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THE:
MARK HAMBOURQ ON TRAVELING.
The Famous Pianist Tells of Life on the Road
—Traveler Must Adapt Himself to the Com-
munity and Its Ways.
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
BALTIMOREANS_CONT1NUE BUSY.
week in so far as the sales are concerned, while
the demand for sheet music has been brisk.
Talking macnines continue to be as popular as
ever, and each week the number oi sales in-
creases. The past week has been no exception.
Lenten Season Has Not Interfered With Trade
—Factories All Rushed—Droop & Sons Se-
cure New Four Story Building—Preparing
Stieff Pianos for Exhibition—Good Reports
from
Eisenbrandt,
Lertz,
Lumpkin and
Sanders & Stayman—News of Week in
The Governor of Massachusetts Highly Pleased
Detail.
With This Great Piano Making Institution.
Mark Hambourg, the distinguished pianist who
played ihe Knabe piano on his last tour of this
country, and who, by the way, recently got mar-
ried, is perhaps more qualified than any other
(Special to The Review.)
living musical artist to speak upon the subject of
Baltimore, Md., March 11, 1907.
touring.
The Lenten season seems to have little or no
"I practically spend my life on the rail or
road," said Mr. Hambourg in London recently; effect upon the sales by the local piano dealers.
"but, like all unpleasant necessities, one gets On the other hand, the warm, springlike weather
used to it. Of course, traveling in Europe is that prevailed last week and to-day brought out
nothing to be compared with that in America, large crowds of shoppers and promenaders, many
where you are often 2,000 miles from the place of whom made tours of the principal piano es-
of your next recital; in fact, in 1900, when I tablishments. The result is that a great many
made a tour of over a hundred places in the more orders than the members of the various
firms anticipated have been rolling in steadily-
United States, I practically lived on the train.
"Touring, otherwise traveling, is a great edu- enough to keep the factory hands busy for
cation in itself to those who will read as they some time to come. From all indications the
run for the different races and individuals one sales will increase gradually from now on until
comes across supply food for endless reflection, the real warm weather drives Baltimoreans to
and are of particular value to an artist. How- the seashore and mountain resorts in quest of
ever, it is a curious fact—and I make the state- cool spots during the warm days. As this will
ment without any hyperartistic imagination— not come about for some time the different firms
that, go where you will, it is always the best are preparing for a rush, and the salesmen look
music that is most appreciated. For instance, for a busy period. While the month is not yet
in Australia—not the highly cultured centers, half over the sales so far compare favorably
such as Melbourne and Sydney, but the 'back- with those of the same month in previous years,
woods,' so to speak—Bach and Beethoven are and, if anything, are ahead of those for March
just as much appreciated as the more modern of the past several years.
The E. F. Droop & Sons Co., of Washington,
composers.
"But trains are not the only mean: of con- D. C, the well-known dealers in pianos, music,
veyance an artistic globe-trotter must use. He talking machines and other specialties, have
has to do all sorts of things to reach places in closed contracts for improvements to be made
time for concerts. Once in South Africa, when to the building, 231 North Howard street, this
driving in a post-cart drawn by twelve mules, city, which they recently leased. The building
we got into such a blinding rainstorm that we is four stories high, with a goodly depth and
were taken over a sheer cliff into a deep spruit frontage.
below. My escape was miraculous, but I reached
v One of the busiest concerns in the city just
at present is that of Charles M. Stieff, and this
my destination unharmed.
"Touring gives one the opportunity of intro- is due to the great amount of advance work at
ducing new works to one's audiences and testing the Jamestown Exposition, which is made neces-
their effect, though managers, as a rule, do not sary in consequence of the selection of the
favor a programme of anything but old favorites. Stieff piano as the, official instrument to be used
No pianist, however, should start on his trip during the fair this summer. J. H. Williams,
without at least two hundred pieces in his reper- manager of the firm, says that all hands em-
toire to draw from, not only for variety's sake, ployed by the firm are working overtime, while
but that he may have all the great classics at many extra salesmen have been put to work in
his finger ends, which insures his being able to the efforts to get things in tip-top shape at
fulfill any special or important request for a cer- Jamestown when the exposition is opened.
At least 40 pianos will be distributed through-
tain piece. The concerto I am most asked for is
the Tschaikowsky in B flat minor, and of out the various State buildings. The exhibit,
which will occupy one corner of the Manufactur-
Beethoven's sonatas, the 'Appassionata.'
