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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Artist and Instrument Praised.
The Melville Clark Piano.
Wareroom Notes.
Since the remodelling of the Everett ware-
rooms, the interior has undergone a marvel-
lous change. The grands and uprights have
been re-grouped and supplemented by numer-
ous examples of every leading style. There
is now on exhibition a splendid array of con-
cert and parlor Everett grands.
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The iEolian warerooms are constantly re-
ceiving new artistic touches. Among the lat-
est additions are desks of uniform size and
color for members of the staff, arranged along
the western side at the northern end of the
main floor. The general grouping of fur-
niture and pictures, and the blending of col-
ors throughout, combine to make these ware-
rooms at once elegant and attractive.
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Hardman, Peck & Co. were exceptionally
fortunate in securing the whole first floor of
the new building at the corner of Nineteenth
street and Fifth avenue. In the matter of
area, light, ventilation and general fitness
for the purpose of exhibiting grand pianos,
the new quarters are probably the finest in
the United States. In fact, it is a question
if they are not the finest in the world.
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Kranich & Bach do a large retail business
in this city at the headquarters on Twenty-
third street, many of the purchasers being
callers who have been recommended by their
friends. The retail stock on exhibition is
The Lesson it Teaches.
usually large and always choice. As The
The auction room is an excellent place to Review has had occasion to remark before,
glean an idea of the value of advertising. it is invariably well kept and methodically
For instance, last Tuesday night, Benjamin arranged, so that visitors may readily see the
S. Wise sold fifty pianos by auction at his various designs and woods. All of these
warerooms in West 125th street. The prices points tell in trying to make a sale.
realized for the different instruments seem to
Kranich & Bach.
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have been proportionate to the value given
Shortly
after
the
Needham
Piano
& Organ
The business report of Kranich & Bach for the name stencilled thereon by advertising
Co.
moved
into
their
present
quarters
at the
the week shows healthy activity at the fac- on the part of the manufacturer.
southwest
corner
of
Fifteenth
street
and
Fifth
tory, and a good demand among the agencies
For instance, a Steinway upright that had avenue, the excellence of their window dis-
in all sections. Victor W. O'Brien, traveler seen service for a quarter of a century
for the firm, starts at an early date on a brought $305, and a Chickering practically as play was noted in The Review. This spe-
lengthy tour covering, along with other ter- old brought $290. A little later a piano of cial feature has been consistently maintained
ever since. The JSTeedham windows are to-
ritory, the Southern and the Pacific Coast.
an old-time maker, still in the trade, but who day among the most attractive on Fifth ave-
Among recent callers at the wareroomswas believes that advertising is a waste of money,
W. H. Keller, Kranich & Bach representative was put up. It was not in use for a year and nue. Every advantage is taken of the excel-
at Easton, Pa. Mr. Keller selected stock for should on the basis of actual merit have real- lent location to display tastefully and im-
early shipment. He is a firm believer in the ized almost as much as the old Steinway and pressively, the latest of the Needham prod-
Kranich & Bach products and has made an Chickering sold previously, yet the amount ucts.
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excellent record in his territory.
realized was only $120.
At the Mathushek warerooms the exhibit
44
A cheap piano, made by a Harlem maker is large and very choice, in addition to being
Crown" Publicity.
who
stencils, yet believes in advertising, was artistically arranged and well kept. The
In the Chicago Tribune of Sunday last
put
up
after this instrument. It had been in Broadway warerooms are now much resorted
there was a very attractive full-page adver-
use
a
couple
of years, nevertheless it realized to by intending piano purchasers, many of
tisement devoted to Crown pianos. A num-
$145-
whom leave orders.
ber of the latest designs—extremely hand-
May Be Commissioner.
The deduction from these facts is self-evi-
some instruments, by the way—were shown,
dent.
