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THE
Music TRADE REVIEW
No Piano Plate Trust.
Carreno in New York.
DANIEL F. TREACY SAYS THAT UNDER EXIST-
ING CONDITIONS SUCH A COMBINATION
IS NOT POSSIBLE.
Mme. Teresa Carreno, who, during the
past few months, has been charming the
West by her delightful and enthusiastic
playing, made her first appearance in this
city last Wednesday and Thursday with
the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She
played Tschaikovsky's great work, his
First Piano Concerto, a composition which
unquestionably did much to acquaint the
world with the fact that this composer was
a new and lasting force in music. It is a
work tha.t is difficult for both the solo in-
strument and the accompanying orchestra.
It abounds in the composer's individuality
and shows his fondness for native forms,
his love of bright colors, his mastery of
orchestral resources,—in fact everything
that has given his music its identity. Mme.
Carreno found in this Concerto a vehicle for
her exuberant love of music, and her de-
light in phrases and passages that permit a
vigorous and dramatic expression.
Of Carreno's playing the critics of the
daily papers have been most complimen-
tary. The World says: " Her performance
was a superb one—big, broad, masterly,
spontaneous, and yet well balanced in con-
trasts. The ornamental figure with which
the piano accompanies the dainty waltz
theme in the second movement was played
with fairy fingers; the fortissimo which
concludes the concert was thundered with
wrists of steel. The interpretation was
one to be recorded among the pianistic
events of the season. "
At the concert on Thursday night Mme.
Carreno played MacDowell's Second Piano-
forte Concerto with such splendid spon-
taneity in execution that she scored as
great a success as with the Tschaikovsky
.number at the opening concert.
The Chickering concert grand which
Mme. Carreno used on the occasion gave a
splendid account of itself. It was equal to
all the demands made upon it and this cer-
tainly means much, for Carreno's forte is a
veritable tour de force. In variety of tonal
color—from the most delicate fortissimo to
full orchestral volume—the Chickering was
in every respect delightfully satisfying.
This week's report ait the Davenport &
Treacy factories is indicative of healthy
progress. The force is kept busy in every
department and the prospects for con-
tinuance of activity are excellent.
In the course of a brief talk with The
Review on the subject of a rumored com-
bination of plate-making interests, Mr.
Treacy, when asked as to truth of current
reports, said:
'' There has been talk
among the plate-makers along that line,
.but no meeting has been held. A few of
us had a friendly conversation concerning
the feasibility of such a plan, and ideas
were exchanged, but I am convinced that,
under existing conditions, such a combina-
tion is not possible.
"So far as the firm of Davenport &
Treacy are concerned, we are satisfied to
continue steadily along as we are at pres-
ent. We know that we are giving the best
possible values, and this fact is fully appre-
ciated by manufacturers who are well
aware that it is not possible to get a new
dollar for fifty cents.
"Iron has risen $6^2 per ton, and in
some instances we have advanced the price
of plates, but there has been no objection,
because the cause for the rise in our rates
has been recognized as legitimate. Try
how they will, I am firmly of the belief
that those who are interested in the union
of plate-making interests will be unable to
achieve the aim they have in view—for the
present, at any rate."
Fischer Triumphs.
THEIR PRODUCTIONS THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS
BUSINESS GENERALLY, BEAT ALL RECORDS.
This season has placed on record a flatter-
ing series of Fischer triumphs. The latest
Fischer grands and uprights have, without
exception, met with the warm approval of
Fischer representatives and retail patrons.
There has never been a larger or more
artistic showing of the firm's products than
that for 1899. This is particularly true of
the new Fischer style 5, orchestral concert
grand—now in use in many concert and
recital halls throughout the States, and the
new style 23, Fischer Grand Uprights.
Each of the other new styles, including
style 14 Boudoir upright; style 15, Cabinet
upright, and styles 17 and 20, Grand up-
rights, has scored an individual success on
its merits in style, tone construction and
finish. This record is strictly in keeping
with the firm's declaration of "individual-
ity " as a conspicuous characteristic of
Fischer products:—" Every Fischer piano
possesses a charming individuality. It is
different in many ways from a piano of
any other make. It is unmistakably a
Fischer Piano,—new or after a life-time
of service, it proclaims it at every turn at
every feature. Fischer pianos are built
upon fixed principles, and every instrument
is judged by an unswerving standard be-
fore it leaves the factories."
Bill Affecting Installments.
LSpecial to The Review.]
Kansas City, Mo., March 21, 1899.
The Senate committee on judiciary have
reported favorably in the legislature a bill
which is of great inportance to piano and
organ dealers as well as all concerns which
sell goods on time or on the installment
plan. The bill was introduced by Senator
Ramp, of Greene. It provides that in all
cases where mortgages are given on per-
sonal property to secure the purchase price,
before foreclosure can be instituted or the
property taken, 75 per cent, of all pay-
ments made must be returned to the person
making the mortgage. Such an act might
be taken advantage of by persons desiring
to rent pianos at nominal rates, the dealer
having no recourse.
9
Conover Incorporates.
The Conover Bros. Co. were granted a
certificate of incorporation by the Secret-
ary of State of New Jersey, this week. It
is their intention to manufacture pianos,
organs, etc. The capital is placed at $650,-
000. The incorporators are: James F.
Conover of New York, Edward W. Curtis,
New Rochelle, and Thomas Watson of
Cranford, N. J.
There is little to add to the particulars
given above at the present time regarding
the Conover Bros. Co. Meanwhile it is a
great pleasure to welcome again into the
active for&es of the local trade such a capa-
ble and progressive worker as J. Frank
Conover. Since the very earliest days he
has endeavored to labor along original lines
and has always had a horror of the stereo-
typed. Many members of the trade are
familiar with his "Pompadour" Grand
which possesses many points of excellence
and novelty and of which we have spoken
many times in these columns.
At a later date we hope to give full par-
ticulars regarding the development of this
enterprise.
;
Committee on Stencils
MAKING PROGRESS CHAS. H. PARSONS SPEAKS
OF THE WORK.
During a brief talk on Wednesday with
Chas. H. Parsons, president of the Need-
ham Piano & Organ Co., The Review in-
quired if any further particulars were
available concerning the proceedings of
what is now known as the Stencil Commit-
tee of the New York Piano Manufacturers'
Association.
Mr. Parsons replied that rapid progress
is being made with the report, which, when
completed, will be handed in to the Execu-
tive Committee for appropriate action in
connection with the forthcoming meeting
of the National Association at Washington.
"Each member of the Committee," said
Mr. Parsons, "has been allotted a certain
division of the general inquiry and each is
thus contributing definite results of his
own investigation. The report will be
lengthy. We 1 are endeavoring to cover the
whole ground in such a way as to enable
proper steps to be taken, in due course,
once for all, toward the solution of this
difficult .problem. I trust that our work
will be productive of some genuine good,
assuring justice and fair play for all."
Opportunity for Dealers.
The next special rate excursion in Trunk
Line territory for which the Merchants'
Association of ' New York has arranged
begins on April 3rd and the last day for
the purchase of tickets is April 6th. This
affords out-of-town dealers a splendid
opportunity to visit the metropolis, which
at that time will be in all its spring glory,
The Rev. Chas. Henry Lincoln, who in commercially speaking. Father Knicker-
1880 was agent for an organ company at Mo- bocker throws the gates ajar and extends a
bile, Ala., died at Pittsburg, Pa., recently. welcome.