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THE
OCTOBER 19. 1918
IS A DRUMMER A MUSICIAN?
MUSIC T R A D E
REVIEW
COLD INJURIOUS TO VIOLINS
Correspondent Raises the Question, After
Watching Some Jazz Enthusiast Play Seven
Instruments While Standing on His Head
Dealers in Violins Should Instruct Their Cus-
tomers Concerning the Care of Their Instru-
ments During the Winter Months
A correspondent, in whose soul there evident-
ly is no love for the tintinnabulating tinkles of
the jazz drummer, writes to the editor of Jacobs'
Orchestra Monthly, complaining that the drum-
mer is no longer a musician, and says:
"Times have # changed. The musician drum-
mer seems to have degenerated, and the call
now is for a jazz man who is proficient in the
playing of tuned cow bells and crash cymbals.
He must also be a good contortionist, be able to
make funny faces, have seven or eight wood
blocks of different sizes, a tom-tom or two, fry-
ing pan, siren whistle, squawk can, tin rattle (tin
Lizzie—to carry the junk to and from the job—
he could not carry it on his back, for it weighs
about two hundred pounds), xylophone and bells.
Oh yes, he must also bring along his drums so
that when he has mauled everything else it may
be possible for him to hit his drums a couple
of times, more or less as a novelty.
"His visiting card, which used to read:
Violin dealers naturally take care that climatic
influences do not impair their stock, but this
precaution, while necessary, does not extend far
enough. Many times a customer will purchase
a violin, and then subject it to climatic condi-
tions which influence its tone, and instead of
blaming the weather will lay the blame on the
instrument itself, and consequently on the dealer
for selling inferior goods.
Therefore, it is
wise for the dealer in musical instruments to
give a few simple hints to his customers con-
cerning the care of their instruments during the
winter months. Violins are susceptible to cold,
and though cold is not as injurious to a violin
as damp, still it should be avoided. It does not
affect the violin materially as does clamp, but
it does have a bad influence on tone. Chilled
fibers like chilled fingers refuse to work. Many
violinists playing art concerts in the wintertime
go very early in order to get their fiddles
warmed up before it is time to go on the plat-
form.
"I once had the necessity for keeping a violin
warm brought home to me in a very forcible
manner," said a prominent musician. "I was
giving a lecture on violins, and had all my speci-
mens laid open on a table on the platform so
they would be right at hand for the various il-
lustrations. They had all been brought to the
hall in warm cases, the room in which I tuned
them was comfortably heated so I thought all
was well. But, owing' to some break in the
heating system, the hall itself was extremely
cold. My first illustration, an unusually sweet
and mellow fiddle, sounded unpleasantly thin
and unsympathetic. Since then I always keep
them shut up in their cases until the time comes
to play on them, unless it is in the summer."
JOHN JONES
Trap Drummer, Bells and Xylophone
now contains his name in one corner and little
pictures of every known freak piece of hardware
that will produce a tone when struck with bell
hammer, drum stick or axe, and 'JAZ JAZ JAZ
T H E DELIRIUM TREMENS O F SYNCO-
PATION' (or something like that) written in
big letters in the center of the card.
"His fingers, formerly cigarette stained, now
exhibit only calluses acquired by twirling his
sticks in the air (sometimes he catches them
when they come down). His counter hoops are
worn down to the level of the drum head from
stick playing and his pair of sticks last about
one job per pair under the terrific bombardment
with which he assaults his not long but short
suffering traps (they don't last under the strain
long enough to be called long suffering)."
The above description is a little hard on the
jazz drummer, who certainly earns his living by
the sweat of his brow. Drummers are musi-
cians, even though they may have to take a
course in contortionalistic movements to qualify
for some of the wilder forms of jazz and blues,
and a study of drum parts, even in jazz music,
will prove that the drummer must do his work
in as musicianly a manner as does any other-
member of the orchestra.
The Kaiser has not invested in W a r Savings
Stamps. Are you like the Kaiser?
PROFESSIONAL UKULELE SHOWN
An interesting exhibit of the Ditson "Ha-
waiian Professional" ukulele occupies the center
of the Ditson windows at 8 East Thirty-fourth
street. The various parts and progressive con-
struction of this popular instrument are shown.
JOHNFRIEDRICH&BRO.
, *
I WILL BUY
FOR CASH
Sheet Music and Small Goods
Peate's Music House,
OLIVER DITSON GO.
BOSTON, MASS.
Utica, N. Y.
RUWQ
THE OLDEST AND
LARGEST MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE HOUSE
INAMERICA
Exclusively Wholesale
FINE PIECE OF VIOLIN REPAIRING
John Friedrich Restores Badly Damaged Strad
to Original Playing Condition
The daily press some months ago carried news
concerning the destruction in an automobile ac-
cident of a fine Stradivarius violin owned by
the noted American violinist, David Hochstein.
Before going "over there" he collected insurance
on the violin intending to purchase another upon
his return to this country.
Ernest N. Doring, Jr., secretary and treasurer
of John Friedrich & Bro., dealers in old and
modern violins at 279 Fifth avenue, reports that
the violin came into their possession in its
broken condition. A beautiful piece of repair
work was done by John Friedrich, reputed as
one of the foremost violin makers of the present
day, which restored the instrument to its orig-
inal condition.
Critics who have played this Slrad since its
overhauling have attested that the instrument
is in equal, if not in better, condition than pre-
vious to the accident.
The violin is dated 1715, and was purchased
for Mr. Hochstein in Boston. To Boston the
violin has again gone, and is now the prized
possession of one who recognizes and appre-
ciates its beauty and tone.
IN JAIL, BUT PATRIOTIC
That the spirit of sacrifice inspired by the war
has penetrated into the prisons has been shown
a number of times by the subscriptions made
by prisoners to the Red Cross, the Liberty Loan
and Thrift Stamp Fund. New evidence conies
in a letter from an inmate of Sing Sing to the
Lower Wall Street Business Men's Association,
which is raising money to buy musical instru-
ments for the navy. The letter follows:
"Gentlemen—I noticed an article in The Eve-
ning Sun of the 28th inst. to the effect that you
were seeking donations of musical instruments
for the navy boys.
"I have an almost new banjo-mandolin with
a good case, which 1 will be glad to send you.
"The address is the State Prison at Ossining,
and I would ask you not to use my name. If
you want this instrument you may have it. I
would be very glad to know it was giving pleas-
ure to some fine lad in the United States serv-
ice,
t await your pleasure."
DURRO
AND
STEWART
Largest Wholesale
Musical Merchandise
House in America
Buegeleisen & Jacobson
Manufacturer*
Importer* and Jobbers ol
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Attractive Specialties
Modern Service
ESTABLISHED ISM
Manufac-
turers of
ESTABLISHED 1034
Superior Quality MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Victor Distributer*
Victor Distributors
47
1108 Cheitnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Established ovar half a cantury
113 University Place
NEW YORK
Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
National Musical String Co.
Nev Brunswick, N. J.