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THE
JANUARY 25, 1919
SUGGESTIONS FOR HARPISTS
The Harp is One of the Oldest of Musical In-
struments, and When Properly Played Has a
Musical Sweetness Peculiarly Its Own
"The harp, an instrument of which the strings
are 'twanged' or vibrated by the fingers." Such
is the description we find in nearly every en-
cyclopaedia or dictionary of one of the most
graceful and elegant of instruments—an instru-
ment which fro.m its birth, over six thousand
years ago, has never been lacking in grace or ele-
gance of form.
From Egypt it has accompanied many peo-
ples in their wanderings through all of ancient
Europe, its Egyptian form being found on a
cross belonging to the ancient church of Ullard,
near Kilkenny, Ireland, and bearing the date
830. Among the Celtic races, whether Gaelic or
Cymric, we find from the earliest records great
prominence bestowed upon the harp and harper,
and even so to-day, after its long sleep, it has
been resurrected to take its place as of old in the
hearts of the people.
The harp is an instrument whose beauty of
tone when not "twanged" cannot be surpassed,
possessing in its lower register rich, organlike
tones of great volume which fill our largest
auditoriums, and in its upper register possessing
the most liquid notes of infinite clearness and
purity. It is capable of producing many effec-
tive varieties of tone, perhaps of these the har-
monies being of the most exquisite sweetness.
Unfortunately, the harp is entirely dependent
for these tonal productions upon the player, and,
alas! too often an audience is obliged to listen
to a "twanging" harp, the harper being quite
content to "pinch" out of the instrument a sharp,
quick sound, contemptibly noisy, so long as he
or she can astonish an audience by a technical
display, which can produce only a sharp, quick
noise from the victim's quivering strings.
Technic is the necessary adjunct of every
artist, and perhaps more necessary to the harpist
than to any other artist, yet it should be kept in
abeyance and subservient to the harp's beauty
of tone. "Remember always, it is not how rap-
idly but how beautifully you play," said a great
musician and piano teacher to many of his great
artist pupils. Such should be the warning
sounded for every harp student, with an addi-
tion to forget yourself in your instrument.
Don't strike, "twang" or "pinch" the tone from
your harp; it being almost human in its re-
sponsiveness, it seems to resent this rude treat-
ment. A strong, steady hand with a tender
touch and a caressing manner of drawing the
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
strings toward one is the surest means of pro-
ducing the rich, mellow and liquid tones of
which no other instrument is capable, and is
the only means of prolonging the tone and of
giving it a singing quality. Sustained tones,
such as are produced upon a piano, are im-
possible for the harp. Here, then, is one of the
best of reasons for leaving piano literature to
the piano. The harp's normal key is C flat. All
the naturals and sharps are made through means
of pedals, which are connected with disks con-
taining little studs or nibs which, at each de-
pression of the pedal, turn and pinch the string,
raising it one-half tone. This pinching of the
string causes, no matter how cleverly manipu-
lated, a stopping of the tone, which lessens the
brilliancy and carrying quality of the harp, an-
other reason for making a perfect interpreta-
tion of piano music impossible.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE 'CELLO
This Instrument Has Long Been a Favorite
With Great Composers, on Account of Its
Close Resemblance to the Human Voice
In speaking of the 'cello it may be interesting
to music lovers to know that this exquisitely
toned instrument is made on the same general
model and principles as the violin, but with cer-
tain modifications.
Relatively to the pitch it is made smaller than
the violin, because if it were so constructed as
to have the same relation to the pitch as the
violin it would not only have an overpowering
tone, but would be unmanageable from its size.
It is claimed that the earliest specimens of
violins were made in the middle of the sixteenth
century, and the Tieffenbruckers, a German fam-
ily, are credited with being the inventors. They
were famous lute makers in Venetia and Lom-
bardy.
The tenor violin, in compass a fifth lower
than the treble violin, preceded the latter, and
from existing specimens we know that the bass
violin, now termed the violoncello, with a tun-
ing an octave below the tenor violin, appeared
very shortly afterward.
The main characteristic of the 'cello is its long
and varied register. It is capable of expressing
with beautiful tonal effect the different human
voices.
JOHNFRIEDRKH&BRO
Peate's Music House,
Utica, N. Y.
RONQ
T H E OLDEST AND
LARGEST MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE HOUSE
IN AMERICA
Exclusively Wholesmh
ESTABLISHED IO3«
Victor Distributors
[ WANT TO HEAR FROM AMERICAN
MANUFACTURERS
A large uml reputable importer of musical in-
struments in one of the leading cities of Belgium
desires catalog* and the fullest details from manu-
facturers of band and orchestral instruments and
accessories, talking machines and accessories; also
from manufacturers of other musical instruments
such as accordions, concertinas, harmonicas,
zithers, mandolins, mouth organs, etc., with the
object of handling these lines. l'rior to the
war these goods were imported from Germany,
but this house is now desirous of placing orders
in other countries. Address with full particulars
"Belgium," care The Music Trade Review, 373
Fourth Ave., New York.
In its lower register it has the rich volume of
a bass voice.
On its G and D strings it
rivals the most resonant baritone voice; then
it produces the contralto tones, and in its high'
est register a light, clear soprano.
These qualities make the 'cello the most
popular of instruments with all great composers.
Wagner's scores as well as Verdi's, in fact
nearly every opera score, are filled, with solo
passages for this instrument. No other instru-
ment is as capable of expressing love and ro-
mance and sorrow.
Symphonies and chamber music can hardly be
conceived without the romantic and tragic ele-
ment brought into them by the sonorous tones
of this exquisite instrument.
ENTER THE HARMONICA FIELD
A new firm have entered the music field as man-
ufacturers of harmonicas. They are known as
the American Harmonica Co. Their factory
is located in West Hoboken, N. J., and while the
plant is in actual operation they are confining
themselves at the present time to a single reed
harmonica, in one style and one key. Later, as
new equipment is installed, they intend to branch
out and manufacture all types of harmonicas.
SOUSA REASSEMBLING HIS BAND
Lieutenant John Philip Sousa, now that his
military service is over, is reorganizing his
famous band and will resume his country-wide
tours, beginning next spring. His first trip will
take him across the continent to California, and
then will follow series in Texas, the South,
Havana, etc.
DURRO
AND
STEWART
I WILL BUY
FOR CASH
Sheet Music and Small Goods
57
OLIVER DITSON CO.
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BOSTON, MAIS.
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Manufacturer*
Importwv and ImVben al
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WEYMAHH
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Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
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