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THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
LENOX »N0
V O L . XXVIII. N o . 2 1 . Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, May 27,1899.
$2.00 PER YEAR*
SINGLE COPIES ro CENTS
he replied, "in disseminating a knowl-
edge of his music. As it is now, hundreds
of
meritorious compositions cannot get a
THE GREAT VIRTUOSO PLEASED AND SURPRISED AT THE WORK OF THE AGE-END PIANO-PLAYER
hearing,
consequently no one knows any-
PLAYS HIS WALTZ ON THE ^OLIAN COMPANY'S RECORDING MACHINE—PREDICTS A
FUTURE FOR THE PIANOLA AND SAYS IT IS THE FIRST MUSICAL INVENTION
thing about them. Some of these pieces
HE EVER SAW WHICH HAS A RAISON D'ETRE ITS USEFULNESS
get one hearing. But that is not enough.
TO THE VIRTUOSO AND TO THE COMPOSER.
Real music to be appreciated must be
heard
again and again."
On Saturday, May 20th, Mr. Sauer vis- the. Pianola has a musical future, I am
Before
leaving, Mr. Sauer expressed his
ited the artistic warerooms of the ^Eolian talking about something I really be-
appreciation
again, congratulating the Com-
Company, on West Twenty-third street to lieve in.
pany
for
having
produced the first success-
"It plays 'La Campanella ' of Liszt and
hear the Pianola. He was accompanied by
ful
musical
invention
and added humorous-
Mr. Ernest Knabe, Mr. William Knabe other pieces which call primarily for
ly,
"You
American
inventors
will kill our
and Mr. Victor Thrane. In common with technical evenness in really good style and
profession.
The
artists
of
the
future will
nearly every one who hears the instrument with a technique fairly astonishing. No
have
a
hard
time
of
it.
In
ten
years
there
for the first time, Mr. Sauer was as com- pianist could approach it.
will
be
no
more
virtuosi.
No
player
can
"Of course in romantic or sentimental
pletely taken aback as he was delighted at
do
what
that
instrument
has
just
done.
the revelation. Where he had anticipated music, in what I should call erotic music,
hearing a toy, he found a real musical in- it must be less satisfactory, as the person- It is not possible."
On Sunday afternoon a representative of
strument which gave him pleasure to ality or individuality of the player counts
The
^Eolian Company played a long list
for so much more in music of this class.
listen to.
for
Mr.
Sauer in his rooms at the Hotel
Mr. Sauer was first shown to the Recdfct- As I say, it will have a musical future. I
Savoy
and
strengthened the impressions
ing Piano, and played with verve and bril- want you to send one to my home in
of
the
previous
day.
liancy his Valse de Concert. All the time Dresden. Here is a card which gives my
f
STATEMENT
OF EMIL SAUER.
he was playing, magnets and punches were address, Hahnelstrasse 8, Dresden, Ger-
"
I
have
examined
all of this article
busy registering a sort of photograph of many. As soon as it arrives, I shall give
with
care.
With
some
alterations in the
the performance upon a moving sheet of a reception to all the best musical people.
order
of
the
statements,
it
agrees with my
paper. For every depression of a key, a No musician can help admiring it."
recollection
of
the
interview.
At any rate,
perforation appeared in the paper corres-
"Do you think there is anything to be said
it
expresses
my
views
with
accuracy."
ponding in length and form to the time the about its usefulness to musicians and com-
(Signed) Emil Sauer.
key was held down. Every note even posers and for musical performances gen-
New
York,
May
23d, 1899.
down to the minutest sub-division of a erally?"
turn or trill was recorded by little electric
"I certainly do think there is a great
punches moving with inconceivable velo- deal to be said. Why it will be of practical
To Tax Department Stores.
city. The paper was then spooled and service to me, and I fully intend to employ
THE ftrOTnCIPAI, ASSEMBLY OF THIS CITY HAVE
placed in the roll sockets of the Pianola it in that way. You see I often have to
A PROPOSED ORDINANCE UNDER CONSID-
aad the performance reproduced.
practice a piece for two weeks and get it
ERATION, AND WILL GIVE A PUBLIC
HEARING ON JUNE 2D.
Peculiarities of touch, such as variations well under my hands before I can tell
of strength in successive blows were absent, whether or not I can create an effect with
The Municipal Assembly of this city has
but the phrasing—the intellectual part,— it. Sometimes I find that no satisfactory taken up the matter of department stores.-
was there, so that one familiar with Mr. effect can be produced and so lose my time On June 2d, a committee of the Council
Sauer's style might have recognized his and labor, for it is labor. Now the Piano- will give a public hearing on a proposed
playing. A number of pieces followed, la would tell me this in two minutes." ordinance to tax department stores $500
among them two compositions by Mr. Mr. Sauer was much pleased with the for each department. Councilman Sulzer
Sauer himself, "Aspen Leaves " and **At rendition of his Am Bache. He complained who is pressing the matter does not like the
that the "Espenlaub" could not be played ordinance in its present form. His idea is
the Brook."
rapidly
enough. It was then tried on to tax the department stores according to
The following is an accurate report of
another
instrument with a faster motor the size of the building they occupy with-
Mr. Sauer's conversation:
and
played
at the correct tempo. "I wish out regard to the amount of business done
" It is really wonderful. I can freely
say that the Pianola gives me more plea- you would cut for me 'Murmures de Vent,' " or capital invested. Some of the more
sure than I have had from thousands of so- added Mr. Sauer, "and also my 'Galop de radical members of the Assembly are anx-
Concert.' They ought to be just the things ious ty increase the fee of $500 for each
called treats of pianistic effort.
to
be effective. You also ought to have department so that no store could afford
"I have heard a great many musical in-
Balakirew's
Oriental Fantasie called 'Islam- to handle more than one line of goods. It
ventions, but the Pianola is the first which
ei.'
It
is
a
horribly difficult work, but is not expected that the pending ordinance
has a reason for existing.
the
-Pianola
would
play it beautifully." will ever become a law.
"It is sure to have a future. This is my
Mr.
Sauer
was
asked
what he thought
candid opinion. You know an artist often
The Henry F. Miller Concert Grand is
has to assist a struggling brother with about the usefulness of the instrument to
words of praise a little exaggerated, but in composers. " I can see how your instru- being used prominently in concert this
this case it is different. When I say that ment must aid the cause of the composer," season.
. . . EMIL SAUER AND THE PIANOLA . . .