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THE
TO TRAIN MUSICIANS FOR THE ARMY
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
THE SELECTION OF A VIOLIN
Government Holds Out Extra Inducements for Some Pertinent Suggestions for the Guidance
Musical Talent—A. A. Clappe at Head of New
of Amateur Violinists
School for Musicians Recently Started
The choice of a violin is one of the hardest
Dealers in small goods will he interested in tasks an intending purchaser can undertake,
the following facts concerning the new school says Geo. J. Heckman in The Etude. It can
for training army musicians which has been es- be safely said that majority of amateurs and
tablished on Governor's Island by the War De- students are not qualified to judge of violin
partment, and known as the Military Band De- tone because of their immaturity of ear develop-
partment of the Institute of Musical Art. Arthur ment and lack of experience. They are often
A. Clappe, former bandmaster at West Point, attracted by a violin, which to a more cultivated
and a well-known writer on musical subjects, ear, sounds far from satisfactory, and as their
is at the head of the school, where more than own musical judgment ripens they greatly re-
fifty musicians are receiving instruction at the gret having purchased it. The best thing for
present time.
the neophyte to do, therefore, is to seek the
A general order issued by the War Depart- unbiased advice of a trained musician or violin
ment has this, among other tilings, to say of the expert.
school:
Professional violinists usually have some
Enlistment in the army affords young men of ideal tone in mind which they look for in a
good character, physique, and musical tempera- violin, and strive to get a violin possessing a
ment an excellent opportunity for musical train- tone as near that ideal as they can purchase
ing, and at the same time insures them adequate with the funds available. This ideal of tone
pay and allowances, and medical attention if is apt to vary, however, with the purpose for
necessary, during the period of training. Upon which the violin is needed—solo, orchestra,
enlistment a man possessing musical training or dance work, etc. It is a well-known fact that
musical temperament is immediately tested at no two violins are alike. Nevertheless, there
the depot under the direction of the leader of are certain characteristics which distinguish
the depot band with respect to his musical abil- good instruments from bad, and these diversi-
ity, and if found qualified he is immediately fied qualities may be generally classified as
reported for assignment to an army band. If he follows:
is found to be not qualified for immediate assign-
Qualities Found in
Qualities .Found in
Good Violins
Inferior Violins
ment, but possesses a musical temperament sus-
Smooth
Rough
Mellow
Scratchy
ceptible of training, he is trained with the depot
Rich
Poor
band, and when sufficiently trained is reported
Even
Sallow
Deep
M utey
for assignment. During the period of training
Soft
Dull "
Loud
Hard
and before assignment the pay proper is $15, but
Full
Metallic
immediately upon assignment to a band his pay
Nasal
Brilliant
Woody
Flutey
is $24 a month.
Woolly
Balance
Tubby
Liquid
If the man remains in the army for thirty
One seldom finds a good violin which com-
years he is entitled to retirement, his retirement
pay being equal to three-quarters of his pay bines all of the good qualities here mentioned
during the seventh enlistment period, with an and has none of the bad ones. Tt will gen-
advance of $15.75 per month, commutation of erally be found that one or other of these char-
It is this circum-
quarters, light, and fuel. Thus the retired pay acteristics is predominant.
for the several grades would be equivalent to stance which helps the violinist with a definite
an income derived from the ownership of gov- ideal of violin tone to make a wise selection.
Another factor that enters into the matter
ernment bonds, drawing interest at 4 per cent.,
of purchase of a violin is the shape and size
as follows:
Band leader
$27,000 of the violinist's hands and arms. Beginners
Assistant band leader
19,125 are often severely handicapped by a violin that
Sergeant
18,225 does not have the proper "feel" or "reach."
Corporal
15,525 This means, of course, that it is not suited to
Beginners and
Musician
14.175 their special physical needs.
neophytes are also apt to be misled by the
appearance of an instrument.
A highly var-
nished "stock" violin may be very attractive
to the eye, but if it is ill-adapted to the pur-
chaser's needs or lacking in good tone-qualities,
AND
it had better remain on the dealer's shelf.
DURRO
STEWART
OLIVER DITSON GO.
Largest Wholesale
Musical Merchandise
House in America
BOSTON, MASS.
NEW
YORK
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Attractive Specialties
Modern Service
ESTABLISHED 1834
MUSICAL
Merchandise
Cincinnati
HOW A DOUBLE BASS WAS MADE
We Don't Vouch for the Truth of This Story,
But it Sounds Interesting, Anyhow
George llraley, wbo writes much on violin
topics, tells of a court case which arose over the
inability of an amateur instrument maker to
make a double bass according to instructions. The
would-be musical instrument manufacturer was
brought into court, and during the testimony the
plaintiff said he told the defendant what kind
of wood was necessary, and lie replied that he
had two beech planks in the back yard which
would do for the body of the double bass, and
an old cart shaft which would do for the neck.
Defendant also purchased some deal and then
the instructions began.
Defendant was in a great burry to finish the
instrument, and when he had finished gluing
the belly, it was found he had forgotten to take
the glue pot out.
The neck was made froin the cart shaft, ac-
cording to instructions, but was put on the
wrong end of the instrument.
After everything was prepared for the strings,
plaintiff told the defendant to go to a music
shop for them, but instead went to a watch-
maker's and got the catgut rope of an eight-day
clock.
He put this string on, and when he
was winding it up to tune the fiddle, the string
broke, struck him in the face and gave him a
black eye.
When it was completed it was found lie had
made the instrument so large that he could not
get it out of the room.
PATENTS SNARE FOR DRUM
WASHINGTON. ]). C, December 18.—Patent No.
1,207,825 was last week granted to Moulton W.
Wheeler, Saii Diego, Cab, for a snare for drums,
and has for its object the provision of a simple,
inexpensive and improved article of this nature.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions
of any kind.
The oldest ai\d
largest musical
merchandise house
h\ America —-
hdusivdj/jtholes^le
5END FOR
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113 University Place
67
Chicago
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