PRESTO-TIMES
DEMONSTRATING THE
PLAYER-PIANO'S VALUE
March 26, 1927.
BALDWINS IN REHEARSAL
Piano and Organ Association's Recitals to
Prove the Foot-Players' Power to
Interpret Fine Music.
Some time ago a committee was appointed by the
Chicago Piano and Organ Association to do some-
thing toward keeping the playerpiano to the fore.
Not only to keep the player in the position it has
already acquired, but to move it along to the place in
which it is claimed it belongs.
This committee, composed of W. L. Bush, A. G.
Gulbransen, W. H. Collins, Matt J. Kennedy and
B. B. Ayers, as chairman, set about to get action.
They inaugurated a series of demonstrations—a
group of playerpiano recitals, of which the one given
•this week, Wednesday night, in the American Steel
& Wire Company's Recital Hall, 208 South La Salle
street, was the second of the series.
Playerpianos are used at these recitals, as the solo
instruments, and for the accompaniments for voice,
violin, 'cello and other instruments. The concerts
are intended to demonstrate the artistic possibilities
of the playerpiano in the rendition of the highest class
of musucal compositions, both in solo and for the
accompaniment of other musical instruments, wind
as well as.string, and for "-the performance of compo-
sitions composed and arranged for two pianos.
Here is the program of the concert Wednesday
night, which, in commemoration of the one hundredth
anniversary of the death of Beethoven, was an-
nounced as "Centennial Beethoven Memorial Pro-
gram" :
1. Piano and Violin. Sonata for piano and violin.
Op. 47. (Kreutzer Sonata), Andante, Allegro, theme
with variations, allegro—Mr. Braverman and Mr.
White.
2. Piano solo. Sonata, Quasi fantasia in C sharp
minor, Op. 27. No. 2, ("Moonlight" Sonata), Adagio,
Andante, Allegro.—Mr. White.
3. Piano and 'Cello. Sonata for piano and 'cello
in A. Op. 69. Allegro, Scherzo, Adagio, Allegro.—
Mr. Feigan and Mr. White.
4. Two pianos. Allegro from the Piano Concerto
in C minor No. 3—Playerpiano part, Mr. White;
hand played part, Dr. Hemington.
Note: In the rendition of this work, in which occur
passages alternately played by the playerpiano and
the hand played piano, opportunity is given to observe
the non-difTerence and thus learn that perfect hand
playing effects are obtained with the playerpiano.
Leo Braverman, violinist; Albert Feigan, 'cellist;
Dr. Francis Hemington, pianist; William Braid
White, player-pianist. Under the direction of William
Braid White.
Attached to the program was this interesting com-
ment on the playerpiano and its capabilities:
The foot playerpiano is a wonderful instrument,
capable of the most beautiful interpretation of music.
It takes the place of long years of cultivation of the
fingers and of maintenance of this cultivation without
which the .fingers lose ability to play good music.
Granted a good finger technique, which the foot
piano-player affords, you can then devote time to fine
musical compositions and thus open the door to a
great enrichment of life.
It is unfortunate that fine compositions in music
written for the piano—really worth while music—
require such years of hard and constant labor just to
educate the fingers. The player does away with this.
This program shows you what artistic results may
be attained with the foot playerpiano. Note the
player accompaniments to the voice and to the violin
and the 'cello. Note how the piano and the player-
piano caii be played together. Note the rich and
artistic effects which may be attained by any one who
loves beautiful music, the playing of which has been
denied because of the tremendous mechanical labor
of training the fingers.
On Tuesday night, March 29. under the auspices of
the National Federation of Music Clubs, a piano
ensemble of sixteen instruments will give a festival
at the Music Hall, Cincinnati, O., for the benefit of
the Edward MacDowell Endowment Fund. The fes-
tival will be conducted by Fritz Reiner, leader of
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
The pictures here shown were taken in the Bald-
win salesrooms this week Monday afternoon show-
ing the pianists rehearsing on Baldwin pianos under
•the baton of Fritz Reiner. In the recital itself, ten
of the sixteen instruments used will he Baldwin con-
cert pianos. The artists who will appear on the pro-
gram are as follows:
Maria Carreras, Daniel Ericourt, Marguerite Mel-
ville Liszniewska, Florence Barbour, Alma Betscher,
Faye Ferguson, Jemmie Vardeman, Karol Liszuiew-
ski, Mieczyslaw Munz, Lojis Saverne, Rudolph
Thomas, Karin Dayas, Dwight Anderson, Leo Paalz,
Martin Read, Jr., Thomie Prewett Williams.
BUSH & LANE ACTIVITIES.
turned from a business trip which took him as far
south as New Orleans, and as far west as San
Francisco and other California cities. Chicago, St.
Louis, Kansas City, Denver and Los Angeles were
also included in his itinerary. An improved condition
in the music business was reported by Mr. Urchs.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED FOR
THE CLEVELAND CONVENTION
Ohio Music Dealers Are Making Plans for Septem-
ber Meetings Well in Advance.
The four committees of Cleveland music dealers
who are to serve in connection with the Ohio Music
Merchants' Association convention in that city in
September, have been appointed by Anthony I.
Maresh, president of the Cleveland Music Trades'
Association. These committees are as follows:
Executive: A. L. Maresh, chairman; F. L. Stelker,
M: O. Mattlin, Richard M. White. Entertainment:
M. O. Mattlin, chairman; Robert E. Taylor, Edgar
M. Scott, Harlan H. Hart, Dan J. Nolan, Rexford
C. Hyre. Finance: A. L. Maresh, chairman; Harry
Valentine, Howard J. Shartle, Henry Dreher, Otto
C. ;Muelhauser, Fred L. Stelker. Transportation:
Richard M. White, chairman; A, B. Smith, Sr.; Julius
I. Grossman, Grant .Smith, W. J. McNamara, I. J.
Mattlin.
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i -,
• , ,
Walter Lane, president of the Bush & Lane Piano
Company, Holland, Mich , is on an extended trip in
the East. He will visit his many friends and renew
old acquaintances and remain away from the factory
two weeks or more. Hal P. Shearer, the newly
appointed sales manager, also left Holland this week
for a tour of several points in the central states. C. S.
Stilson of Gibsonburg, Ohio, and N. E. Hill, of St.
Louis, Bush & Lane dealers, were visitors to the fac-
tory at Holland, Mich., last week.
ERNEST URCHS ENDS TRIP.
Ernest Urchs, manager of the wholesale depart-
ment of Steinway & Sons, New York, recently re-
THE NEW A. L. WHITE ORGAN.
Too late to make the correction, it was discovered
that the illustration which appears in connection with
the description of the new A. L. White Mfg. Co.
reed-pipe-tone organ, on another page of this issue
of Presto-Times, is that of the back of the instru-
ment. To make amends for this, an accurate view
of the instrument, showing the handsome case from
the front, or keyboard, side will be printed next week.
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