"These 'requests' I receive from ladies all ers' and Liberal Arts Building, will be enclosed
over the world, and they are generally handed in a plate-glass booth, which will be sound-proof.
to me as I enter the concert hall. They usually Recitals will be given each day by noted artists.
While no extraordinary sales are reported by
request that if Mr. Hambourg is giving an en-
core he will kindly play such and such a com- the firm of William Knabe & Co., business con-
position. Some are little simple pieces which tinues at the high-water mark, with no indica-
beginners play, and most of them so-called tions of a slump. Members of the firm state
that they are in line with the other houses in
'schoolgirl' favorites.
"One of the most curious 'special requests' I so far as the prosperity of the times are con-
ever had, however, was in Melbourne. I was cerned, and, consequently, they have no kicks
sitting down to play an encore piece, when a to register.
High-grade pianos have been disposed of at a
shrill voice suddenly cried, 'Please play Chopin's
"Because."' Musicians need not be told that rapid rate by the house of E. T. Lumpkin &
the 'Berceuse' was intended, though some might Co. The firm have just received a large ship-
think it was a companion piece to Schumann's ment of instruments for the spring trade, which,
from all appearances, will be so extensive as to
'Why?' "
prove a record breaker. All reports from that
source are to the effect that business could not
STARR BRANCH MANAGERS MEET.
be better.
From R. Lertz & Son comes the report that
The branch store managers of the Starr Piano business is good and up to the expectations of
Co. met in conference at headquarters recently those connected with the firm. A feature of the
to discuss plans of various nature. Bach man- sales has been the great demand for the Stein-
ager who had been in the employ of the com- way pianos. Many of these have been sold dur-
pany for five years or more was presented with ing the week.
a gold pin, enameled in red and bearing the in-
A like report in regard to the business is
scription, Starr Piano Co., "The Piano of Merit." made by W. H. Kunkel & Co.
Sanders & Stayman have shared in the pros-
perity of the week and expect a large spring
OPEN WAREROOMS IN MILWAUKEE.
trade. The demand has been particularly big
The Muhlan & Forster Piano Co. have opened for high-grade instruments. G. Wright Nicols,
warerooms in the Enterprise Building, 210 Syca- manager of the firm, has been spending the week
more street, Milwaukee, Wis. They will handle in Atlantic City.
H. R. Eisenbrandt & Sons have had a good
several first-class lines.
GOV. GUILD VISITS VOSE PLANT.
Among the recent distinguished visitors to the
plant of the Vose & Sons Piano Co. in Boston
was Governor Guild, of Massachusetts, who, in
company with a number of prominent business
and professional men, has been investigating the
industries of the Commonwealth. President Wil-
lard A. Vose escorted the party through the fac-
tory and after the tour of inspection was over
the Governor expressed himself highly pleased
with the excellence of conditions as he found
them.
THE BURK-HUME CO. INCORPORATES.
The Burk-Hume Piano Co., Norfolk, Va., have
incorporated, under the laws of Virginia, with
capital stock, maximum, $100,000; minimum,
$20,000. W. K. Burk, president; James Hume,
general manager and secretary, and Charles G.
Hume, all of Norfolk.
SECURE R. S. HOWARD AGENCY.
The Wise Piano House, Boise, Idaho, have
secured the agency for the R. S. Howard Co.'s
pianos, and expect to do a good business with
these instruments.
NICHOLSON TO START NEW CONCERN.
J. C. W. Nicholson, founder of the famous
music house of Nicholson & Co., Sydney, Aus-
tralia, has withdrawn from that concern, and
will form another company along similar lines.
He has established himself on St. George street,
Sydney, for the present.
BROWER & CO. WILL HANDLE PIANOS.
C. F. Brower & Co., Lexington, Ky., a furni-
ture house, have opened a piano department, in
charge of E. C. Christian, formerly with the
Montenegro-Riehm Co., and have taken the
agency for the Smith & Nixon pianos; It is said
they will also handle the Knabe pianos.
DISTINCTIVELY HIGH GKADE
Ghe CHRISTMAN
STUDIO GRAND
is the greatest success of the day.
It possesses a scale of rare even-
ness, a tone of remarkable sonority
and richness, with a quality that
is highly orchestral. Our latest
styles of Grands and Uprights
mark a decided advance in the art
of piano-making. We court inves-
tigation. Some territory still open.
CHRISTMAN SONS, Manufacturer.
FACTORY AND OFFICE:
869-873 East 137th St.
NEW
WAUEKOOMS:
YORK
35 West 14th St.