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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
It will go far towards removing the slur which
has been cast on the player, with regard to its
"woodenness," monotony and hardness of phrasing.
But this is not all.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, NewLYork
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Connecting all Departments
NEW YORK, APRIL 27, 1912
The coming trade conventions, which will be in
full blast when the next issue of this Player
Section is on the press, will find themselves in a
position unusually favorable for discussion and
action among the broadest lines. Without the
distraction of an exhibition, although with the dis-
tractions of Atlantic City, it is to be hoped that the
associations will make some sensible attempt to
get new lines of thought on various important sub-
jects. Many of these latter are entirely without
the province of the Section. But some are dis-
tinctly within its province. We believe that one
of the big problems now pressing for solution in
the player trade is concerned with the supply of
mechanics for the work of player installation.
Manufacturers of pianos who have begun to put
forth a player line are obliged, naturally enough,
to erect departments of installation. Manufac-
turers who not only use, but make for themselves
their own player actions, are obliged to have manu-
facturing as well as installing departments. This
all means that a new type of mechanic will be re-
quired in the future; in fact, is being required now.
The problem involved in obtaining a supply of such
mechanics is of the utmost importance. And it
would seem that something ought to be done
about it.
Consider, for instance, the position of the manu-
facturer who is using a player action that he buys
wholesale from a specializing maker of such goods.
Plainly, there is nothing more important in the
whole process of making the player-piano that is
to be put forth than the installation of the player
mechanism. The player manufacturer will send a
man to the factory to instruct the mechanics who
are to install. But this expert cannot stay very
long in one place. And when he leaves the inen
whom he has been trying to instruct very often go
all to pieces. This means delay to the piano manu-
facturer, expense and dissatisfaction. While it is
not our business to instruct other men in the way
they shall run theirs, still it seems timely to sug-
gest that perhaps some sort of agreement might be
made between the player men and the piano manu-
facturers whereby, as a condition precedent to the
taking up of any given line of player actions by
any piano maker, the action manufacturer should be
required to supply a foreman installer and organ-
ize permanently the department of installation un-
der him. We respectfully suggest to the piano
men who will all gather at Atlantic City next
month, the propriety and good sense of such a
proceeding, even if no official action could be
taken with regard to it.
• .
.
There is, in fact, another side to the matter,
which would more properly come within the pur-
view of association talk than would the improve-
ments already noted. These latter are, after all,
largely private matters. But there is one decidedly
public matter which has to do with music rolls and
regarding which there is nothing like agreement.
We refer to the manner of marking for expression.
As things stand now, there is absolutely nothing
like uniformity either in the signs used or in the
manner of using them. The dotted expression line
is excellent, if it be well and carefully placed. But
it is safe to say that in a good many cases it is not
so placed. The editor of this Section has seen rolls
in which comparison with the score showed distinct
errors. Such carelessness need not, and should
not, be permitted. Another point has to do with
the indications for. the use of sustaining pedal.
These are usually conspicuous only by their ab-
sence. It is not enough to argue that the automatic
sustaining pedal perforations will solve the problem,
for the automatic sustaining pedal is neither de-
sired nor required by everybody. Without regard
to its artistic value—concerning which we have
sufficiently definite opinions—we must remember
that not everybody wants to leave the work of the
sustaining pedal to be performed automatically, and
we must also remember that not all player-pianos
are fitted with automatic devices for this pedal.
Would it not be a great deal better if the sus-
taining pedal markings were carefully inserted on
rolls after the manner of the score? This and
other similar matters concerning the physical make-
up of the roll ought to be subjects for discussion at
the coming convention.
One might well go further by pointing out that
while the hew rolls mark an immense step for-
ward in regard to the possibility of good phrasing
(although the master player-pianist will never be
happy unless he can phrase to suit himself), at the
same time phrasing is not all. Dynamics and tone-
color must also be considered. Here we are
thrown back again upon the state of the expressive
marking of the roll. Unless this be done care-
fully and well, good playing for most people will
still be far from realization. It may be argued
that the record-rolls, with their reproduction of
actual note-duration after the manner of an indi-
vidual artist, will destroy the necessity for sustain-
ing pedal manipulation, since the tones that are
to be sounded will all be of proper duration.- But
this is a mistake. Tone-color comes from the
sympathetic vibrations of all strings through the
lifting of the damper-pedal. A sustaining pedal
device is therefore needed, and must be used. Rolls
should be marked accordingly. We commend this
suggestion to the gentlemen of the player trade.
CARDS OF DIRECTIONS
Now Attached to the Various Parts of Its
Player Mechanism by the Gulbransen-Dick-
inson Co.
