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6
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
But whatever may have been the excuse in times
past, the recent London event has plainly shown
that it is no longer necessary to pretend that the
public will not take the player-piano seriously.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
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NEW YORK, JULY 27, 1912
The very remarkable event which recently took
place in London and in which the Pianola figured
so prominently, has been made the subject of some-
what extended reference elsewhere in this section.
To present the piano part of a concerto through
the medium of the piano-playing mechanism is no
small feat. Both the performer and the Pianola
are to be congratulated; the one on his interpreta-
tive ability and the other on its mechanical per-
fection. But the occasion should not be allowed
to pass with only this. In a very large sense the
Aeolian Co. is not the sole beneficiary from such
influence, as this wonderful demonstration of ar-
tistic potentialities may exert. In the largest sense,
indeed, the whole piano trade should be benefited.
For the advertising value of such an achievement
is, for the player-piano, simply immense. It is in
fact practically incalculable. And it would be the
rankest foolishness not to take every possible ad-
vantage of such a great opportunity.
The fact is that the public will take the player-
piano seriously just as soon as the trade begins so
to do. If the trade refuses to make any attempt at
understanding its own product, of course it is
hardly to be expected that the public will supply
the necessary enthusiasm of itself. Nevertheless,
it is perfectly true that so far the greater part of
the player-piano demand has been forced by the
public. To hear some dealers talk, one would
imagine that the greatest trouble in the world was
to sell players. There is a lack of enthusiasm, of
whole-hearted sincerity and devotion to the cause
of player success, which is distinctly dispiriting.
One would really like to see some improvement.
One wishes that more could be done along more
sensible lines. And one can only hope that the
exhortation, monition, suggestion and advice so
freely distributed throughout the columns of the
Player Section may have their result in something
tangible.
Nobody loves a fat man and nobody loves hot
weather. American summers are, generally speak-
irg, a great deal more of a nuisance than anything
else. They are too hot. If one lives on the Atlan-
tic coast line the temperatures may not register
so very high, but old General Humidity brings up
the average. Bad temper, inefficient nervous sys-
tems and general slackness are the characteristics
of work performed during our very irritating sum-
mers. If one could do so, it would be better al-
ways to get away altogether and forget work.
Unhappily, we cannot do this; at least most of us
Unhappily, there are many in the trade whose cannot. So we have to stay in the city, working
views are parochial. Narrowness of view, petty and suffering. Then when the coveted and long
prejudice and jealousy are altogether too common anticipated vacation does come, we rush off to the
in our American business life. And it is not at country, stay out all day under a broiling sun,
all to the credit of the great piano industry that row, play golf, swim, rush about on tennis courts
it should have, justly or unjustly, an unenviable and generally conduct ourselves like lunatics. The
reputation along these lines. Absurd as the natural consequence is that we come back wrecks,
notion must seem to any one 'who is gifted with and are totally unable to do any decent work for
common sense, it is nevertheless true that many a month. And yet we call ourselves practical peo-
in the trade may be disposed to decry the recent ple!
boost which the Pianola has given to the player
in reputation, simply because they are engaged in
Of course we are not practical people. If we
marketing or making some competing type of in- were we should not make such idiots of ourselves.
strument. If anybody is as silly as this, one can- On the contrary, we should probably stay home
not suggest anything, of course. And while past altogether and take our vacation by the simple
experience tends to show that just exactly that process of loafing. Anyhow, we should find out
sort of thing is somewhat characteristic o-f this a way of living during the heated spell somewhat
trade, still it is most seriously to be hoped that in accordance with the dictates of common sense,
better sense will prevail.
and with a recognition of the fact that America
is practically a tropical country during at least three
It can readily be seen that the next step re- months of the year. The editor of this Player Sec-
quired is the organization of a similar affair in tion has two brothers living in India, planting tea.
this country. Manufacturers will doubtless shud- These two men live in long low bungalows, with
der at the expense involved. But in truth there heavy thick thatched roofs, coming low down over
would be neither enormous expense, nor enormous the eaves, forming a huge veranda all around.
