November 19, 1927
PRESTO-TIMES
AMPICO FOR FAMOUS FRENCH PIANO
NOW IN GAVEAU LINE
Well Known French Piano Maker Enters
Agreement with American Piano Com-
pany, New York, for Installation of
Player Action in Its Instruments.
through agencies which are placed, as it is well
known, with the leading houses at strategic points
throughout the world. The Knabe, Chickering, Mason
& Hamlin and the Foster-Armstrong lines all have
important representation abroad, and many instru-
ments of these illustrious makes, with the Ampico,
have been placed in the homes of music lovers in all
the major foreign countries.
A newer and more extended activity in the foreign
business in Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, and other
continental countries.
Ampico Output.
The world-wide activities of the American Piano
Company have already resulted in a great increase in
the output of the Ampico action and it is anticipated
that the extended operations in which are included
the exclusive agreement with the house of Gaveau,
and arrangement with others of the great European
music field was first instituted some three or four
years ago with the announcement that arrangements
had been concluded for the installation of the Ampico
in the Broadwood and others of the great English
pianos. The success with which the venture met in
that country has led to further advances in the con-
summation of the plan. The latest is seen in the
announcement that the Ampico is now obtainable in
the Gaveau piano, one of the greatest of the French
makes. This arrangement is of far reaching im-
portance, for Gaveau & Co. are not only the most
representative house in all France, but do a large
pianos, will have an important influence in shaping
Ampico policies in the not very distant future.
Ampico Elsewhere.
In addition to the Gaveau, the Ampico is now ob-
tainable in the following European made instruments:
In England, the Broadwood, Chappell, Collard & Col-
lard, Challen, Hopkinson, Marshall & Rose and
Rogers pianos. In Austria, in the Bosendorfer; in
Germany, in the Grotrian-Steinweg. In Australia
it finds its representation in the well-known Beale
piano, and in Canada in the excellent instruments
made by Willis & Co.
GROWTH OF NATIONAL
MUSIC WEEK MOVEMENT
test as a feature of rural Music Weeks, and a tying-
in of the motion picture houses and the radio with
the Music Weeks in the various sections. Sugges-
tions on these subjects and copies of Music Week
printed matter such as "How to Organize a Music
Week Committee," are to be had without charge
from the headquarters of the National Music Week
Committee, 45 West 45th street, New York City.
TOLD BY PRESIDENT WAGNER
Head of Big American Industry Announcing the
Fact, Contributes Interesting Data About
The French Company.
C. Alfred Wagner, president of the American Piano
Company, New York, announces the consummation
of an agreement between the American Piano Com-
pany and of Gaveau & Company of France, whereby
the Ampico is to be installed in France in the Gaveau
instruments.
The Gaveau establishment is well known to all
musical visitors to France and to the music trade of
the whole world. The beautiful warerooms and re-
cital hall in the Rue La Boetie, Paris, provide a
center of musical activities of the most artistic and
advanced character, the company's music salon being
one of the principal recital halls of the French capital.
The house of Gaveau dates from 1847 and is cap-
Great Achievements of 1927 to Be Exceeded
by the Observances Scheduled for Next
Year, According to Report.
GAVEAU WAREROOMS, PARIS.
italized at 16,000,000 francs. The head of the house
is an officer of the Legion of Honor and the instru-
ments made in the extensive workshops of the insti-
tution have been honored by a list of medals and
diplomas received at the world expositions of the
past eighty years.
Its Big Output.
The output of the extensive Gaveau factory is
more than 7,500 instruments a year, of which one-
third are player-pianos. The Gaveau shops are fa-
mous throughout France, not alone for the modern
methods employed, but for the unusually close bond
of craftsmanship which unites the workers, due to
the almost paternal interest which the heads of the
house take in the artisans associated with them.
In the Paris warerooms there is maintained a world
famous collection of pianos in which are to be found
authentic examples of instruments actually in use
in the salons of the nobility from the times of Louis
XV and Louis XVI until today. In the Gaveau
recital hall such famous series of concerts have been
and still are held as the Concerts Colonne, Pasdeloup,
Concerts of the Paris Philharmonic Orchestra, of the
Philharmonic Society, and many more. In the Gaveau
Hall have appeared most of the artists who have
achieved fame in our time, including Saint-Saens,
Debussy, Ravel, Richard Strauss, Busoni, Cortot,
Rubenstein, Heifetz, Kreisler, Kubelik and scores of
others.
The Ampico has long been known in Europe
Not only in numbers, but geographically, have the
Music Week observances made a remarkable spread.
The celebration is now carried out not only in all
of our states, but in our territorial dependencies such
as the Hawaii, Philippines, Alaska and the Virgin
Islands. The governors of those territories have
now joined the governors of the various states on
the Honorary Committee for National Music Week.
The movement has also been adopted in Canada and
South Africa.
There has been a rivalry among the different states
for leadership in the number of Music Weeks.
Pennsylvania has held the lead for several years,
but Texas is catching up on her, their respective fig-
ures for the last observance being 123 and 118 com-
munities. Illinois is approaching these leaders with
93 participating towns. In general, such leadership
is due not only to the size of the states, but to. ener-
getic state-wide Music' Week promotion within the
states. In Pennsylvania this has been brought about
through the Department of Public Instruction. In
Texas three or four state organizations campaigned
for Music Week last May.
In their diversity the local Music Weeks varied
from those of the large cities, like San Francisco
with its big Auditorium events, and Denver with its
"Pageant of Colorado," through those of the mod-
erate sized cities, where the movement has especially
taken hold, down to the observances in the rural
communities.
It is expected that the achievements of the recent
Music Week will be eclipsed by the coming observ-
ance on May 6-12. Among the general features
planned by the National Music Week Committee are
a special recognition of American music, the devel-
opment of better congregational singing in the
churches, the development of the music memory con-
LANCASTER, O., DEALER RETIRES.
W. M. Kane, proprietor and owner of the oldest
music house in Lancaster, O., is closing out his en-
tire music business at 213 South Broad street. Mr.
Kane has been one of Lancaster's most progressive
music merchants for many years, serving the public
in its musical needs at his present location contin-
uously for over 22 years. He has always been keenly
active in promoting and encouraging musical inter-
ests in Lancaster and community, and while he has
not made public his future plans, it is understood
that he expects to remain in Lancaster and devote
his time to other business interests with which he is
affiliated.
'i'~
BULLETIN OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC.
Indications that outdoor Christmas caroling is to
be still further expanded during the coming holidays
are reported to the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music. That bureau has been active in dis-
seminating information regarding this annual custom
which had its first American development on a large
scale in Detroit. A bulletin on Christmas music of
all sorts is in preparation by the National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music, and covers other
forms of activity than outdoor caroling. It includes
an extensive bibliography for Christmastide.
SCHILLER PIANO CO. VERY BUSY.
The Schiller Piano Company, Oregon, 111., is very
busy at present shipping instruments to its numerous
customers. "So busy," said Frank Hood of the
Chicago offices of the company, Republic Building,
"that if we had any more orders we would not know
which way to turn." According to Mr. Hood the
Schiller small grands are filling the bill this fall with
the utmost satisfaction.
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