Presto

October 9, 1920.
PRESTO
REPRODUCING AN ART EVENT AN0TnE * FACTORY FOR CHICAGO
In Repetition This Week at Carnegie Hall, New York, of Historic Episode,
the Association of the Chickering Piano with the Highest
in Music Is Impressed.
A memorial
concert to mark
the centenary of
the b i r t h of
Jenny Lind was
given
on
W e d n e s day of
this week at Car-
negie Hall, New
York. The con-
cert was a repro-
duction, as close-
ly as possible, of
the one given at
Castle Garden in
1850 at the first
appearance in
a p p e a r ance in
America of the
JENNY LIND.
famous Swedish
singer.
At the memorable musical event in 1850 Jenny
Lind used a Chickering piano on which she played
her own accompaniments to several encores given
in addition to the regular numbers sung with the
orchestra. This week's event naturally draws again
the attention of musical people to the oldest con-
tinuous piano industry in the United States, and
associates the Chickering piano with the art and
artists of a bygone day.
In the exact reproduction of the first concert
given by Jenny Lind in the United States, which
The association of the earlier instrument with
Jenny Lind was the beginning of a long list of dis-
tinctions both here and abroad. Jenny Lind's favor
for the Chickering of 1850 was an earnest of the
great array of marks of distinction—diplomas, gold
medals, letters from great personages and learned
bodies which Chickering & Sons have accumulated.
The Castle Garden Program.
The following is the program of the Jenny Lind
Concert given on the occasion of her first American
appearance at Castle Garden, New York, on Wednes-
day evening, Sept. 11th, 1850, and reproduced at
Carnegie Hall this week:
PART I.
Overture, Oberon
Weber
Aria—Sorgeto Maometto Secondo
Rossini
Sig. Veletti
Scena—Cavatina, Casta Diva (Norma) Bellini
Mdlle. Jenny Lind
Duet—On two pianofortes
Benedict
Messrs. Benedict and Hoffman.
Duetto, Per Piacca alia Signora from II
Turco in Italia
Rossini
Mdlle. Jenny Lind and Sig. Veletti
PART II.
Overture—The Crusaders
Benedict
Trio for voice and two flutes (By Camp of
Selesia)
Composed expressly for Jenny Lind.
Mdlle. Jenny Lind
Cavatina Largo al Factotum (The Barber
of Seville)
Rossini
Sig. Veletti
The Herdsman's Song (generally known as
the "Echo Song")
Mdlle. Jenny Lind
Welcome to America (Written expressly
for this occasion by Bayard Taylor)
Benedict
Mdlle. Jenny Lind
Chickering Piano Used.
it would not be easy for the most critical pro-
gram-maker of today to prepare a better selection
than that in which the great Jenny Lind made her
American debut away back in 1850. And it sets the
musical imagination tingling to thihk of the scene
at Castle Garden seventy years ago, and to fancy the
enthusiasm which greeted the young singer whose
fame was destined to become deathless.
Hundreds of writers have told of the effect of
her marvelous singing, and artists of the brush have
JENNY LIND'S "CHICKERING" PIANO.
featured the centennial celebration of the famous
singer's birth, in Carnegie Hall, Jenny Lind was
impersonated by Frieda Hempel, who sang the same
songs that charmed New Yorkers seventy years
ago. Orchestra, conductor and ushers wore mid-
nineteenth century costumes. P. T. Barnum, who
brought Miss Lind to America, was impersonated
by Thomas Wise.
The Jenny Lind Piano.
An interesting illustration with this arficle shows
the piano used by Jenny Lind which is in the pos-
session of Chickering & Sons. The name of the
great artist, written on the plate, gives added human
interest to the memento. A cut of the signature
on the plate is also shown.
You cannot separate the genius of Jonas Chick-
ering from any event in which the Chickering piano
bears or has borne a part. What singing was to
Jenny Lind the art of piano making was to Jonas
Chickering. a serious study which absorbed him and
engrossed his life. Even the mention of the plate
on which the great singer wrote her name suggests
a triumph of the famous piano maker. To him be-
longs the credit of the full iron plate—an advance
of measureless importance in piano making.
The Identical "Chickering."
Of course the re-appearance of the actual piano
used by Jenny Lind at a concert away back in 1850,
suggests interesting comparisons of the earlier
piano and the Chickering of today. The compari-
son illustrates the vast advance in piano building
in the interval. The evolution is epitomized in the
massive Chickering Concert Grand of 1920. In the
historic square piano used in the memorial con-
cert in Carnegie Hall this week are the art elements
which the Chickering house has perpetuated. In it
are present the mechanical subtleties which are an
integral part of the Chickering system.
