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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE SAUNTERER'S COLUMN.
Tremendous Demand for Grands—Everett Piano Will Open The Musical Seasor,—Wolfshon
Predicts Unusual Activity in Musical World—Knabe and the Artist—Opening of the In-
stitute of Musical Art—Julius Francke's Plans as Impressario—Steinway in Concert.
Notwithstanding the fact that for several years
business in grand pianos has shown a steady in-
crease, the season which we are just entering on
eclipses any former period of time in the num-
ber that have been sold. In addition to the small
grand activity, the high grade piano seems to be
in general demand, and while there will always
be a greater number of moderate priced instru-
ments disposed of than there could possibly be
of the more costly ones, the present month shows
an enormous advance on the side of the expensive
piano.
•
•
•
•
Horace A. Moodie, of the Everett Piano Co.,
said to The Review this week that the demand for
grands, not only small ones, but grands of every
size, had never been so great, and while they were
well stocked three weeks ago there was hardly
one on the floor at the present time. He also
stated that money seemed much easier, since
many sales were outright cash customers. The
concert season has practically begun for the
Everett piano since Bispham, who is using this
instrument, is already filling engagements around
New York. The formal opening of the Brooklyn
Institute will occur October 20 with a song re-
cital by this eminent baritone, and thus the Ev-
erett piano will be the first shot out of the gun.
In the New York State and Pennsylvania towns
the agents of the Everett piano are pushing with
great energy musical matters in their respective
cities, and they find that there is no advertising
that they have ever attempted to compare to the
actual demonstration of the beauties of the Ev-
erett piano. Both with local celebrities and with
artists from New York and elsewhere the Everett
is coming in tor its share. In November Birdice
Blye, the pianist, will be heard in and around
New York, and in December Mary Wood Chase
will play the Everett with the Kneisel Quartette
in one of their Brooklyn Institute concerts. Pa-
olo Gallico, who has for some years been an Ev-
erett enthusiast, will play both in and out of
New York, as will Carrie Hirschmann, who has
established herself firmly with all who under-
stand the really artistic in piano playing. The
tour of Reisenauer is nearly all booked, and the
outlook is most auspicious.
• * « *
Henry Wolfsohn, who is authority upon such
things, told the writer that never within his expe-
rience had the bookings been what they are this
season, as a matter of fact nearly all the artists'
dates were filled far into the next year, and
some of them have the entire tours booked. Mr.
Wolfsohn spoke in glowing terms of the visit of
Raoul Pugno, for whom the demand is very great,
and he prognosticates that it will be the greatest
tour this noted Frenchman has ever made. The
Baldwin agents from all over are showing great
interest, and are bestirring themselves to secure
his appearances in their towns and to judge from
the material they call for there is every evidence
that the Baldwin piano will get its quota of ad-
vertising. The Emma EameS tour has also just
opened, and with them is a fine specimen of the
piano maker's craft in the form of a Baldwin
piano which is used by Amherst Webber, one of
London's foremost pianists and accompanists.
Mme. Sembrich also will again be heard in con-
junction with the Baldwin piano as heretofore,
and while she only gives one recital each season
it is safe to say that this is regarded as one of
the greatest of the really artistic events of the
entire year.
• • * *
Besides the forthcoming tour of the "Young
Rubinstein" the Knabe piano will accompany Kii-
belik, Marteau and Oerardy, as well as many
other musical attractions. It has not been possi-
ble to concede to all the requests for this noted
instrument that have been made and while Will-
iam Knabe & Co. count upon a great amount of
artistic jjubtyjtty, they h,aye si\ch an outlook, es-
pecially for grands that it will be all they can do
to supply this demand without going more deeply
into the concert side of it. Arrangements have
been made by which the Knabe-Angelus will also
he found in the Fifth avenue warerooms, and
this as soon as the stock can be brought out.
Since the season is open the demand for this
piano and player has been so great as to aston-
ish the most sanguine expectations of their
makers, and this interest does not apply merely
to the retail side in New York city, but to all
the agents through the country both of the Knabe
and of the Angelus.
* * * *
On Wednesday the opening of the Institute of
Musical Art (Frank Damrosch, director), oc-
curred. Over 250 pupils were enrolled, and the
hours of many of the teachers are already com-
pletely full. A large number of grands and up-
rights, few uprights, however, are provided for
the teachers. Among these are concert and baby
grands of the latest styles, and in many rooms
two grands stand side by side; in fact, a more
beautiful array will not be found outside of the
largest warerooms. The pianos are Steinway &
Sons and Mason & Hamlin, and every instru-
ment is a gem of the first water. It is evident
that those in charge understand the value of the
piano to the pupil and tne old idea that anything
is good enough for a beginner or for a pupil is
relegated to ancient methods of teaching. The
new Institute of Musical Art is in every particu-
lar a credit to the musical life of this country.
Sigismund Stowjoski, one of the noted European
instructors and pianists, has arrived, and has his
time completely full, as he will only teach in the
mornings, because he will play in public quite a
little. A large pipe organ is being erected, and
this will be under charge of Gaston Dethier, one
of the most noted organists in this country. A
formal opening will occur about October 31,
when the organ will be completed and a pro-
gramme will be given by the distinguished
faculty.
* * * *
A great amount of musical activity will be
found around Steinway & Sons since Julius
Francke has undertaken quite an elaborate
managerial career for himself. Steinway Hall
retains its following of pianists and teachers, and
now innumerable singers, violinists and • vocal
teachers have placed themselves at the tender
mercies of Mr. Francke's ability. No doubt he
will discharge his duties creditably to himself,
and to the house of Steinway & Sons, with whom
he has been identified for many years. Miss
Minnie Coons, a young pianist, said to be very
talented, will play with orchestra under Walter
Damrosch, November 2, and Olga Samaroff, an-
other American girl, will play November G. Mme.
Samaroff will have the assistance of the Phila-
delphia Symphony orchestra under Fritz Scheel.
Both piaijists will use the Steinway.
DECKER & SON'S NEW STYLE C.
Decker & Son have completed the first of their
new style C upright pianos, and as is the rule
with this factory, have produced something of
more than ordinary merit. In design it is strict-
ly colonial, with extremely fine lines, giving it a
very artistic appearance. These instruments are
now ready for the market. Decker & Son have
been advised by their dealers at Gloversville, N.
Y., and New London, Conn., that their pianos had
been awarded the highest honors at the fairs
held in these two places this fall, and commend-
ing them for tne excellence of their product.
HELP VERY SCARCE.
Complaints in All Branches of the Industry
That Efficient Men Are Hard to Get.
The great plaint in the piano manufacturing
industry in this city at the present time is the
inability to secure sufficient help of almost any
description. Almost without exception, the man-
ufacturers have been flooding the daily papers
with advertisements with poor success, and sev-
eral are considering the advisability of attempt-
ing to import men from outside cities. The de-
mand for pianos is increasing daily, and most of
the manufacturers are considerably behind on
their orders. One large manufacturer in the
Bronx district said to The Review that during
the past summer he had made up the largest sur-
plus stock that had ever been in their factory,
and notwithstanding that fact they were at pres-
ent over a hundred instruments short on orders.
This state of affairs has resulted in the favoring
of those dealers who are what might be called
cash customers, while those who have been in
the habit of taking their time in paying for their
stock are now waiting on the pleasure of the man-
ufacturer. The supply departments are even
further behind than the manufacturers in filling
orders, and are absolutely refusing to take on
any new customers before the first of the com-
ing year, and are not making many promises for
that period.
HIGH POINT TO HAVE ORGAN PLANT.
(Special to The Review.)
High Point, N. C, Oct. 11, 1905.
The latest acquisition to High Point's diver-
sity of manufacturing interests is a factory to
manufacture organs. The gentleman promoting
the enterprise met with some of the business
men and the required capital stock was raised
in a few minutes. The promoter is a man of
experience in the manufacture of organs and
other musical instruments. It is learned that the
capital stock will be $25,000 to begin with.
BEAUTIFUL BAILEYS EXHIBITED.
Among the very attractive exhibits at the re-
cent Danbury, Conn., fair one of Beautiful
Baileys exhibited by M. Sonnenberg, of the Son-
nenberg Piano Co., of Danbury, was a special fa-
vorite with the public, and was the recipient of
many very highly commendatory comments. At
the factory of the Bailey Piano Co., at Canal place
and 138th street, there is an unwonted activity to
supply the abnormally heavy demand for these
popular instruments, and the shipping depart-
ment has been reinforced to enable them to get
them out with sufficient rapidity.
CRAIG SETTLES AND GOES FREE.
(Special to The Review.)
Columbus, O., Oct. 9, 1905.
E. H. Craig, who was taken to Coshocton Tues-
day for the alleged embezzlement of $175 from J.
A. Compton, a piano dealer, for whom Craig
had sold an instrument near this city, returned
to Columbus Wednesday afternoon a free man.
His attorney, Harry Clark, raised the question of
lack of jurisdiction, which was sustained. Craig
then compromised the case.
JULIUS E. MERGOTT DEAD.
Julius E. Mergott, president of the J. E. Mer-
gott Co., manufacturers of metal goods, and presi-
dent of the Mergott, Piano Co., died this week at
his home, 822 South Tenth street, Newark, N. J.,
aged fifty-five years. Mr. Mergott was born in
Geissen, Germany. Two daughters and several
sistprs and brothers survive him.
The A. J. Pommer Co., of Sacramento, Cal.,
filed articles of incorporation in the State of Cali-
The Synodical College and Conservatory of
fornia last week with a capital of $200,000. The Music, a large and well established institution at
directors are: A. J. Pommer, A. R. Pommer, Rogersville, Tenn., has recently purchased two
Campbell Pomeroy, Henry L, Rejlborn a,nd, Paul Weaver and two York pianos from the AV^aver
Co,, York, Pa.