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JO
its red and white flags, very naturally, is
but a small one; indeed it is so small that
but few people know that "that most
western of eastern " nations possesses such
a thing, but as a matter of fact it does, and
its Japanese director is a great musical
amateur and takes an interest in showing
the section to a visitor and telling how the
same firm, Messrs. Surziki Nahrwarha,
make all the instruments of music used in
the Academy of Tokio, also that his firm
made a successful exhibit at Chicago. Five
violins are shown which differ but little
from those turned out by Western manu-
facturers, while the show of violin strings
are of a quality which few nations could
show. These, and a number of flute like
instruments which are unknown in Europe
compose the exhibits of Japan.
Spain has her music section in the gal-
lery ; it is badly placed and the whole
place wears a most deserted appearance,
for it is not a tempting spot for visitors to
linger. That may, of course, be the reason
that neither of the firms showing appears
to have a representative on the spot, and
it is only by the names on the pianos that
it is possible to know who is the exhibitor,
more especially as the guardian of the sec-
tion only speaks his native language.
Messrs. Chassaigne, Barcelona, show two
grands and three uprights. Two of the
latter are very good-looking instruments.
One is a full octaved piano in the now pop.
ular walnut frise, whilst the other, equally
large, is also in walnut of a grey tone of
coloring, very effective, used as it is with
an almost black wood to frame the grey.
This combination of tones in wood is rare.
The grands, a concert, and the other an
ordinary sized one, are both in ebony.
A typical case is shown by Messrs. Car-
devar, Valencia. Bright colored paintings
are lavished on all the instruments shown
in the exhibit of mandolins, banjos, and
castanets, which are very representative of
the national instruments of music.
Two other pianos are shown in this sec-
tion, one is a Steinway grand, not as piano
exhibits however, but as a means of show-
ing the working of four extra pedals, but
as the action is not in order it is impossi-
ble to say what effect these extra pedals
would have upon the tone of any piano
operated on; the name of the exhibitor is
S. L. Hijos, Barcelona.
Sweden has no musical section; and
Greece only shows one small case of man-
dolins in the Greek pavilion; these are
most lavishly ornamented and should be
very good toned ones judging from the
high prices put upon them.
Lilian King.
Of the five new "Crown" styles recently
placed on the market by Geo. P. Bent of
Chicago, style A seems to lead in popular-
ity. It is an instrument whose architec-
tural lines are simple but classic. The ap-
preciation bestowed by the trade is a credit
to their good taste. Meanwhile the other
"Crown" styles—each a splendid example
of good piano making—have their coterie
of admirers; as a result business generally
is very satisfying with Geo. P. Bent, the
famous "Crown" maker.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
of all, leaving gloom and sadness, where
once reigned smiles and delight?
When music heavenly maid was young,
Even for this has science provided a
While yeL in early Greece she sung
remedy. The Shonnard, a new and scien-
The passions oft, to hear her Shell
tific apparatus, invented and constructed
Thronged around her Magic Cell.
to play pianos, new or old, in a style that
Collins in 1750, A.D.
For untold ages before the imaginative but few performers can emulate. This
Greeks had elected the sacred sisters nine apparatus is all complete in itself, is hung
to preside over the votaries of poetry, from the bottom board inside underneath
music, the arts and sciences, had the the keys, and out of sight, not affecting
rhythmical sequence of tempo and tone, the instrument in any way by its presence
the earliest factors of a civilizing essence, when you wish to play manually. When
been exerting their mysterious power, to you desire to play automatically, you place
awaken and reclaim man from Barbarism. one of the perforated rolls of music in the
A condition which science seems to in- sliding frame underneath the key board,
dicate was the prevailing one at a very partly in sight. This roll is of the ordi-
nary perforated music roll and the cata-
early period of our existence.
The earliest historical records however, logue is very large.
compel us*to believe that at no time since
When all is in place a slight pressure of
mankind have taken their place in the the finger will start the instrument. No
front rank of creation, has music of some labor or blowing is required, the stops for
kind been absent, and the quality of the the tempo and touch are both convenient
music might safely be taken to give an and respond instantly as required. The
approximate measure of the civilization wonderful flexibility and smoothness of
obtaining where the music itself was the stroke is something admirable and lifts
produced.
the Shonnard into the front rank of
In nearly all the great nations of the piano players. To those who are suffer-
world the love of music is strong and pre- ing from a lack of good music in their
vailing, yet the oldest and largest nation homes, we recommend a visit to No. 19
is, or seems an exception. It would ap- Union Square, west. We think a sight of
pear to me that neither Confucius or Ma- the catalogue will spread the world of
homet, (both have their disciples in China) music Vefore them.
had a particle of music in their souls, it
certainly was not impressed on their teach-
Our Commercial Ascendency.
ing. Contrast theirs with the teaching of
The immense expansion in the foreign
love, justice, humanity and care for the
trade of the United States of late years
well-being of all mankind, as laid down by
has naturally attracted the attention of
our Divine Master. The entire narration
statisticians, who, not content to record
is a hymn of joy.
the actual movements of the day, seek, by
The Banner of the Dragon is a fitting comparison with the work of other coun-
emblem for a nation that wallows in the tries and by reference to the past, to put
mud without enterprise or hope, as our them in their proper perspective. An ex-
own bright banner with its shining stars position of this kind, which emphasizes the
is of our high aims and honorable inten- significance of our current statistics of
tions. If we have winced at times from trade, is found in an article by Commis-
an application of our own stripes no doubt sioner Carroll D. Wright on the commer-
we deserved it, and the application proved cial ascendency of the United States in the
salutary to the body corporate.
current number of the Century magazine.
One of the greatest forces of civiliza- He sets forth that, according to careful
tion in the Christian world is music; the estimates, recently made in the United
churches ring with it, schools and colleges States, the production of manufactured
abound everywhere to teach it, visitations goods for the present year will reach
of great artists from distant countries at at least the value of $12,500,000,000, which
great cost are constantly taking place, will be about $450,000,000 in excess of the
which is some evidence that with us the value of the manufactured products of the
love of music must be greater than the United Kingdom and Germany, the chief
love of money, said to be the root of all competitors of the United States. Not
evil.
many years ago the United Kingdom held
In all of our cities there is abundant not only the ascendancy in manufactures,
means of gratifying the taste for music of but the supremacy. The United States
every kind for those able to attend con- has encroached rapidly upon that position,
certs and recitals, but this does not cover until in many greatlines its products vastly
the field; of all the habitable places on our exceed those of the United Kingdom, while
earth, our homes are where the effects of in the total they are much in excess. The
fine music, its harmony and rhythm, are latest returns show a production of nearly
surely wanted; the minds of children to be 12,000,000 long tons of pig iron in the
filled with memories of sweet chords, the United States, while the production of
aged to be soothed with repetitions of the Great Britain for the same period was only
music that delighted them in their youth- 8,631,151 gross tons; and so it is with nu-
ful days, and recalling to their memories merous other lines.
many happy hours in the lights and shades
of the days long past. But what if in the
The display of "Popular Pease" grands
home, the musicians yielding to the muta- and uprights at the Pease warerooms on
tions of time, had passed to distant lands, Forty-second street is, as usual, one of
or even been gathered into the final home the best in the city.
The Provision of Science.