The Mel-o-dee Music Co., Inc., Is Considering the
Advantages of a Western Plant.
There seems to be good promise of another music
roll factory in Chicago. It is understood that the
Mel-o-dee Music Company, Inc., is contemplating
the establishment of a western producing branch.
While there is nothing certain about it, and little has
as yet been said on the subject, it is certain that Gor-
don Laughead, the Chicago representative, has gone
to New York on special business with General Man-
ager Geo. H. Bliss, and it is expected that the sub-
ject will be discussed.
The Mel-o-dee Company of Chicago is a subsidi-
ary of the Aeolian Company and, under the man-
agement of Mr. Laughead, it has made rapid prog-
ress. It is also stated that Miss Florence Beebe,
who has popularized the "Cuddle Up a Little Closer
Lovey," by recording for the Mel-o-dee roll, has be-
come a regular member of the Mel-o-dee staff.
MUSIC CAMPAIGN AT DALLAS.
In spreading the interest in music and things mus-
ical, the Chicago organization devoted to that work,
headed by Frank E. Morton, is opening a campaign
at Dallas, Texas, beginning October 9, in connection
with the Texas State Fair. Liberal co-operation is
being given by the piano houses of Dallas, by mus-
ical people of that city, and by industrial associa-
tions whose heads have promised to bring the sub-
ject before their employes. Pictures are to be used
in the Dallas film play houses, schools have taken
up the matter, and music in industry is to be gen-
erally introduced throughout the factory districts
of Texas. A great picture representing "Music in
Industry" was erected in one of Lyon & Healy's
windows on Thursday morning of this week, due
to the energies of the Chicago propagandists, who
found the big music house a ready collaborator.
GEO. P. BENT'S TRAVELS.
George P. Bent has been in Chicago, where he has
received the warm greetings of old-time friends who
have learned of his presence. It is Mr. Bent's plan
to make another tour of the world, starting from
San Francisco late in November. It is certain that
the "ease of idleness" agrees with Mr. Bent, for he
has never looked so well as since he became a resi-
dent of Los Angeles and took to reading, golfing
and other delights, for his daily occupation.
HONORS FOR SALESMAN.
Douglas Daniels was the winner of the June con-
test for best sales in the Knabe warerooms, Inc.,
Baltimore, Md. Mr, Daniels gained similar honors
in August. He has been in the piano business for
a little over six months. He started on outside sales
in which he first won salesman's honors. His pres-
ent position as floor manager shows the extent of
the appreciation in which he is held by J. H. Wil-
liams, president of the company.
W. M. PLAISTED IN CHICAGO.
William M. Plaisted, of New York, president of
Hazelton Bros Piano Company, was in Chicago on
Wednesday of this week. Mr. Plaisted attended
tlie dinner of the Chicago Piano Club on Tuesday
evening, and proved himself to be one of the witty
speakers. His democratic presidential candidate
story was what might be called a corker.
AUTOGRAPH ON "CHICKERING" PLATE.
employed their genius to make permanent records of
the scene. The best things the late piano man-
editor Frank H. King wrote was his sketch, "When
We Heard Jenny Lind," and for weeks to come
living writers will call to their aid all the fancy
of their historical reading to bring again the mem-
ories of the event which was the artistic sensation
seventy years ago. And so with scores of other en-
thusiasts who have liked to recall the events in Art
of the days that are gone.
A Significant Foot-Note.
The fifties brought great singers in shoals to this
country. Jenny Lind, Sontag, Alboni, Laborde,
Piccolomini, Grisi, Parodi, and many others little
less famous. But of them all Jenny Lind is the one
who holds the place in memory, as the Carnegie
Hall event of this week proves. And it is peculiarly
appropriate that the identical Chickering piano
should this week have taken part in the commem-
orative concert, thus making complete, in every pos-
sible detail the historic effect, even to the foot note
which seventy years ago read "Chickering Piano
Used," just as did the foot note this week, but with
an added significance. And so many other artistic
programs have borne the same announcement ever
since the historic concert at Castle Garden in 1850
that to enumerate them would be impossible. It
would be a sorry musical history that did not con-
tain some reference to the famous Bostoli piano,
and this week's event gives emphasis to the power
of a great purpose perpetuated by the genius of in-
dustry into which has been breathed the spirit of
art.
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