difficulty even, in sending a good performer over This keeps the bungalow cool inside at all times.
the country to play in concert with every one of Then they have their fans and their punkahs go-
our American symphony orchestras. The effect ing all the time, sending waves of air through the
of such a tour on the fortunes of the manufac- house day and night. They ear light clothes,
turer responsible for it would, of course, largely sun helmets and light shoes. They do their busi-
depend upon the activity of the dealers. If they ness in the cool of the early morning by getting up
took the matter up in a right spirit and made at daybreak. During the middle of the day they
it an occasion for judicious advertising and pub- rest. And so they manage to live in a malarious
licity, the results would be immense and the piano country, which is hot, damp and unhealthy, for
playing mechanism would find itself, within a year, five years at a time, under temperature and cli-
lifted into a place of honor and reputation which matic conditions that would decimate the United
hitherto has been quite inaccessible to it. Some- States in a year, without breaking down. What
thing of the sort should have been done long ago. sensible people we should be if we too lived in a
more tropical manner during our very tropical
summers!
There will not be very much player-piano busi-
ness done during the coming month in all proba-
bility, but it is worth while remembering that there
is a considerable field for the sale of small player-
pianos for use in country cottages and bungalows,
or on yachts. There are not enough of these small
player-pianos on the market, and the attention of
manufacturers might well b : turned in this profit-
able direction, especially as the technical condi-
tions of. the art now permit of much space saving
in the building of piano-playing mechanism. The
idea is good and well worth more attention than it
lias hitherto received.
Here's hoping that everybody has a pleasant va-
cation and does not work so hard during it that
he will be unfit- for business for a month after-
wards.
CLIFFORD L. WRIGHT A BENEDICT.
Miss Overlook Becomes Bride of Son of Well
Known Player Supply Manufacturer.
(Special to The Review.)
Worcester, Mass., July 22, 1912.
Piedmont Church was recently the scene of one
of the largest and prettiest weddings of the season,
the ceremony being the marriage of Clifford Leroy
Wright, son of Morris S. Wright, of the M. S.
Wright Co., to Miss Blanche May Overlock,
daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Melvin G. Overlock.
Guests attended to the number of 400 from all sec-
tion of the country.
Rev. Dr. Henry Stiles Bradley officiated at the
ceremony. Dr. Overlock presented his daughter for
the service. Miss Alice Wright, the groom's sister,
was maid of honor. The best man was Philip
Howard Hensel. Ushers were Clayton M. and
Henry H. Wright, brothers of the groom; Harvey
Bean, counsin of the groom, and Ernest Watson,
of Providence.
The bridal party marched to the chancel to the
strains of the wedding marc! A from "Lohengrin,"
played on the new organ by Fred W. Bailey, who
also entertained with a pleasing program of music
while the many guests were being seated in the
auditorium.
Pink and white were used throughout in both
the gowns of the women and the decorations at
the church and home.
A recepton followed in the home of Dr. and
Mrs. Overlock, from 6.30 until 8.30, for which 200
invitations were sent. Mr. and Mrs. Wright were
assisted in receiving by their parents. An entire
upper room was set aside to display the many gifts
received by the young couple. These included the
rarest and choicest articles of silver, cut glass,
china, linen, bric-a-brac and paintings, with which
Mr. and Mrs. Wright will ornament their new
home at 12 Tirrell street.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright will be at home after
"September 1. The bride is prominent musically,
being an attendant of the New England Conserva-
tory of Music, Boston. Mr. Wright, as the player-
piano trade know, is connected with his father,
M. S. Wright, head of the M. S. Wright Co., where
his main joy is confined in telling the trade just
how good are the Wright player specialties. Young
Mr. Wright attends to considerable of the road
work, too. It is hardly necessary to add that Mr.
Wright has the bountiful wishes of his hosts of
trade friends for a successful career and a. dc-
cidely happy future.
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