Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
61
THE ANCESTOROF THE HARP
The Grecian Cithara Was the Forerunner of the
Modern Harp—An Interesting Account of the
Development of This Instrument
A recent edition of the New York Tribune
contained a very entertaining account of the de-
velopment of the modern harp, written by Kitty
Berger. The article, which traced the harp
from its primitive form, read in part as follows:
"The zither is one of the oldest instruments
in history; being none other than the psaltry
mentioned in the Bible, it formed part of the
orchestra that led the grandest ritual of divine
worship the world has ever known.
"It was popular in ancient Greece as the
'cithara', and was a favorite with the Athenian
maidens of the days of Pericles and Aspasia. It
has invariably occupied a prominent position as
an instrument of peace and refinement. From
this time various improvements were made in
the instrument, notably the addition of strings—
the earliest record gives but three. Tirpander of
Antissa formed a heptachord, to which Timo-
theus added two more strings; but the Spartans
forbade more than seven (dreading, doubtless,
what they considered the enervating influence of
complicated harmonies).
"At that time the strings were touched with a
plectrum, which, however, was superseded tem-
porarily by the use of the fingers, about 70 A. D.,
as proved by paintings found at Herculaneum.
Contrary to general opinion, the zither (cithara)
is in no sense a German (or Tyrolese) instru-
ment, although widely used and popular in those
countries.
"At the time of the Roman war the returning
Crusaders brought the instrument from the
Romans across the Rhine, and it was taken up
by the Bavarians, who, as time went on, con-
stantly worked out improvements by adding
strings. Later a body and fingerboard were
added, and they called it a zither. In this shape
it became known first with seventeen, then
thirty-two, and later on still more strings were
added until they numbered thirty-six or thirty-
eight.
"Now, it is natural that with the greater im-
provements of the instrument there came the
greater difficulty of mastering it. It was no
longer an instrument where one could pick out
RONQ
THE OLDEST AND
LARGEST MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE HOUSE
IN AMERICA
Exclusively Wholesale
ESTABLISHED 1834
351-53 FOURTH AVE. NEWYORKCITY.
Victor Distributors
87-101 Ferry Street
Jersey City, N. J.
OSCAR SCHMIDT, Inc.
ESTABLISHED 1877
Manufacturer of Musical Stringed Instruments — Celebrated Stella and
Sovereign Guitars, Mandolins and Banjos, Violins,
Menzenhauer Guitar Zithers, Mandolin Harps,
Guitarophones, Sympbonettes and other musical novelties
a tune, but some musical knowledge was needed
to play it. Even now there are comparatively
few good players anywhere.
"Only in recent years there have come the
wonderful development and perfection of this
instrument in the modern harp-zither. Its shape
is somewhat like the harp, but it is played like
trie zither (resting on a table). It has forty-
four strings, six finger-boards and thirty-eight
accompaniment strings. The zither (cithara)
is decidedly of classic origin, and while it still
is an instrument of peace and refinement, as in
ancient days, it is now well fitted, through its
perfection and volume of tone, to take its place
in the concert hall as well as in the home."
DEATH OF ALBERT HOUDLETT
'OLD & NEW
VIOLINS
[BEST STRINGS
6PAND PRIZES^
CNIO100IWJ-5T L0UI5I9O*!
JOHNFRIEDRICH&BRO.
SEND FOR , ^ _ ? 279 HFTH AVE
OUR
r:
NEWYORK
^CATALOGUES
OLIVER DITSON GO.
BOSTON. MASS.
Manufacturers
' Imported and Jobber* of
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
ESTABLISHED 1834
Cincinnati
Chicago
Importers of Musical Instruments Will Be In-
terested in Proposed Revision of Law
Important domestic interests have taken up
with the United States Tariff Commissioners
the question of a right of appeal in customs
cases, the same as is accorded to importers and
the Government. At present any aid given the
Government in the preparation of customs issues
by domestic manufacturers is done as a matter
of courtesy.
Now, however, that a general revision of the
customs laws is in progress every effort will be
made to have incorporated therein the definite
right of appeal in cases where a domestic manu-
NEW VIOLIN HASjCYLlNDRICAL BODY facturer feels aggrieved at an appraisement or
classification of any particular merchandise made
An entire departure from the conventional
by the collector.
lines of violin construction has been made in
It is pointed out in support of this plan that
an instrument for which patents have recently
been granted to an Illinois inventor, Robert L,. in many instances a low rate of duty is fixed
Yeakey. The body of the violin is cylindrical on a certain article and no opportunity given
in form. However, the sound post and bass- for the domestic manufacturer to test the issue
bar in a modified form are necessarily retained. before the customs tribunals. A provision in
The instrument is provided with a chin-rest so the law making it possible for a domestic manu-
shaped as to be extended laterally while in use facturer to file an appeal against the collector's
and of folding against the instrument when not action in appraising certain lines of merchan-
dise at a value thought to be too low would,
in use.
it is said, remedy the situation.
The appearance of the violin is most ex-
traordinary, but it is said that the quality and
volume of tone is the equal of that found in
Albert Houdlett,- a pioneer maker of musical
hand-made violins of conventional construction.
The peculiar form involves a simplification in instruments in Brooklyn, N. Y., died in that city
the mode of manufacture and admits of instru- last week of apoplexy. Mr. Houdlett was born
ments being made almost wholly by machinery, in Germany seventy-six years ago, and came to
the United States when a young man. About
while still possessing excellent tone quality.
fifty-two years ago he began the manufacture of
Consult the universal Want Directory of drums, banjos and other musical instruments and
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted trimmings, and stayed in that business for many
free of charge for men who desire positions. years. He is survived by four daughters and
six sons, two of the latter being in the U. S.
Army at present.
Attractive Specialties
Modern Service
MUSICAL
Merchant! ise
RIGHT OF APPEALJN CUSTOMS CASES
wmm
Superior Quality MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Victor Distributor*
1108 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Established over half m. century
DURRO
AND
STEWART
Largest Wholesale
Musical Merchandise
House in America
Buegeleisen & Jacobson
113 University Place
NEW YORK
Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
National Musical String Co.
New Brunswick, N. J.