(Special to The Review.)
Chicago, 111., April 23, 1912.
Tuners and others who have to handle pneumatic
playing mechanisms are often afraid to touch one
with which they are not familiar, simply because
it looks complicated and there are no directions at
hand for manipulating it. This is especially true
with regard to removing and replacing the various
parts, such as pneumatic stock, bellows, etc. On
this account, needed repairs to the piano part of a
player instrument are sometimes neglected, because
the pneumatic mechanism must be removed to get
'at them, and afterwards replaced properly.
To overcome this difficulty, the Gulbransen-
Dickinson Co. has begun to attach to various
ports of its player mechanism small and neat cards
which give simple and intelligible instructions for
the removal and replacement of bellows-system,
pneumatic stack and motor action. These are
fastened upon the left hand equalizer, and the front
of the vacuum chest, respectively, in which positions
they are easily seen and read.
In addition to this improvement, which is ap-
piied to the Gulbransen mechanisms before they
leave the factory, the company is also supplying
its customers with two other cards, to be attached
to the completed player-piano. One of these is
called "Hints and Suggestions to the Piano Tuner"
and is intended to provide simple helps in cases
of slight mal-adjustments in the player mechanism,
ab well as to suggest sensible methods of caring
for the player-piano. Furthermore, there is also a
large card containing directions for the user of
the instrument. It comprises suggestions for the
care of the player-piano, some helpful and accurate
remarks on "how to play with expression," and
full directions for inserting the roll, handling the
expression devices, re-winding, etc.
This new evidence of Gulbransen readiness and
tboughtfulness will be welcomed by manufacturers
and dealers who handle this mechanism.
SPECIAL PEERLESS ROOMS
To Be Arranged by Grinnell Bros, in Petroit
for' the Purpose of Demonstration—Peerless
Automatic Pianos Very Popular.
(Special to The Review.)
Detroit, April 23, 1912.
Grinnell Brothers are planning to make a special
department for the Peerless Automatic player-
pianos handled by them. Heretofore they have
been shown in the player-piano department on the
fourth floor, where the Steinways, Aeolians and
others hold forth. But there has been a good deal
of call for demonstrations of the Peerless Auto-
matic within the last few months and the firm has
concluded that it warrants a separate department.
The possibilities and future of the grand player-
Two
or three sound-proof rooms will be provided
piano are considered at some length in an article
for them—the exact plans are still in the making,
which appears in the present Section. It is how
the attitude of the trade has changed with regard but will be given out within a couple of weeks. The
to this subject. A few years ago the whole thing department will be in charge of H. Riley Fuller,
was regarded as a joke. To-day it is a serious and who is at the -head of Grinnell Brothers' entire
player department.
important matter. Elsewhere in this Section, but
Some of the best restaurants and cafes in De-
along directly the same line of general thought, we
The recent advance in music rolls is something have pointed out that this attitude of the trade troit have the Peerless Automatic as an entertain-
of the greatest importance and significance. For towards the player-piano as a musical instrument ment feature for their patrons. The more of them
some time past, this Section has pointed out that is also in process* of far-reaching and healthy put out, the larger the demand, which is the
the real weakness of the player trade lay in the change. This point is made the subject of a reason Grinnells are obliged to increase their ac-
commodations for them.
music. The player-piano itself is rapidly attaining special article in the present issue. In another ar-
a proximate perfection which would have been ticle suggestions are made—with what possible
hardly conceivable a few years ago. Meanwhile, future influence we are unable to say—regarding
EMPLOYES TO SHARE PROFITS.
the music roll has remained substantially what it certain desirable uniformities which we believe
was ten years ago. Of a sudden we have seen might be made the subject of agreed co-operation
At the annual meeting of C. W. Lindsay, Ltd.,
several notable advances. Each and every one of
among player 'manufacturers, without thereby lead-
Montreal, Que., the affairs of the company were
these is valuable. Yet, they are all narrow and
ing to any destruction of individuality. And, lastly, declared to be in such an excellent condition that
restricted in their application to the problems at there is a significant contribution to the art of
it was decided to permit the employes to par-
issue. The main feature of these new rolls is the player-pianism, treating of tone-color possibilities, ticipate in the profits. It was decided that all
fact that they are cut after the playing of an ar- which will be found suggestive to demonstrators
employes who have been in the company's service
tist and are indeed records of such playing. This and other player-pianists. Altogether, we consider
since March 1, 1911, and who remain with the
alone is a marked advance, since it permits better the present issue of the Section to be" distinctly
company until May 1 next will be awarded a
phrasing and more artistic renditions of music. valuable.
bonus of 5 per cent, on their salaries.