February 23, V)2<)
13
PRESTO-TIMES
INTEREST GROWS IN BALDWIN PROGRAM DOUBLE-KEYBOARD
From all over the country
comes the expressions of delight
of radio listeners-in at the pro-
grams already presented by the
Baldwin Piano Co., for the "At
the Baldwin" hour.
Letters,
telegrams and telephone calls
from great numbers of the in-
visible audiences. The high char-
acter of the numbers and the
prominence of the artists assure
a continued interest in the events
every Sunday evening over the
widespread hook-up.
The music critics of the news-
papers in main' cities devote
space for comment in the Mon-
day issues. The notices in the
daily newspapers have added to
the pleasurably expectant feel-
ing of readers who have radios.
It is a departure from the
usual practice of the critics and
t Ii e commendatory comments
evoked by the "At the Baldwin"
p r o g r a m inaugurate a new-
phase of the music critic's work
for the daily newspapers.
PIANO AND ITS EFFECT
Writer in Illustrated London News Describes
the Merits and Shortcomings of
the Moor Pianoforte.
Tin-; liAi.hw IN ALU-E QFARTIOT.— (T.KFT TO KMM1T): VK'Tnll KD-
.MUNDS, FIRST TKNOli; (iKORC.K RASKI.V, SK('O.\I> TENOR; K1IWYN
MI: TCH. BARITONE; JAMES DAVIES, BASSO.
The star of the program of the "At the Baldwin"
radio broadcast concert February 24 is Richard
Buhlig, who is acclaimed as a great pianist in Europe
as well as in America. Studious application to the
teachings of great Leschetizky, together with his
genius and musical talent, have made Richard Buhlig
a magnificent pianist.
Critics have characterized Buhlig as an artist of
very keen scnsilrlities and high intellectuality. His
interpretations are marked by a profound understand-
ing and sympathy which assures him of a delighted
and responsive audience whenever he appears.
ance, now goes to the other extreme in depicting the
ultra-modern in music. It is interesting to compare
his jazz compositions and his playing with those of
so-called masters of syncopation.
The Baldwin Singers, who won so much approval
on the first two "At the Baldwin" programs, appeared
again last Sunday in quartette and solo offerings.
The following stations are in the Baldwin Hook-
up: New York, WJZ; Boston. WBZA; Springfield,
WBZ; Baltimore. WBAL; Rochester, WHAM; De-
troit. WJR; Cincinnati, W L W ; Chicago, KYW; St.
Louis. KWK; Kansas City, W R E N ; Atlanta. WSB;
Nashville. WSM; Louisville. W H A S ; Oklahoma City,
WKY; Dallas-Ft. Worth, WFAA; Houston. KPRC;
San Antonio, WOAI, and Denver, KOA.
ROYALTIES HALT PROGRAM.
The concert of the Philharmonic Symphony
Orchestra this week at Carnegie Hall, New York,
with Bernardina Milinari conducting, was chopped in
the middle for a puzzled radio audience. The con-
cluclMig compositions on the program were not broad-
cast by WOR because of royalty demands. Those
who had anticipated hearing the "Petrouchka" suite
of Stravinsky wondered what had happened, as no
explanation was made by the announcer. Officials
of WOR said Respihgi's "Pines of Rome" and the
"Petrouchka" suite were not given because the roy-
alyties asked for broadcasting them were "extensive."
Copyright complications also ensued, it was explained.
HARRY E. FREUND OVER RADIO.
"Women today are taking an important part in the
character building of the children by actively encour-
aging and developing group instruction in music,
especially with that fundamental instrument of music,
the piano," said Harry Edward Freund, in a radio
address over station WGEA recently. "Leading
authorities on education acknowledge that musical
training in addition to being a character builder is a
definite help to the children in their studies. The cor-
rect interpretation of music, either in playing or sing-
ing, is a great social asset and an inspiration and in-
centive in making life fuller and more abundant."
WALTER GIESEKTXG.
The young German pianist, Walter Gieseking, the
musical sensation of the day, hailed by critics both
here and abroad as the "Second Rubinstein," was
Heard on the air Sunday, February 17, as featured
artist on the third "At the Baldwin" program over the
Blue Chain. In this country he first appeared with
the New York Symphony Orchestra, and lately with
the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, Cincin-
nati and other cities. Still in his early thirties,
(lieseking is hailed by critics as one of the most
brilliant and masterly piairsts the world has ever
known.
Gieseking studied under Karl Leimer. at Hanover
I Diversity. Germany, and while a mere youth created
a sensation with his concerts in Germany. England
and Holland. Since he has drawn record-breaking
crowds in practically every metropolitan center in
Europe.
