Music Trade Review

Issue: 1899 Vol. 28 N. 11

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvs^vvvvvvyvvvvv
AA*
The......
Aeolian
Company
18 W. Twenty-third
Street, New York
Aeolian Orchestrelle.
WIDOR
::!
::
Boston—The M, Steinert & Sons Company
Chicago—Lyon & Healy
Philadelphia—C. J. Heppe & Son
Montreal—Pratte Piano Company
The great French organist and composer endorses the Aeolian.
i;
A
splendid tribute from one of the leading musicians of Europe*
About two years ago some one sent me from New York a program of a concert given in the large hall of the Mendelssohn Club—
a program on which appeared the names of Bach, Saint-Saens, Verdi, Brahms, Max Bruch, Svendsen, etc., and of which the second part
commenced with the "first hearing in America ** of my Symphonie Gothique.
I mistook at first the performer for a man, and supposed Monsieur Aeolian was some great virtuoso. As the Symphony had only been
published two months, I admired the power for work, the intelligence of an artist capable of assimilating so rapidly, and for a public produc-
tion, a work exceedingly complex and technically so difficult.
"Who was this Monsieur Aeolian, of whom, till now, nobody had ever heard? Where did he come from? Some clippings from news-
papers which came with the program, and giving an account of the evening, explained the mystery.
The Aeolian is an instrument which affords a mechanical substitute for the fingers of the human performer. It differs essentially from
the known systems from the fact that the nuances, the tone colors, the varieties of rhythm and execution, orchestration—even the character
of the piece—are not imposed upon us, but remain subord-'nated to our fantasy. You can play the Passacaglia or the Toccata in D minor of
the great Sebastian Bach without touching your hands to the keyboard. All you have to do is to register the piece—that is to say, to draw or
push in the stops of the instrument according to the necessities of the orchestration.
Thus, through an execution mechanically faultless, you express your musical sentiment and intelligence. Thus, without any power of
virtuosity, if you are incapable of playing a sonatina of Clementi, you can accompany with all the time variations and shading any performer
in any piece. Thus, hereafter, the composer can register and define his thought, inscribing it with the utmost exactness on a roll of paper,
which can be shipped by parcel post to the Antipodes, or it can be preserved on the shelves of a library, with a guarantee against error or
misunderstanding of interpretation either now or hereafter.
The inventors of the Aeolian have already transcribed an entire repertory of the master works for orchestra, organ, and piano. They
keep in step with the musical movements of the entire world— u up to date," as the Americans say. . . .
• Lately they gave us some idea of their repertory by playing successfully the Rhapsodies of Liszt, the Sonata Apassionata, Le Rouet
d'Omphale, the Danse Macabre; then they accompanied Delsarte in whole series of pieces for the 'cello. They are engaged in transcribing
the entire works of Bach, which will soon be finished.
The music for the Aeolian is in the form of paper rolls. You have only to insert them in the sockets and conform to the indications in-
scribed measure by measure on the paper which unrolls before your eyes; crescendos, decrescendos, ritards, repeats of a movement—all are
scrupulously noted. . . .
Is it not truly delightful to be able to register the interpretation of a musical work with absolute exactitude, and be able to know that
these instructions will remain as an unalterable document, as a certain witness, true to-day, which shall not change to-morrow—the typical
interpretation which shall not vary in all eternity?
The Aeolian has rendered signal service in America. It has carried the good message into regions previously ignorant of artistic matters,
and enabled far-off communities to glimpse the horizons of high art.
CH. M. WIDOR.
wr
I
iii
!
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
n
improvements, it is the grand action par
An Interesting Publication.
excellence and many manufacturers have
The current issue of The Musical Herald
learned to recognize the fact.
may
justly be termed an edition de luxe.
"I wish the firms now engaged in the
Superbly
printed on super-calendered
manufacture of pianos' who are not aware
paper
and
beautifully
illustrated, it is a de-
THE MESSRS. JACOB SOUTH.
of the merits of Schwander products would
light
to
the
eye,
while
its literary features
Charles Jacob and C. Albert Jacob, of communicate with me on the subject. Our
are
of
exceeding
interest.
Jacob Brothers, are taking a brief vacation actions, for grands and for uprights, chal-
The portrait of Mme. Eames-Story is
in Florida. Both of these live men have lenge comparison and will stand every
accorded
the place of honor, and the

