Music Trade Review

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THE
AUGUST 31, 1918
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
55
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND WAR
VIOLINIST'S PRACTICE DEVICE
REGIMENTAL BAND CONTESTS
Captain Dugmore Tells of the Value of Music
and Musical Instruments to the Soldiers—
How the Pipers Help Bring Victory
Karl A. Becker, of Los Angeles, Secures Pat-
ent on Device to Aid Students to Hold the
Violin and Manipulate the Bow
Many Army Cantonments Plan to Hold Con-
tests Between Bands Stationed in Them
Capt. A. Radclyffe Dugmore, now lecturing
in this country on his experiences in France
and the life of the soldier at the front, tells of
the fighters' need for music and the consequent
attention it receives from the military authori-
ties. Capt. Dugmore was for two years in the
zone of the hottest lighting, where his adven-
tures included arrest as a spy—first by the Bel-
gians, then by the Germans; escape to his own
lines, hazardous assignments as brigade scout
and intelligence officer and, finally, participa-
tion in the battle of the Sorame, where a gas
attack finished his career of usefulness on the
firing line. In his description of the musical
activities of the soldiers, Capt. Dugmore says:
"I 1 .very regiment lias a divisional band. These
bands play at football matches within eight
miles of the front. They are supplemented by
individual players using any sort of instrument
available, even the mouth-organ and the paper-
covered comb, when nothing more exalted is at
hand. Hundreds and hundreds of phonographs
are being used behind the lines to-day, and
pianos are found in many improvised Y. M. C.
A.'s converted from old barns. For the fighter
must have music, and his officers see that he
gets it.
"Song rallies are held at frequent intervals,
led often by well-known tenors and baritones.
It is practically an established rule that twenty-
four hours before a contemplated charge a great
concert is held for those who are to take part,
thousands of soldiers usually attending these
concerts.-
"No singing or playing is, of course, permitted
in the first line trenches. These are, for the
most part, shallow—not having been constructed
for permanent occupation—and every sound of
this kind would attract the enemy. Nor does
any music, with the exception of bagpipes, actu-
ally advance into battle. The bagpipes, how-
over, have been found a necessary adjunct in
the conduct of a successful charge. They have
been known to turn the tide of battle when
our men seemed exhausted. The brave pipers
play under the fiercest fire, giving up not even
when wounded.
"It is little wonder, in view of all this, that
Y. M. C. A.'s and welfare committees who can
judge the troops' needs on the spot emphasize
the value of music and make liberal provision
for it. As a stimulant to the spirits of men, its
importance can hardly be overestimated."
Already we have come to the point in the
training of our new huge army where we hold
contests between regimental hands, buglers and
singers. It is quick work. But in fact, such a
contest has been held.
It came off on July 26, at Camp Sheridan. An
idea can be gained of the scope of the affair by
merely enumerating the classes of contest.
There were solos, quartets, orchestral selections,
bugle corps calls, bugle solo calls and full regi-
mental marching songs. The judges, besides,
of course, the leading camp officers, were civil-
ians and musicians of established standing; and
a large silver loving cup was awarded the 45th
Regiment.
Soon, probably, other camps will be following
suit in this matter, and contests of regimental
trumpeting and song will be staged all over the
country. A symptom of the enlarged interest
which regimental music is enjoying to-day is
the recent introduction into Congress of a bill
authorizing the commission of a first lieutenant
be given to each army bandmaster.
At the present time there is no specific rank
for a regimental bandmaster. He may be a
non-commissioned officer or a private, and other
non-commissioned officers may be playing in-
struments under him in the band. It is alto-
gether confusing, as seen from the outside, and
the awarding of a commission to the leader will
easily straighten that point out, as well as give
the entire band a stronger dignity.
Too often, as things are, the nifty drum-major
seems the most important figure in the band
TO MANUFACTURE VIOLINS
organization, to civilian eyes, whereas, in reality,
A certificate of incorporation was issued last there may be a number of players of instru-
week to the Fredeking-Banks Violin Co., of ments who top him in both pay and standing.
Huntington, W. Va., with a capitalization of
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT IMPROVEMENT
$75,000 for the purpose of manufacturing violins
and other musical instruments.
The incor-
WASHINGTON, D. C, August 26.—A stringed
porators are Will B. Fredeking, W. H. Banks, musical instrument has just been patented by
Arlene Young, C. T. Taylor and A. W. Wer- Joseph Ferretti, Jersey City, N. J., Patent No.
inger, all of Huntington, W. Va.
1,275,667 for which has just been granted. The
invention has for an object to provide a stringed
The Kaiser has not invested in War Savings musical instrument having novel means for re-
Stamps. Are you like the Kaiser?
producing and amplifying the sound thereof and
causing the same to be projected in the most
suitable and desired direction.
WASHINGTON, D. C, August 26.—Karl A. Beck-
er, Los Angeles, Cal., was last week granted
Patent No. 1,275,202 for a Violinist's Practice
Device.
This invention relates to devices of the char-
acter designed to aid violin students in learning
to properly hold the violin and to properly ma-
nipulate the bow thereof.
An object of the invention is to produce a
device in which the position and manipulation
of the bow may be caused to exactly correspond
with the correct position and manipulation
thereof in the playing of a violin.
Another object is to afford means for the
strengthening of the muscles of the fingers
used in stopping.
Another object is to make provision for both
a positive guiding and a non-positive guiding
of the bow. By "positive guiding" is meant
the constraining of the bow on three sides dur-
ing the bowing operation, and by "non-posi-
tive guiding" is meant the constraining of the
bow on two sides only during the bow r ing opera-
tion.
When the bow is constrained on but
two sides, if it be not moved accurately at right
angles to the body of the device, it will slip off
of the guiding means. The positive guiding
prevents mistakes in the bowing and the non-
positive guiding permits mistakes to be made
in the bowing but reveals that the mistake is
made.
JOHNFRIEDRICH&BRO
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