Here is a study in contradictions. The great vir-
tuoso, fresh from triumphs with the New York, Bos-
ton and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras, interpret-
ing the works of the old masters in so brilliant a
manner as to attract capacity houses at every appcar-
The Moor pianoforte is a new instrument designed
by Emman Moor, a Hungarian musician. It has a
double keyboard and enables all sorts of technical
difficulties to be overcome with ease. It does not add
any new beauty of tone to the existing pianoforte,
however, nor does it do anything to increase the sus-
taining power of the pianoforte.
Writing in the Illustrated London News of recent
date, W. J. Turner says this about the Moor piano:
"The pianoforte's essential virtue and defect are one
and the same thing, and if you do away with the
defect you do away with the virtue. Mr. Moor's
pianoforte merely makes the pianoforte easier to
play, without altering its nature in the slightest
degree.
"This increased ease only applies to certain kinds
of difficulties such as playing octave passages or to
avoid the crossing of hands—which is often necessary
in playing the present instrument. At most it will
multiply the present number of facile pianists by an
unknown quantity, but very soon the specially skilled
will develop such prodigies of virtuosity on the Moor
pianoforte that they will leave the same gap between
themselves and the rank and file as exists at present.
"Indeed judging by analogous developments in
other spheres, it is rather a more difficult than an
easier pianoforte that is wanted.' The present piano-
forte is obviously too easy to play, if we judge purely
from the technical point of view. It is only when
we make aesthetic demands that the multitude of
virtuosos shrinks to a few and very few artist-;. And
for these the difficulties of the pianoforte are not
difficulties of playing double octaves or crossing
hands, but of understanding and interpreting music.
Therefore I do not see what future the Moor piano-
forte can have. I may be wrong, but at present I
prefer the present type of pianoforte and I should like
pianoforte makers to concentrate on securing a more
beautiful tone and a greater delicacy of touch—if that
is possible—than the present pianoforte possesses.
"The world is full of inferior pianofortes, and the
difference in tone and touch of the best and the ordi-
nary commercial product is so great that one regrets
that any musician should introduce such an artistic
red herring as a new- type of pianoforte which may
distract our attention from the fundamental impor-
tance of tone quality."
PHILADELPHIA FIRM
HAS GOOD PIANO SALES
Ramsdell & Son Attribute Continuously Lively
Sales to Meritorious Line of Instruments
and Alert Selling Methods.
One of the energetic piano houses of Philadelphia
which are enjoying a satisfactory piano business is
Ramsdell & Son, 127 South 12th street. This desir-
able fact is due to the active mind and alert methods
of G. C. Ramsdell, head of the company, who voices
the belief that "there can be no sales results in the
piano business without a strong and continuous pres-
entation of the instruments." And the strongest
presentation for the piano is the direct, personal ap-
peal, he says.
Ramsdell & Son handle the Ivers & Pond, Laf-
fargue and Milton pianos, and Mr. Ramsdell and his
WOMEN IN MUSIC.
sales staff are enthusiastic about the merits of tone
A State-wide Choral Contest to show the progress and construction in the instruments. Ivers & Pond
of women in music has been planned for the state of
pianos are steady sellers and in Philadelphia have a
New York. The contest is sponsored jointly by the particularly strong appeal.
New York Federation of Music Clubs and the Expo-
The Milton Tom Thumb, according to Mr. Rams-
sition of Women's Arts and Industries. This con-
test will culminate at the Exposition of Women's dell, has had a good sale in his store since the instru-
Arts and Industries in New York City in October, ment was introduced. They are shown in fanciful
and will be held in May in Watertown. Syracuse. finishes that appeal to many customers today. He
Rochester, Buffalo, Elmira, Albany, Long Island, has quite a display of these makes of instruments
and he said that the small Milton pianos were going
Westchester and New York Citv.
very well. These are very small instruments, come
with bench to match, and arc varnished in fancy
OPENS IN BERKELEY, CAL.
Arthur Brown, who formerly conducted a music colors. They command quite a trade among adults
store with O. M. Smith as the Berkeley Music House as well as children.
The Laffargue has always been a strong seller in
at 2306 Telegraph avenue. Berkeley, Cal., has opened
a new music store as sole proprietor, under the name the Ramsdell store because of their admirable tonal
merits as well as their external beauty of design and
of the Art Music Co., at 2328 Telegraph avenue.
finish.
EKLUND OPENS STORE.
Dr. C. F. Eklund, well known as music teacher and
PHOOEY!
band leader, has opened a music store at 123 West
"We have a dining room table that goes back to
White Oak street. Pasadena, Calif., handling a full Louis XIV."
line of uianos, phonographs, radios and band and
"That's tough. But don't worry, my uinno goes
orchestra instruments.
back to the Swoopem Piano Co. on the sixte«...ih"
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