well earned a respite from their work. test."
achievements
of this artist in the world of
Their house, one of the most solid and
music,
as
well
as her beautiful residences
BEHR BROS. & CO.
prosperous in the trade, holds a high place
in
Paris
and
Italy,
each of which contains
Henry Behr's report, when The Review
to-day in the estimation of business men,
a
Kimball
piano,
are
referred to in a de-
called
at
the
Behr
factory
on
Tuesday,
was
and has gained its position through the
cidedly
entertaining
manner.
satisfactory.
Mr.
Brown,
now
traveling
for
persistent, conscientious work of the firm
Among the many subjects treated of are
members, who understand their duties Behr Bros. & Co., is making a good record
the
great development of the music inter-
in
the
West.
He
is
sending
in
big
orders.
thoroughly and insist that all others in
ests
of Chicago, exemplified so forcibly in
Edward
Behr,
of
the
firm,
left
town
on
their employ shall be competent and active.
the magnitude of the piano and organ fac-
Wednesday for a lengthy business trip.
tories of the W. W. Kimball Co., an illus-
THE SCHUBERT PIANO CO.
Lien
Law
to
be
Amended.
trated
descriptive and comprehensive arti-
As predicted by The Review, the Schu-
cle
bearing
on the Kimball pianos and pipe
bert Piano Co. have enjoyed a prosperous ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE EMPOWERS LAWYERS
and
reed
organs,
the popularity of which
TO PRESENT AMENDMENT TO LEGISLA-
run on the new styles in Schubert uprights.
has
reached
international
proportions, as
TURE.
There are good reasons for this satisfac-
well
as
the
many
individual
improvements
tory condition, not the least important be-
William E. Wheelock, Adolpho H. Fischer embodied in these products.
ing the excellent taste displayed in case and Wm. Dalliba Dutton, as a committee
Other literary features of interest are
designs.
of the N. Y. Piano Manufacturers' Ass'n
the
various commendatory opinions of the
The leading design for 1899 appears on the State Lien law, met on Wednesday
great
conductors and noted celebrities on
equally attractive in ebony, mahogany, and decided to authorize the Association's
the
Kimball
pianos, reference to the nu-
walnut and oak. All are good sellers, and legal representatives to draw up an amend-
merous
inventions
which have been
each finds a host of admirers. The Schu- ment to the statute now in force and
granted
the
Kimball
Co. and numer-
bert products sell readily on their merits, have the same introduced at the present
ous
other
topics
which
will interest
and those who handle them are foremost session of the Legislature. The commit-
general
readers,
as
well
as
those
interested
among the champions of standard values. tee met Mr. Beebe and Mr. Bruce, of
in piano making.
Havens & Beebe, 18 Wall street, on
George Schleifarth, the well-known com-
STRICH & ZEIDLER.
Wednesday and on Thursday morning Mr. poser, contributes the music, and W. S.
Strich & Zeidler, in their report this Bruce left for Albany by the Empire State
Visscher the words of a very pretty song,
week on trade conditions, emphasize the Express.
which
is entitled "Lucy Lee of Tennes-
fact that their new style H, containing Paul
see.
"
Mr. Lee in Town.
Zeidler's new scale and embracing all of
The closing page of this publication con-
the Strich & Zeidler special features, is
Among the distinguished trade visitors tains a full-plate picture of some of the
proving to be one of the most fortunate of to the Metropolis during the week was
the firm's ventures in the matter of pro- Frank A. Lee, head of the John Church many prominent musicians who use and
endorse the Kimball pianos. It is virtual-
gressive and high-class work.
Co. and allied interests. Mr. Lee looked ly a gallery of noted artists whose fame is
"We find," said Mr. Strich to The Re- over the Boston end of the business and
view on Wednesday, '' that the relief panel- spent some time in conference with Mr. world-wide.
ling, introduced in our new style H, has Wright. He left for Cincinnati late in the
An Amusing Episode.
met with extraordinary success. It is week.
greatly in favor, too, among piano buyers
A late issue of the Revue Medicale gives
who welcome evidences of advancement in
this
dialogue: At the hospital: Clinical
Hardman, Peck & Co.
artistic piano-making."
professor (to patient)—What is your occu-
" There is a steady demand for Hardman pation? Patient (with bronchial catarrh)—
pianos, both wholesale and retail, and we A musician, sir. Professor (to the stud-
LUDWIQ PROSPERITY.
The new annex at the factory of Ludwig find that results justify our recent ware- ents)—Here, gentlemen, I have an oppor-
& Co. is now being fully utilized. Men, room enlargement." This is Mr. W. Dalliba tunity of clinically demonstrating to you a
machinery and material occupy the several Dutton's report on the Hardman products fact to which I have frequently referred in
floors. The indications are that still more for the present week, made in response to the lecture-room—namely, that fatigue and
working space will be needed before many a question from The Review. Mr. Dutton the respiratory efforts called for by the act
months. Those portions of the factory re- added that the call for Standard pianos is of blowing on wind instruments are a fre-
cently burned are being rapidly replaced. always ahead of the production.
quent cause of the affection from which
In the factory proper the floors are
this man is suffering. (To the patient)—'-
Carreno in New York.
crowded with stock in every stage of man-
On what instrument do you play? Patient—
ufacture. By the adoption of a business-
Mme. Carreno, who is now under the The big drum, sir.
like system in the several departments, not exclusive management of Chickering &
a moment of time is lost in passing in- Sons, will make her first appearance in
"A Modern Music Store.'
struments from one stage of the work to this city this season as soloist at the con-
" A Modern Music Store" is the title of
another. This is one of the reasons why certs of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
a
very
charming booklet issued by Chase &
the Ludwig output is so large.
on next Wednesday and Thursday. Fol- Smith, of Syracuse, N. Y., bearing gene-
lowing her appearance here there are over rally on the wares which they handle, and
THE » SCHWANDER" ACTION.
thirty concerts booked for the Eastern particularly on the Steinway, Krakauer,
"The Schwander grand action," said cities.
Emerson, Smith & Barnes, and Sterling
Aug. Palle to The Review on Wednesday,
pianos,
for which they are the representa-
Mr. Adolpho H. Fischer left town yester-
when called upon to report trade condi-
tives.
The
book throughout is a clever
tions, "has gained a firm hold in this day on a brief trip to the West. He. wiU
piece
of
literary
work,
country and in Canada, With the latest probably return in about a week.
at the factory that the opening- of new
Decker warerooms for retail trade in this
city has already proved to be a wise and
profitable undertaking.

Download Page 8: PDF File | Image

Download Page 9 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.