Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
OCTOBER 24,
1925
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
11
Art and Industry Unite to Dedicate
the New Steinway Hall *
World Tribute Paid to Firm at Formal Dedication Last Week of the New Steinway Hall on West Fifty-
Seventh Street, New York—Ceremonies Marked With Presentation of Tablets From Stein-
way Dealers and American Musicians, European Friends and Trade Associates
"Y
OU have come from the corners of
the earth to do honor to our feast.
You have showered us with gifts; you
have made your presence to shine upon us and
you have given us freely of your love and
friendship," said Theodore E. Steinway, speak-
ing for the House of Steinway & Sons, last Sat-
urday evening in welcoming the representatives
and associates of the company to the number of
100 or more, who had come literally from all
parts of the world to lend their presence to the
formal dedicatory ceremonies at the new Stein-
way Hall on Fifty-seventh street, New York.
Presented to Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Steinway
No greater tribute to the Steinway House
could be conceived than the spirit which moved
representatives of the company from Australia,
from Europe, Canada and many sections of the
United States, near and distant, to foregather
in New York to do honor to the house on this
noteworthy occasion.
Gathering at Steinway Hall early in the after-
noon the visitors, after an inspec-
tion of the elaborate new quarters,
congregated in the recital hall for
the purpose of witnessing and
taking part in the presentation to
Steinway & Sons of gifts in keep-
ing with the occasion. The first
of these was a handsome bronze
tablet presented by business asso-
ciates and musicians of Europe.
The dedication of this tablet was
made by William Mengelberg, con-
ductor of the Philharmonic Or-
chestra, and enjoying international
fame.
A Tablet From European Friends
Mr. Mengelberg expressed his
regrets that Ignace Paderewski,
who logically should have made
the presentation, was unable to be
present, and then proceeded to
pay high tribute to Steinway &
Sons and what that institution had done not
only in a commercial way, but for the cause of
music throughout the world: He said, in part:
"The debt of the music world to Steinway
& Sons is very difficult to put into words and
even more difficult to express by an action.
Nevertheless, numerous friends of the house
have taken this occasion'to express their grati-
tude on this memorable day in a form which
will endure. At the initiative of Ignace Pade-
rewski and Samuel Bottemheim, a small com-
mittee of European friends have assembled to
express their thankfulness to Steinway & Sons
by acting as receiving agents for contributions
to a gift which will speak for itself in this
building as a memorial of the esteem, respect
and friendship of the donors."
The tablet itself, a genuine work of art, bore
the legend:
Arti et Amicitiae
Dedicated to
Steinway & Sons
as a mark of respect and esteem
at the opening of their new home
in New York, October 18, 1925,
by their numerous friends in Europe.
An album containing the names of the donors
Presented by Steinway's European Friends
was presented to the company with the tablet.
Next was presented another bronze tablet by
the Steinway piano merchants and musicians of
the United States, the dedication being made by
Rubin Goldmark.
After comparing the name of Steinway on
pianos to that of Stradivarius on violins or
Michael Angelo on paintings, and likewise com-
paring the House of Steinway & Sons to that
of Medici, the merchant princes of Florence in
the Renaissance, Mr. Goldmark said:
"Steinway & Sons, who are merchants, are
princes in the very finest sense of the word,
and I could not help thinking what would have
happened if they had lived in the Renaissance
sonic 400 years ago. We are very glad that
Presented by Musicians and Steinway Dealers
they did not and that we have them with us
to-day. Steinway & Sons have contributed their
share to the world's culture and they represent
a sort of hereditary aristocracy of their own.
The descendants of the original founder of the
house are still controllers of its destiny. There
has always been one family and they—with a
group of splendid men — have
borne the Steinway tradition with
them wherever they go. We all
know what that tradition is—the*
finest sense of devotion, unfailing
courtesy in their business and per-
sonal relations, loyalty and gen-
erosity towards t h e i r friends,
ardent and firm supporters of
every movement in music and art
for the past half century. So, gen-
tlemen, and Steinway & Sons we
ask you to accept this tablet dedi-
cated to you. I read from the in-
scription:
" 'This tablet is dedicated to
Steinway & Sons by artists, com-
posers, music lovers and the Stein-
way piano merchants of America.
It is a symbol of sincere apprecia-
tion and recognition of Steinway
achievements, and a merited tribute
to unswerving devotion to the highest ideals of
art as expressed in the manufacture of pianos.' "
A Statuette for President Steinway
A particularly interesting feature of the cere-
monies was the presentation to Frederick T.
{Continued on page 12)