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MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, PIANOS ONLY, DECEMBER, 19 hi
Piano Music
Vital to Defense
HEN one thinks of defense one's
thoughts turn to military and naval
defense—armies, navies, guns, tanks,
aeroplanes, bombers, soldiers, sailors
and "what not. Even greater than all
of these, however, is that vital factor
summed up in the one word "morale,"
not only the morale of the rank and
file of armed forces but of those who
are sitting on the side lines at home cheering them on to victory.
It has been seen what lack of morale has done to great nations.
Without morale they have crumpled. Without music there can
be no morale. Without the piano, the basic of all musical in-
struments, there would be little or no music. It has been on the
piano that practically all of the v/orid's great music has been
composed.
The United States now has an army of 1,600,000 men: a navy
personnel of approximately 300,000. The mosi forceful evidence
that these men cannot get along without music and especially
piano music has been manifested in the urgent call of the gov-
ernment for donations of pianos for the army camps and the
forming of the United Service Organization which is now spend-
ing some donated $15,000,000 to establish and maintain recrea-
tion centers for wholesome entertainment for the men. The gov-
ernment also purchased 1200 portable Estey Organs and over
500 Hammond Organs for use in Army Chapels and Camps.
Likewise in the daily lives of those at home, regardless in
what walk of life they may be engaged, the piano will from now
on be even a greater factor than it has for many years. But, in
what walk of life has the piano not played an important role
since its inception by Bartommeo Christforio in 1709? Through
all the ages its acceptance as the one necessity for musical inter-
pretation has been recognized—in the home, church, school,
theater and other places of entertainment, on the concert stage,
in the legitimate theater and the movies, in army camps, on
battleships and in naval stations, recreation centers and in more
recent times even in trailors, on trains and aeroplanes.
During World War I so important was entertainment to stimu-
late the morale of the army that entertainment units travelled
just behind the front line trenches and pianos were available for
their use even in such perilous places. It was during this war
that Congress put the piano on the essential list so vital was it
to the morale of the nation.
To-day a younger generation is playing the piano—a million
and a half of them taking lessons. It is this generation who will
eventually be called upon to bear the heavy tax burden forced
upon the nation by the present emergency. "Keep them playing
to Keep them Flying" has been suggested by a well known
piano manufacturer for a slogan for the present but for the future
Ihis might well be translated into to "Keep Them Playing to
Keep Them Paying."
What music can do for morale is forcefully summed up in the
words of Pope who wrote:
Music the fiercest grief can charm,
,
And fate's severest rage disarm.
Music can soften pain to ease
And make despair and madness please;
Our joys below it can improve
And antidate the bliss above.
Never in the last quarter of this century has their been so
much piano consciousness as at present. As taxes increase and
people have less to spend for outside entertainment, during the
present emergency, more home entertainment will be forced
Who Am 1?
r
was born in the small shop of Bartommeo Christforio in
ence, Italy, way bac\ in 1709.
live in the humble cottage of the laborer and in the gorgeous
palaces of the rich. I am at home with the great rulers of
the world.
travel over land and sea to every nation wherever civilization
exists.
taught your mother the soft sweet lullabies with which she
sang you to sleep in the old fashioned cradle.
encouraged you to sing the old Mother Goose rhymes when
you were a little child.
mellowed the bitterness in your soul, and brought you closer
to God your Creator, with my sacred hymns.
inspired you with my patriotic melodies to love the Star
Spangled Banner, and your country when you attended school.
was the life of the party at every family gathering and
cemented the home ties that will linger long in your fond
memories.
occupy an important place in almost every orchestra, small or
large.
am cherished and honored in conservatories the world over.
A.rtists of international reputation ma\e me their constant
companion, and spend many delightful hours every day in
my company.
•
am loved by young and old, by rich and poor, by educated
and ignorant, by every race, color, and creed.
spea\ a universal language that ma\es me welcome and under'
stood by all, everywhere, in Heaven and on Earth.
am not afraid. 7s[o mortal man with all his ingenuity and
scientific research has been capable of devising anything to
ta\e my place.
feel that my creation was inspired by God, and I am here
with you to stay until the end of time.
Who Am I?
I Am The Piano
By Geo. P. Gross, Gross Music House, Cincinnati, O.
upon them. It is then that the piano 'will become most vital to
the maintenance of the morale of the people of this nation. At-
testing to this are the opinions of numerous prominent manufac-
turers and dealers in this industry based on their experience
during previous troublesome times in world history as follows:
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