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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Special Sales Now With Us—Warren as a Musical Center—The Baldwin and Sembrich Attract
at Carnegie Hall—Raoul Pugno's Letter to the Baldwin Co.—R. W. Gertz's Improvement
Embodied in the Mason & Hamlin Piano Interests Visitors—Seigel-Cooper Recitals.
The day of the "special sale" is here, and with
it. results that are highly satisfactory to those
who have projected them. At Aeolian Hall the
second-hand stock is in such fine condition that
it is small wonder the results were astonishing
even to the company themselves. There were
few Webers in the collection, since these are
eagerly bought up or rented by Weber admirers
who will watch with interest the opening of the
sale which always occurs after the close of the
opera season. The collection of letters from the
different artists concerning the Weber piano
makes interesting reading to those who under-
stand the value of them, and how to use them.
Upon this subject all the Weber agents agree,
and that they all put them to use is true in the
fullest sense. There is a value outside of the
value itself in the relation which exists between
the Metropolitan opera artists and. the Weber
piano—it is the value to the vast number of
agents in every section of this country. The
strength that such testimony offers the salesman
who is struggling with a customer is beyond es-
timate, and it is one of the first considerations in
the making of a new agency. There is no such
thing possible as exploitation without publicity,
and publicity of this kind is worth a great many
other varieties. No one interested can fail to
take notice of the Weber publicity, and it is only
true to say that the presentation of the four re-
markably beautiful art grands a couple of weeks
ago was not conducted with more elegance and
refinement than was the publicity surrounding
the second-hand pianos which have been turned
in as exchange on new Webers and Weber-
pianola pianos. One reason for this is that
strictest surveillance exists here the same as in
every other department of this remarkable estab-
lishment.
W. B. White, editor of the technical department
of The Review, is establishing himself firmly in
the musical life of Warren, Pa., where he has
brought the Philharmonic orchestra to the point
of giving real enjoyment to its friends and pa-
trons. At the last concert of this young organi-
zation, which, by the way, is a creation of Mr.
White, the enthusiasm amounted to an ovation
for the ambitious young conductor who is de-
voted to such music as "The March from Tann-
hauser," "Handel's Largo" and the introduction
and prayer from Wagner's "Rienzi," in addition
to lighter numbers by Mascagni and Eugene, also
a number of encores to which Mr. White and
his orchestra were compelled to respond. War-
ren is a very musical city, and among those who
give annual recitals is Mme. Julie Rive-King,
whose rare talents are appreciated fully by the
music lovers of Warren.
For the second time this season Carnegie Hall
was crowded to its utmost capacity by the au-
dience that is but too happy to assemble, to
listen to and to applaud Mme. Sembrich, accom-
panied by Isidore Luckstone, who contributes un-
mistakably to the exquisite art of the prima
donna. Another detail which served to round
out the perfect a r t of this union of artists was
the Baldwin piano, which Mr. Luckstone molded
and fairly melted into the music of Sembrich's
voice. From all sides, this was one of the rarest
treats that the musical season has had to offer.
Pugno, who is unconsciously brought to mind
when the Baldwin piano is mentioned, is in the
Middle West, where he is reaping the same de-
gree of success that this titanic artist met with
in the East. Pugno is the marvel of all those
who come into contact with him on account of
the tremendous breadth of his mind and the
catholicity of his interests. In Cincinnati, the
great pianist displayed the keenest interest in
every detail of the great Baldwin faQtory and
the sincerity which he manifested was as re-
freshing as the enthusiasm he displayed.
The letter of appreciation which Pugno ex-
tended the Baldwin Co., and of which the follow-
ing is a translation of the original, represents
the acme of all that can be regarded as sincere,
and to those who know the man, it will reveal
his personality and individuality in every line:
Chicago, Jan. 7, 1906.
Dear Mr. Wulsin—My happiness has been very
great to-day in playing the very beautiful Bald-
win piano which you placed at my disposal in
Chicago. While expressing my gratitude to you, I
want at the same time to tell you what I think of
that magnificent instrument. It satisfies me most
completely. I was enabled to draw from it—at
least, I hope so—all the gradations of resonance.
I lay stress upon this, as in this lies my greatest
interest. Many very celebrated instruments have
sonority which cannot be modified, which attacks
the personality of the artist by restraining the
organ which he requires in order to sing and
phrase according to his desire. In your piano,
on the contrary, the artist is able, in a way, to
mold, to increase or diminish its sonority accord-
ing to his own will. Moreover, there is great
power in the bass, perfect evenness throughout
the entire scale, easy mechanism, excellent pedal
action, and, to crown all, a noble and expressive
tone.
