May 2, 1925.
13
PRESTO
ARTISTS AND DUO=ART
AT BUSONI CONCERT
Famous Group of Pianists with Reproducing
Piano Provide Program at Memorial
Recital at Aeolian Hall.
Five famous pianists
and the Duo-Art Re-
producing Piano col-
laborated in an impres-
sive memorial concert
to the late Italian mas-
ter, Ferruccio Busony,
on Monday afternoon,
April 13, in Aeolian
Hall, New York. Wil-
liam Bachaus, M a r i a
Carreras, Ossip Gabrilo-
witsch, Ernest Hutche-
son and Ernest Schel-
ling offered their serv-
ices at the concert, the
proceeds of which were
applied to a fund for
t h e p l a c i n g of a
bronze bust of Busoni FERRUCCIO BUSONI.
in the Liceo Musicale in Bologna, Italy. The Duo-
Art Reproducing Piano, for which Busoni recorded
exclusively during his lifetime, assisted at the concert
by playing Busoni's own recording of his famous
transcription of Bach's "Chaconne."
The program was opened by Gabrilowitsch who
played another noted Busoni-Bach transcription, the
Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue. He was followed by
Messrs. Hutcheson and Schelling, performing the
Saint-Saen's Variations and Fugue on a Beethoven
theme, on two pianos.
"Busoni is dead," said the account of the concert
in the New York Herald-Tribune, "but he was the
next to take part, through a record of the Bach Cha-
conne, played by the Duo-Art." The performance of
the roll was one of the most impressive moments of
the afternoon. It is a work rich in contrasts of color
and rhythm, reaching climaxes of tremendous power
and dignity. These effects, of which Busoni was an
undisputed master, were preserved in the recording.
Many of those present who were intimately familiar
with the great Italian's playing declared that only the
empty piano stool bespoke of the absence of the man
himself.
Maria Carreras, a devoted friend of Busoni, paid
Grand and
Reproducing
Grand Pianos
are the last word in
musical perfection.
Lester Piano Co.
1806 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia
tribute to the memory of her compatriot with a per-
formance of Chopin's B-Flat Minor Sonata, with the
funeral march. Mr. Bachaus closed the program
with more Chopin, the C-Minor Ballade, Berceuse,
and C-sharp Minor Scherzo.
The concert had been initiated by Mine. Carreras,
who has been active in securing funds for the memo-
rial to Busoni in the Bologna institution. The Liceo
Musicale is the oldest school of music in the world
and has been a cradle of the art for centuries.
Wolfgang Mozart studied composition there as a
child. The Conservatorie has a custom of placing in
its historic Concert Hall portraits of the musicians
who have been its Directors. Busoni acted in that
capacity in 1913 and a few months ago, after his
death, Mme. Carreras commissioned a well known
Italian sculptor to mold a bust of the master in
bronze, to be placed among the other memorials.
The expense has been met by generous contribu-
tions from many of the foremost musicians of the
world. The Memorial Concert in Aeolian Hall was
an added tribute of the five artists who performed.
NEW EDITION OF A
GULBRANSEN BOOKLET
Fifth Printing of "Good Times with Your Gul-
bransen" Has a Big Variety of New
and Interesting Features.
"Good Times With Your Gulbransen" is the title
of a booklet of the Gulbransen Co., Chicago, in dis-
tributing which the dealers achieve effective public-
ity results. The edition now ready for the trade and
owners of Gulbransen Registering Pianos is the fifth
printing, with the contents brought up to date. In
the new edition is printed the first list of Gulbransen
Registering Piano Rolls.
"This book has a two-fold purpose," says a fore-
word.
"To acquaint Gulbransen owners with the variety
of music, available.
"To give, briefly and interestingly, a suggestion of
the inspiration on which good music is founded, and
to increase your appreciation of it.
"We hope it will merit a permanent place in your
library."
Excellent suggestions are given about the selec-
tion of player music rolls. Music for dancing parties
being an important consideration with Gulbransen
owners a very valuable "don't" is printed: "As a
suggestion for your own enjoyment, do not limit
your library to the popular rolls of the moment. You
will tire of them and have a lot of rolls which you
never play." A list of dance music with well-
marked rhythm and qualities that assure the continu-
ance in favor for the numbers for some time is
printed.
Singing parties are provided with a fine range of
selections in the new edition of the book. The songs
indicated have the words printed on the rolls. They
include songs of the A. E. F., Civil War songs,
American patriotic songs, Southern, old sentimental
and lodge songs, blues, stag songs, and Hawaiian
songs. For the little folk are suggested game songs,
Mother Goose rhymes and slumber songs. In the
religious song list are gospel hymns, Catholic hymns,
sacred solos and Christian Science hymns.
A varied list of songs in all keys and accompani-
ments of songs suitable for cQncerts and recitals is
provided in the book. Included are songs in foreign
languages. In opera music are excellent lists of
overtures, intermezzos, and selections are provided.
How a Gulbransen Registering Piano differs from
other playerpianos is told, and the Martin metl^l of
interpretation made clear. Brief but valuable sugges-
tions on the study of music are important features of
the book which names the elements of music and
gives examples of melody, harmony, descriptive
music and music expressive of the emotions.
The Gulbransen Programs department is an en-
lightening one, telling the requirements of a program
and giving suggestions for the making up of special
programs, such as "Classical Music," "Children's
Day," "School," "Old Times," "Americanization,"
"Christmas" and other kinds.
The Palmer Piano House, Medford, Ore., has just
opened a branch store at Ashland in the new Lithia
Hotel.
A QUALITY PRODUCT
FOR OVER
QUARTER. OFA CENTURY
POOLE
^BOSTON--
ALEX NORDLUND SAILS
FOR SWEDEN THIS WEEK
Head of Nordlund Grand Piano Co., Chicago,
Will Spend Three Months of Summer
in Vacation Traveling.
Alex Nordlund, president of the Nordlund Grand
Piano Co., 400-412 West Erie street, Chicago, left
this week for Sweden, where he will spend the sum-
mer.
After having a successful winter and spring season,
in which the Nordlund Grand made rapid strides in
the trade, the head of the Chicago industry made
plans for an extensive trip abroad. Sailing from New
York on the Ss. Stockholm, Mr. Nordlund will go
direct to Sweden, where he will spend the greater
part of his time while in Europe.
Mr. Nordlund is a close observer of things pertain-
ing to the music industry, and while in Sweden will
study conditions and methods of piano making, com-
paring them with American methods.
PIANO MEN CHOSEN.
In a campaign to raise $250,000 for financing the
conventions to be held in Portland, Ore., during the
coming summer and in part to defray the expenses of
the annual Rose Festival in June, the captains of the
music division are E. B. Hyatt, of the Hyatt Music
Co.; Ernest Crosby, business manager of the G. F.
Johnson Piano Co., and W. A. McDougall, of the
McDougall-Conn Music Co.
DECKER
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& SON
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and
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(Licensee)
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of Recognized
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Made by a Decker Since 1856
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New York
Builders or Incomparable
[(PIANOS, PLAYERS** REPRODUCING PIANOS
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will increase your sales and
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Write to the nearest office
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