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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
December,
1932
NEW ADMINISTRATION URGED TO CARRY OUT
PLAN FOR U. S. DEPARTMENT OF FINE ARTS
ITH the election of Franklin D.
Roosevelt as president, new impetus
has been given to the cam-
paign for the creation of a Federal depart-
ment to foster the development of the fine
arts in the United States. Such a depart-
ment, it is held, should include a National
Conservatory of Music, as strongly urged
by many in and out of the music industry,
including Frederick P. Stieff, of Baltimore.
The latest move to revive the demand for
a Department of the Fine Arts includes sev-
eral appeals direct to President-elect Roose-
velt to support the plan when he takes office.
In a radio broadcast addressed to Governor
Roosevelt on December 4, Paul Specht, the
noted orchestra leader, said, in part:
"The voice of the people has elected you our
President, and shortly now you will carry
on and name your new cabinet. In relation
to the latter, may I humbly call your atten-
tion to the disorganization of our national
spirit in our national arts and letters; and
in our national song and music; and all the
arts that need a revival to uplift the public
spirit in these times of depression.
"What contributes more to national en-
thusiasm than good American music? The
native kind of music of the distinctive
American tunes that the masses love to hear.
The exhilarating kind that our doughboys
sing in battle. The American melting-pot
of music, born through the days of Stephen
Foster, John Philip Sousa, Harry Von Tilzer,
George M. Cohan, Irving Berlin, George
Gershwin and countless others who have so
nobly contributed to the birth of American
music now recognized and imitated through-
out the world. Verily the day of National
American Music is here!
"Will you recognize and foster its develop-
ment like every other nation has done, and
break the precedent of your predecessors by
naming a Secretary of National Arts; or a
Director of the National Arts, and establish
a National Conservatory of Music? . . .
An enthusiastic move to build up national
spirit? . . . So necessary at this critical
time. . . . And isn't art just as vital now
and as potent a force today to stimulate
enthusiasm hand in hand with politics; with
industry and with science in the promotion
of ultimate American happiness?
"Mr. President-elect, our country needs a
national department of arts; a national direc-
tor to promote this uplifting factor; to pep
up our feelings; to caress our woes and bring
realization to our jays, and to encourage
our forward march through this and every
other depression; to crown our victories and
to give America its real trade-mark in the
propagation of national fame and fortune in
this grand struggle and march of industry
and politics and science that has always
found itself identified with every other
great nation but America."
COMMITTEES APPOINTED FOR
CHICAGO P. & O. ASSN.
encouraging. The progress made, in spite
of the financial troubles of the school board,
is largely due to the interested efforts of
W. J. Bogan and Doctor J. Lewis Browne,
superintendent and director of music respec-
tively of the school.
W
At a meeting of the executive committee
of the Chicago Piano & Organ Association
on December 8, President Louis C. Wagner
announced the following standing committees
for the coming year:
Ways and Means: George L. Hall, chair-
man; Henry E. Weisert, R. J. Cook, H. C.
Dickinson and James V. Sill. Membership:
Adam Schneider, chairman; Hugh A.
Stewart, George F. Lufkin, Frank W. Kirk
and Roy E. Waite. Entertainment and re-
ception: Frank Bennett, chairman; S. D.
Harris, F. S. Moffett, A. L. McNab and F.
E. Abbott. Promotion of Music : Eugene
Whelan, chairman; G. R. Brownell, Ben F.
Duvall and Percy Tonk. Judiciary: Adam
Schneider, chairman; F. S. Whitmore, W. E.
Guyles and Marshall Selberg.
Adam
Schneider continues, as usual, as executive
secretary.
The monthly luncheon meeting of the as-
sociation for December will be held between
Christmas and New Years Day so as to give
the members every possible moment to get
holiday sales without interruption. The
exact date will be announced later.
Developments of the month in connection
with group piano instruction in the public
schools of Chicago are highly encouraging,
the registrations showing a considerable in-
crease over the same period last year. The
questionnaires recently sent by the Association
to public school teachers asking for informa-
tion on actual enrollments and future ten-
dencies are corning in rapidly and are most
REPORTS BIG SUCCESS FOR
NEW BALDWIN CO. LINE
Philip Wyman, a director of the Baldwin
Piano Co., Cincinnati, was in New York
recently on one of his periodic visits and
took occasion to express his enthusiasm re-
garding the manner in which the new Bald-
win line of Masterpiece Pianos had been re-
ceived both by the trade and the public. The
unusual tone qualities and attractive prices
of the instruments in the new line not only
brought many new dealers into the Baldwin
fold, but have resulted in a very satisfying
volume of business, particularly during re-
cent months. Mr. Wyman views the 1933
prospects with full confidence because of the
fact that the new line is now an established
factor.
E. F. DROOP & SONS MARK
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
E. F. Droop & Sons Co., a prominent piano
and music house of Washington, D. C, last
month celebrated the seventy-fifth anniver-
sary of the establishment of the business.
E. F. Droop, formerly head of the business,
joined the firm of W. C. Metzerott in 1857
and upon the death of Mr. Metzerott con-
ducted the business under his own name.
The business has been conducted by E. H.
and Carl H. Droop since the death of their
father, in 1908. Both men are very promi-
nent in musical circles in the national cap-
ital.
ROMAN DE MAJEWSKI
MARRIES MISS McGREGOR
Roman de Majevvski, the popular whole-
sale representative of Steinway & Sons, on
December 17 married Helen McGregor,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John David Mc-
Gregor, a prominent New York family. The
ceremony was performed in the Church of
the Transfiguration, famous in New York
history as "The Little Church Around the
Corner," and immediately thereafter the
couple left for an unannounced destination
on their honeymoon.
CHAUNCEY D. BOND ON
VISIT TO GOTHAM TRADE
A recent visitor to the New York piano
trade was C. D. Bond, factory superintend-
ent of the Weaver Piano Co., York, Pa. Mr.
Bond was enthusiastic over the campaign
being carried on by his company to develop
sales through the instruction of children in
piano playing. As already noted in THE
REVIEW the Weaver company has been carry-
ing on such a campaign for some months
past. The details are passed on to a number
of the company's dealers who have met with
similar success, finding that the method can
be applied by practically every dealer,
whether his organization is small or large.
SECURES MASON & HAMLIN
AND KNABE FOR OREGON
The United Piano Co., 88 Grand avenue,
Portland, Ore., has been appointed exclusive
representative in that territory for the Mason
& Hamlin and Knabe pianos and with the
arrival of the first instruments a strong
campaign has been launched throughout
Oregon and southern Washington. H. T.
Howell is manager of the company.
The Bensberg Music Stores have opened at
108 West Main street, Prescott, Ark.
HARDMAN, PECK & Co.
Manufacturers of
Fine Pianos for 91 years
433 Fifth Avenue
New York