I consider your instrument a perfect collabora-
tor, and I am glad to tell you this with absolute
sincerity, and beg you to believe in my best
sentiments.
15
of these concerts, has selected Thursday as the
most satisfactory from all sides. Ferdinand Him-
melreich, for many years with Wanamaker's
piano department, was the soloist, and a con-
tralto, Miss Rose O Brian, who has just returned
from Europe, also contributed some enjoyable se-
lections. The programme also contained several
selections by the Simplex-piano, which, was shown
to an excellent advantage in so far as Mr. Him-
melreich is a pianist of very much charm and
any piano player, human or otherwise, has in
him a dangerous rival. He is a decided acquisi-
tion to the house, and one which they may well
appreciate.
OFFICERS OF THE LAFFARGUE CO.
Old
Board
Re-elected—Splendid
port Presented.
Business Re-
The annual meeting of the board of directors of
of the Laffargue Co. was held on Tuesday of
last week, and the present officers were re-elected,
for the ensuing year. The report of the secretary
was very pleasing to all, as it showed a marked;
increase in the business done by this progressive
firm, while that of the treasurer showed that thq
profits had kept pace with the amount of busi-
ness done. J. G. Laffargue, president of the com-
pany, says that the month of January has been
better than had been anticipated, and the orders
now coming in denoted an unusual amount of
activity among the retail trade.
DRUMMERS' FIGHT.
Hearing
on
Protest
Against
Mileage Books.
Deposits
(Special to The Review.)
on
j
!
Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 1906.
Interest is keen among merchants and travel-
ing men generally in the hearing before Secre-
(Signed)
RAOUL PUGNO.
tary of Internal Affairs Brown in Harrisburg this
At the Fifth avenue warerooms of Mason & afternoon, when arguments are to be presented
Hamlin much interest is displayed in a small for and against the practice of the Pennsylvania
section of the piano, showing the wonderful cen- and other roads in the Trunk Line Association
trifugal bar invented by Richard W. Gertz ex- agreement in requiring $10 deposit on 1,000-mile
clusively for the Mason & Hamlin piano. Since interchangeable mileage books.
This hearing was arranged by an organization
the adoption of this device in the construction of
this beautiful instrument its resonance has been of merchants and traveling men in the western
commented upon by every one who hears it, and part of the State, known as the Homeless Twenty-
the bar has become so well known to those pur- six. It will be held in public, and trades organi-
chasing pianos that it is usually asked for zations and various associations of traveling men
wherever the Mason & Hamlin is sold. The Re- will be represented. From this city delegates
view has always been an admirer of the inventive will represent the Merchants and Travelers' As-
sociation and the Travelers' Protective Associa-
genius of Mr. Gertz, who, as superintendent of
tion, organizations which for several weeks past,
the Mason & Hamlin factories, has demonstrated
through a joint committee, have been fighting
that he is one of the greatest scientists in the
against continuing the deposit. The Pennsyl-
mechanical art world to-day. One need only
vania, too, will be represented.
'.
judge by the musical qualities of the Mason &
Hamlin, even if one does not sufficiently under-
CALLERS AT E. B. BOGART & CO. j
stand the perfection of its mechanical construc-
tion. The Mason & Hamlin will be heard to-
Clifford 0. Pierce, one of the leading piano
morrow afternoon and Tuesday night with Ru- dealers of Fall River, Mass., was a caller at the
dolph Ganz and the New York Symphony Or- factory of E. B. Bogart & Co., at 511-513 East
chestra under Felix Weingartner. In Chicago 137th street, New York, on Tuesday, and left a
Mr. Ganz had no less than 15 recalls, which good-sized order for several of their beautiful
speaks as many volumes over his determination pianos. Mr. Pierce, like many others in; the
not to play an encore, as it shows the position trade, find the product of this factory to be good
he occupies in that city.
stock to buy, as their Instruments are ready
Bauer, who plays in Baltimore, February 9, will sellers, and invariably give perfect satisfaction, as
also appear with the Mason & Hamlin as soloist the many indorsements from pleased customers
with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at its next will show.
! i •
visit to this city.
Hahne & Co., of Newark, N. J., have secured
Siegel-Cooper has again begun a series of week- the agency for the Hardman piano. According
ly recitals in the immense auditorium of the to Manager C. B. Noon, it will be given a vigor-
piano department. Mr. Sakvary, who has charge ous representation.
,
BEHR BROS. & CO
PIANOS,
29th Street and N t h Avenue, NEW YORK.
HIGHEST STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE