Tele- advertising be directed especially to them,
graph Co., and his wife, Miss Caroline De and appeal to them on points with which they
Forest, Miss M. Callender, Miss E. Douglass, are familiar?"
The point taken is not a bad one.
of Brooklyn, Mrs. Jessie Bernd, Mr. Jas. L.
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Breese, Mr. Richard Young, Mr. Albert
Interest in the new Music Halls and Studio
Steinberg and Mr. Fritz Boters, a prominent
Buildings, now being built by Studebaker
civil engineer from Hamburg.
Brothers Manufacturing Co., in Michigan
Quite recovered from his severe nervous Boulevard, Chicago, a view of which is here-
attack Prof. Rummel looked fully himself with presented to Review readers, will not, I
again. Surrounded by a congenial and sym- feel sure, be confined alone to the music-lov-
pathetic company, he displayed his erudition ing people of that city, for although New
in varied ways.
York has its Carnegie Hall buildings, which
Few pianists can show such a regal display must always be a source of satisfaction and
earned by their own genius and merit, coupled content, it takes a generous interest in all
by years of study, as Prof. Rummel. Among that helps the cause of music in the country
his decorations are: Knight of the Order of at large, especially in the great Western
Wasa, presented by the King of Sweden; metropolis, where just now great activity in
Knight of the Order of Danebrog, presented the musical field is evident; in fact, the con- and it will be safe to say that outside of New
by the King of Denmark; Knight of the struction of such a building, containing as it York City there is no building which will be
Order of Adolf, by the Grand Duke of Luxem- does provision in its large music hall, seating at all comparable to it.
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burg; also Knight of the Frederick's Order i,600, for concerts given on a grand scale,
Siloti,
the
Russian
pianist,
whose marvel-
for Arts and Sciences, by the Duke of An- and its chamber music hall (both on the
ous
technique
has
called
forth
considerable
halt.
ground floor) for smaller entertainments, as comment in the papers, is said to have a pair
A significant fact which shows how highly well as the large number of art and music
esteemed are Prof, and Mrs. Rummel by studios the building will contain, is at once of remarkable hands, so formed that they can
European royalty is that they are received at an evidence of a quickening in the artistic spread themselves over a greater number of
keys than any other known manipulator of the
Court by the Queen of Sweden and the Queen elements of the city.
ivories. Siloti can reach twelve and a half
of Denmark, who is herself very musical;
As the view herewith shows, the building notes, or an octave and four and a half
also at Luxemburg and Dessau as one of the itself is almost monumental in character, and
notes. The average musician is very well
family.
rising above the height of the adjoining Audi- satisfied to be able to strike a full octave.
Mrs. Rummel is the daughter of the world- torium, is easily the most commanding struct-
renowned inventor of the telegraph, Prof. S. ure on the lake front, where it is especially This extraordinary reach of course makes it
F. B. Morse, and the eminence which Prof. conspicuous because of the unimpeded view possible for Siloti to strike a remarkable range
and variety of octaves, and hence his rapidity
, Rummel has attained in his profession he gal- which is obtained from the lake front.
and ease. He can strike notes so fast, in run-
lantly attributes in no small measure to Mrs.
So far as the exterior is concerned the ning the scale for instance, that it is impossi-
Rummel. The great success which has at- building is already practically completed, and
tended Mr. Rummel's appearance in the East within the framing of stairways, placing of ble for the ear to distinguish them. The fin-
is an augury of further and greater triumphs partitions, etc., etc., indicate that the final gers of the hand are remarkably long and the
hand is an exceedingly powerful one. And,
during his tour.
stages in its construction have been reached, in spite of its great strength and size, it is as
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and there seems, therefore, no reason to flexible and soft as a baby's.
Henry F. Miller, president of the Boston doubt that it will be ready for occupancy the
One of the most interesting of the tests
Music Trade Association, has been made first of May, as originally announced. This
made
was the measurement of the strength of
chairman of the committee on commerce of is not, however, I understand, to include
the
muscles
of the inner hand. It is the
the Boston Associated Board of Trade. Al- the music halls, which are to be finished dur-
strength
of
these
muscles which gives clean-
exander Steinert,another member of the Music ing the summer, and will be ready for use
ness
and
decision
to
the touch as well as rap-
Trade Association, has been made a member when the musical season opens next fall.
idity
and
ease.
Great
pianists always have
of the committee on insurance and building
A somewhat novel feature, to those at least
very
powerful
hands.
It
is said that Pader-
laws. The recognition thus accorded is due outside of New York City, is a recital or as-