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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
13
est art can be successfully combined with
the wisest of commercial exposition. To
Reflections on Trade Tendencies—Pianos that Are Forging Ahead—The Growth of Art in Piano Mak- them art and business are not incompatible,
ing—What Chickerings Have Done In This Connection—"The Great Piano of the West"—C. A. Reade but there is a height of refinement in the
on Trade Conditions—Miss Metcalf Very 111—Manuscript Society Use the Erard Piano—An Indignant
way in which the Baldwin business is con-
Piano Refuses to Submit to Modern Dress and Decides Upon Suicide.
ducted that makes it easy to understand
This is the season when one stands be- grandparents was the one during which where art and commerce meet, and how
tween the looking- backward moment, and they became possessors of a Chickering they can be amalgamated. From Cincin-
the look into the unknown thing which for piano. And with this remembrance in nati the Baldwin piano comes "out of the
the lack of a better name we call the fu- mind, it is not difficult for them to drift West" fearless and dauntless. It is found
ture. Inasmuch as the glance backward back to the time-honored name that has in the concert room. It is found in many
reveals what has been accomplished the come onward in keeping with the present homes of elegance. It is found as the win-
look forward is not so difficult as there is day demands.
ner of the Grand Prix in Paris. In short,
a precedent.
It is but just that the Chickering piano it is found where it has few equals. This
The most satisfactory feature of any should reap the rewards of a growing cul- in addition to the fact that it is not an
business is not only the quantity of goods ture in this country, for Jonas Chickering Eastern product, and that it must meet
that is put forth^ but the quality tells a was foremost in every movement that could severe competition proves that it must have
story that is like the writing on the wall to bring music into the position which he qualities that are impossible to overlook.
those who know how to read and how to knew should be accorded it in a new
In the face of this and the present activ-
country. And what he built then was not ity of the exploiters and builders of the
apply.
There has been a steady tendency on the done for the Chickering piano of that day, Baldwin piano, the year of 1904 may be re-
part of piano buyers to secure the better but for music in America, and for the piano garded as one that will be of unusual im-
grades of instruments and hundreds of high trade of this country as well. The fact that portance to the future of the piano. That
grade pianos that are being sold to-day are through four-score years the Chickering Pugno made a tour of triumphs with it,
replacing the cheap piano of yesterday. Nor has continued to grow into the affections of and that De Pachmann will play it in his
is that piano remaining where it was, for in a people is significant of the fact that there next American tour is enough said, as
order to exist it must come up to a certain is something that can be built to endure for- both of these men are among the greatest
standard or leave the field to those who ever in the hearts of a people—and when pianists that the world has ever known.
have already reached it or who make the one generation has passed on the next does Those who are planning for the forthcoming
not forget, but treasures that which those tours are also planning to spread their in-
standard.
The pianos that have made names and gone before have revered, and in this way terests through the length and breadth of
places for themselves in the history of the carries into the next era that which was this country, and they have to assist them
piano in America are forging ahead firm created in the past, and which comes down in this enterprise a piano which will stand
in the determination to keep the glory of laden with appreciation and affectionate the glare of the strongest light of investi-
the old name, and to add whatever luster memories.
gation and business methods which will do
This is the history of the Chickering the same. A great combination.
it is possible to bring to bear upon that
which time and honorable business methods piano at the present time and that is why
* * *
have brought in addition to artistic en- there are so many of these fine pianos found
C. A. Reade, manager of the piano de-
deavors. The making of a name is prob- in the homes of those who have acquired partment of Loesers in Brooklyn, in dis-
ably the most serious thing that confronts artistic tastes of their own in addition to cussing the trade conditions from his point
the piano manufacturer because reputations the culture and refinement of a long lineage of view said that while the number of
like those of the Steinways, Chickerings, behind them, whose tastes were assisted if pianos sold may have been fewer than he
Knabes, Stecks, Webers, Voses, Emersons, not actually created by the influence of so expected, he noted that the higher grade
Sohmers and others are not made in ten noble a work of art as a Chickering piano. instruments had been sold to an amazing
* * *
nor in twenty years, nor is time the only at-
extent, and that in Knabes he had far ex-
Speaking of the Chickering piano brings ceeded all expectations. He also said that
tribute necessary. And those who in addi-
tion to years of honorable standing can add to mind M. J. Chapman, who as manager December 31st was the busiest day in the
years of steady advance in quality of output of the piano department of John Wana- history of the piano department. The
are few and well deserve to be regarded as maker's, New York, is responsible for a piano department in Loesers is somewhat
the pillars upon which the great piano in- large amount of the success of that piano different to those of the other department
in the metropolis. Mr. Chapman spent a stores, as there is a very large department
dustry of this country is built.
number of days after new year out of the of sheet music and small goods which is
* * *
The representative pianos of this country city recuperating from the strain of the carried on in a manner that is not sur-
are such that the country may well be season. Mr. Chapman reports large sales passed in any exclusive music store in the
proud of the industry which must grow for the Chickering piano as also for the country.
more keenly artistic as the people of Vose which is also on the Wanamaker
* * *
America rise into a Higher degree of refine- floor. Mr. Chapman, by the way, was the
Miss Ida Metcalf, daughter of H. Metcalf,
ment and culture, for the desire for better recipient of a very marked testimonial of of the Simplex piano player, has been re-
pianos can but come with the increase of appreciation from the salesmen of the piano moved to Hartford, where she is in a very
culture which refines the ear as well as the department at Christmas time.
precarious condition. She never recovered
* * *
musical and artistic tastes. Thus it is that
from a severe case of typhoid fever which
"The great piano of the West," is the
the makers of pianos can not remain at a
attacked her some months ago. Miss Met-
standstill if they want to, as the upward way a distinguished pianist recently desig- calf was one of the cleverest women in the
tendency is strong and pushes them along nated the Baldwin piano. And it was a sheet music business. She organized
happy thought, for it is in truth "a great
with a force that is irresistible.
the department with Loesers
after
piano" and one which is destined to be very
* * *
having done so at Edwards' de-
The Chickering piano has done much to- much greater as the years roll on. For it partment store of Syracuse, where
ward educating the people to an instrument is only on such broad policies that endur- she went from Chase & Smith's, hav-
of artistic worth. For by the beauty of ing victories are won. The Baldwin piano ing become expert while in the employ of
its tone it has created in the minds of many has made some very notable strides in 1903, this firm. She has a large circle of friends
an ideal. And it has been able to do so and the future looks bright to the degree who feel deeply with her in the present af-
because in addition to its artistic worth its of splendor. The piano has every quality fliction.
name was known to every one who ever which is calculated to make it a power in
* * *
heard of the word piano. The buyers of the world of music, and the management
The Manuscript Society held a very in-
to-day have not forgotten that among the is composed of such men as know the value teresting concert at the auditorium of
proudest moments in the lives of their of dignity and methods by which the great- Siegel-Cooper last week. The Erard piano
THE SAUNTERER'S COLUMN.