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34
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
SCIENTIFIC TESTS TO DETERMINE REAL
SECRET OF STRADIVARIUS VIOLIN TONE
REVIEW,
September, 1931
MODERN MUSIC HAS ITS
O W N TERMINOLOGY
Modern music is apparently so different
from that of the classical masters that a new
terminology is necessary to enable the band
and orchestra players in their interpretation
of present-day arrangements. For instance,
B. A. Rolfe, director of the Lucky Strike
Dance Orchestra, has developed a vocabulary
that would leave a symphony orchestra
player limp and bewildered. For instance,
here are some of the definitions:
Sock rhythm—an accentuated beat, employ-
ing the kettle drums in a tom-tom effect.
Wah-Wah chorus—descriptive of the cry-
ing effect obtained by the trumpets in such
pieces as "Bye, Bye, Blues."
Jumble—describing unusual chords, quar-
ter notes, or trick rhythms.
Low dumptys—(a typical Rolfism) low,
full tones.
The woodpile—a combination of two xylo-
phones and two marimbas.
•Schmoos (another Rolfism)—so-called "low-
down" music; smooth and full.
Umpah—the tuba; in marches, etc.
Get brutal—a hard, accented musical at-
tack.
Smear it—a sustained, flowing melody.
Hit it and kill it—a none too gentle request
for the cymbal player to lay on the musicle
and kill off the after vibrations.
Pinpoint—thin, sharp trumpet tones.
Sting it—hit the opening note sharp and
clear.
Noodles—the arpeggios which farm a back-
ground for the melody. Usually played by
the xylophone.
HE Stradivarius violin's reputation for
unexcelled quality of tone has been jus-
tified by scientific investigations con-
ducted in Chicago.
Photographs of the "Strad's" sound waves,
disclosing a remarkable power in their
fundamental vibrations, have been made by
Dr. William Braid White, director of the
acoustic laboratory of the American Steel
and Wire Co., a subsidiary of United States
Steel.
His present studies of Stradivarius tonal
quality represent only the beginning of a
long research, but first results made public
recently indicate that the famous Italian
violin maker's craftsmanship will stand the
most rigorous tests of modern acoustics.
A striking power, simplicity and sym-
metry in major vibrations is Tevealed by
pictures of the Strad's sound waves, in con-
trast to more dissonant harmonics developed
by cheaper violins.
The secret of Stradivarius tone quality,
Dr. White believes, lies in this greater sim-
plicity and symmetry of its fundamental
T
vibrations which are so very evident.
With an osiso he has recorded the physical
properties of tones made by each string of a
Strad. The violin used in the tests is owned
by Toscha Seidel, noted violinist, who is
collaborating in the research. The instru-
ment was made in 1714, at the height of the
career of Antonio Stradivari, the Cremona
wizard. Seidel values it at $60,000.
For the powerful "open" tone, drawn from
the G string of this violin, the osiso's mov-
ing finger traced a line resembling a series of
low, almost perfectly formed waves. When
the D, A and E strings were sounded the
waves took on shapes more vertically jagged
but none the less symmetrical.
"By the time we have finished our re-
search," said Dr. White, "Mr. Seidel and
I may have to conclude that it was Strad-
ivari's slow, patient experimenting on each
violin he made; his slow and careful sea-
soning of his wood; his exquisite tonal sense,
and his unlimited patience, together with the
mellowing influence of time, that furnish the
secret of his tone."
COURT RULES FLUEGEL
HORNS ARE NOT REGALIA
part of the tariff act covering regalia im-
ported for the use of a religious society.
The paragraph to which appeal was
made limits duty-free entry to regalia which
"may be worn upon the person or borne in
the hand" during public exercises of the so-
ciety. It was accordingly argued that fluegel
horns were "borne in the hand" during out-
door religious exercises by bandsmen of the
Salvation Army, an association duly organ-
ized for religious purposes. It was further
argued that the fluegel horn served the dual
purpose of furnishing music and distinguish-
ing the bandsman.
This ingenious argument falls before the
decision of the United States Customs Court.
In a decision written by Judge Sullivan the
court holds that fluegel horns are musical
instruments and that the Chicago Collector's
classification was correct. A search of all
the authorities on the subject of regalia
failed to disclose one that included musical
instruments in its enumeration. Badges, rib-
bons, crosses, stars—these may be counted
as regalia, but not the mellifluous fluegel
horn of the street corner concert.
Frank Holton, president of the Holton
Band Instrument Company here, recently ex-
hibited an old baritone horn, said to be an
exact duplicate of the one which he played
in the village band at Allegan, Mich., fifty-
five years ago. The brass and German silver
instruments used by bands in the Civil War
days, said Mr. Holton, were practically all
made with rotary valves and with bells which
projected back of the shoulder. It was claimed
then with instruments made in that way that
the soldiers could hear the music better when
the band was marching at the head of a
column of troops.
The Jersey Music Co. will move to new
and larger quarters at 82-A Washington
street, Bloomfield, N. J., on September 1.
Hazen C. Sweet has moved his jewelry
and music store to new quarters at 39 East
Michigan avenue, Battle Creek, Mich.
Fluegel horns, inscribed with the crest of
the Salvation Army and designed for use by
band men of that organization during re-
ligious services, were imported into the
United States and duty collected upon them
at Chicago as musical instruments. A pro-
test was subsequently made by the Interna-
tional Forwarding Company against the de-
cision of the Collector of Customs at Chicago
and the contention advanced that the horns
were entitled to enter duty free under that
Price or Quality—
Which dominates your
buying?
S'ingle-sale profits are no indication of a
profitable yearly average . . . . the replac-
ing 1 of unsatisfactory merchandise at your
own cost, together with increased over-
head through sales resistance in promoting
an unadvertised brand may reduce your
profits far more than the slight difference
you pay for a well known quality product.
RED-O-RAY
and TONECRAFT
STRINGS
ACORN ACCORDION CASES CANNOT TIP OVER
not tip over.
It carries your
accordion,
s h o e s , toilet
articles, c o l -
lars, also your
s h e e t music,
flat,
without
folding.
give you both quality and price advantage
. . . . quality that has an enviable reputa-
tion of many years standing and a liberal
discount for a profitable yearly average—
plus our guarantee that insures dealers
against loss through any possible dissatis-
faction.
Write for full particulars regarding our
complete line of String Products. Oppor-
tunities throughout the country are open
to active dealers.
Kaplan Musical String Co.
South Norwalk, Conn., U. S. A.
HOLTON SHOWS BARITONE
HORN OF CIVIL WAR TYPE
Patent applied for
ACORN SAMPLE CASE CO.
Send
f Or P" Ce
This
Cali-
fornia
style
case
cannot
tip
over
list!
Patent applied for
208 West Kinzie St., Chicago, 111.