The
buying
public
instinctively
value
It seems likely that Frederick J. Allen, of
accompanied by well-written and pertinent
reading matter. The following sample will pianos, nowadays, whether new or old, ac- Auburn, N. Y., will succeed Chas. H. Duell,
cording to the value created for them in the whose resignation as Commissioner of Pat-
give an idea of the general tenor:
ents is referred to elsewhere in The Review.
"From the Clavichord and Harpsichord to public mind through advertising.
Notwithstanding the best efforts of the The latter will not leave office until April 30.
the Crown piano is a long step, embracing
years of continuous effort, which slowly but auctioneer, every instrument sold Tuesday
Thomas Nelson, secretary of the National
surely wrought out the development of the night maintained a price—not the estimate Musical String Co., is about to erect a hand-
piano. Each step retained the best of the placed upon it by the auctioneer—but the some residence at the corner of College ave-
achievements preceding it, combining them value which the name possesses in the pub- nue and Bishop Place, New Brunswick, JST.
with the highest attainments of the present. lic mind.
J. The house, in its style of architecture
Isn't there a moral in this ?
The Crown piano is the natural and logical
and general attractiveness, will surpass any-
result of the irresistible march of progress
Chas. H. Steinway will leave on the thing in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson will
in the development of the piano."
'Deutschland" early in May for Europe.
occupy their new home next fall.
Ossip Gabrilowitsch, who visited Hartford,
Conn., last week, won a success unparalleled
in that musical center. "Not since Paderew-
ski's visit here," says the Post, "have we
heard a pianist with such a mastery of so
many varying styles. Technically, he has all
the transcendent skill, strength, accuracy and
variety of resource to be found in every great
pianist, and besides he has plenty of tempera-
ment and individuality which are of uncom-
mon beauty and attractiveness. He main-
tains a remarkable repose and assurance in
the face of besetting difficulties, and renders
with an adorning radiance the most compli-
. cated textures, never forgetting the necessity
of technical perfection. Free from all man-
nerisms, he is conscientious in his work and
is devotion itself to whatever be his undertak-
ing. He has an uncommon polish and finish
of style, with a keen feeling of rhythm and
a sensitiveness to all that is beautiful. His
faculty for inspiring his hearers with his
own temperament is the same as that of Pad-
erewski."
This paper then proceeds to give a lengthy,
well-written and critical analysis of the pro-
gram in which Gabrilowitsch's work com-
mands the highest possible praise. It is re-
lated that the concert closed with an exhibi-
tion of enthusiasm that "threw in the shade"
the reception accorded any artist who has
visited Hartford in years.
The following sentence in reference to the
superb Everett concert grand which he
played is a compliment well deserved: "His
instrument last evening was a songster of
almost human possibilities in such hands as
his."
The following letter, received by the Mel-
ville Clark Piano Co., Chicago, from Joseph
Bohmann, the world-renowned manufacturer
of stringed instruments, of that city, is an
eloquent and forceful tribute to the pianos
made by Melville Clark:
Dear Sirs:—Please find enclosed check
for balance due on piano I bought of you
December 24th.
I want to say to Mr. Melville Clark that
since I was nine years old I have studied mu-
sic and musical instruments for tone. It
took me forty-three years till I concluded I
would have a piano around me in my home,
because wherever I went to hear those artists
I never could be satisfied when the general
public was satisfied. The artist's expression
and technique was great, but that musical,
noisy, whiney, steel tone was always with it.
The tone of your piano is entirely differ-
ent from any piano I ever heard played be-
fore. When I have listened to pianos in the
past, and had the privilege, I always closed
them to deaden that twangy, rattling tone of
the strings—where most of the people think
that the noisier the instrument is the better.
The musical,- voice-like tone must first be
learned. Your piano has that round, big,
full singing tone quality which I have been
for so long a time looking for—where the
vibration of the body of the piano brings out
that tone—the same as a good violin, the tone
must come from the body and not from
the strings. The action of your piano in
combination with its light touch, is wonder-
ful.