Presto

April 1, 1929
11
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
far as the time and space will permit, to play any
piano numbers that may be called for.
The Impromptu Air.
The general tone of the "At the Baldwin" half
hour is its likeness to home life like the living room
at home where an evening's musicale is taking place.
There is an impromptu air to the episode that charms
the radio audience. It differs from other radio periods
sponsored by industrial interests in that the adver-
tising for the Baldwin piano is indirect. It is really
publicity for the piano generally and the dignity
which pervades the occasion is to the profit of the
entire piano trade.
Indebted to Baldwin Piano Company.
The public is indebted to the Baldwin Piano Co.
for radio concerts of the most enjoyable kind. There
is nothing more interesting to musical people than the
music of the "At the Baldwin" half hour and nothing
is broadcast with so little suggestion of a commercial
purpose. Listeners wonder why the Baldwin piano
or the Baldwin Piano Company is not oftener men-
tioned. Almost the only mention made is from the
station introducing the Baldwin half hour.
"Last Sunday," a correspondent reminds us, "the
Baldwin was mentioned only nine times and this
mainly by the station announcer in his introduction
of the Baldwin feature.
Baldwin Programs
Delight Radio Audience
Alexandre Gretchaninoff, Russian composer-pianist
now on his first visit to the United States; Miss Hilda
Burke, prima donna, soprano of the Chicago Civic
Opera Company, and Ralph Wolf, American pianist,
as Nedda in "Pagliacci" and as Elvira in "Don Gio-
vanni," scoring great successes.
Ralph Wolfe, pianist, the third of the featured
Baldwin artists, is a native of Richmond, Va. He
studied abroad and toured Europe in 1927 prior to his
debut in New York last fall, followed uy a tour of
this country.
Interest Grows in Baldwin Program.
The program Sunday, March 24, was of unusual
interest and it was noteworthy in lacking a piano solo
but the entire program made up of quartet singing,
the New York String Quartet, and a violin solo. It
was an indication that the advertising character does
not dominate the Baldwin Piano Company's radio
half-hour.
The half hour seemed too short to listeners,
but the program was so artistically rendered as to
make up in value what it lacked in time. A very
interesting number was the male quartet accompanied
by the string quartet with a violin obligate The
program was opened by the male quartet.
A Commendable Feature.
The piano was used only as an accompaniment on
the entire program emphasizing the absence of pub-
jicity. That feature is one commented upon in a
compl'mentary way by people everywhere. It is
ALEX AND UE GRETCHAX1NOFP.
were the featured artists on the "At the Baldwin"
radio program Sunday, March 31, over a national
hook-up. The Baldwin Singers also contributed to a
crowded half-hour.
Gretchaninoff accompanied Miss Burke in a group
of his own compositions. He is one of the most pop-
ular of European composers, as well as one of the
most prolific. The greatest number of his works are
to be found in his songs. After studying the piano
compositions under the greatest Russian masters, he
made his debut as a composer in Moscow in 1894.
Miss Burke is known as the "Prize-winning So-
prano." Only a half dozen years ago she was a
school girl in Baltimore, and her rise has been mete-
oric. She won prize after prize in local and national
music contests, including a scholarship to study in
Dresden. She sang with the Baltimore and Phila-
delphia Civic Opera Companies and was "discovered"
last year by the Chicago Civic Opera Company, which
offered her a three-year contract. Following her tri-
umphal debut in the title role of "Aida" she appeared
Walter Gieseking, the brilliant Ger-
man pianist, recently heard over radio
in a Baldwin Piano Company program,
will leave the United States next
month to be gone two years, but will
introduce an innovation in musical
concerts as a farewell message to the
American people. Pie will play over
a nation-wide radio network in a Bald-
win Hour a program made up of re-
quest numbers from piano students,
piano teachers and amateurs. He will
interpret for them the familiar clas-
sics which they encounter in their own
musical efforts. Five c o m p o s e r s ,
Bach, Beethoven, Grieg, Chopin and
Schumann will be represented on the
program. A nation-wide poll is now-
being conducted to determine the pref-
ences of the majority. The National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music
is cooperating. During his tour of the
United States, Gieseking often has been
asked to play the lighter classics which
could not be included, however, in his
regular concert program.
Mr. Gieseking, who came here three
years ago almost unheralded, has en-
joyed a succession of triumphs and
has been acclaimed by critics as one
of the greatest of living pianists. He
has drawn capacity audiences in the
largest cities and lias appeared as so-
loist with all leading s y m p h o n y
orchestras.
He will present his request program Sunday, April
14, on the "At the Baldwin" program over a nation-
RALPH WOLFE.
HILDA BURKE.
announced that for the concert Sunday evening, April
14, Walter Gieseking will be the solo pianist. Schools,
teachers, and pupils have been invited to send the
names of a composition they desire to have placed
on the program. Mr. Gieseking has consented, so
WALTER GIESEKING.
wide net work of stations. It will be his farewell
for a time of his American admirers.
NEW YORK LETTER
By HENRY MAC MULLAN
New York men who will attend Chicago Conven-
tion said they are going there to learn something,
as well as to impart some of their knowledge to
others from different parts of the country. These
New York leaders believe that to revive this business,
which they say has been conducted lately on the
over-cautious plan, a policy which drives the most
engaging salesmen out of it.
The trade needs men who are influenced by their
own judgment rather than those who listen for the
bleating of the flock. It needs men who can discover
ways and means of bettering things and who will
put their methods into practice.
Piano men are expecting to learn at the conven-
tion how r to have an advantage to fall back upon.
They realize that production is not to be prodigious
this year, but they desire to find out just how they
can expand their marketing.
Pattison Making Good for Kohler Industries.
H. B. Pattison, a piano man of long and varied ex-
perience, is district sales manager for the Kohler In-
dustries, 601 West 50th street, New York. Mr. Patti-
son's district is New York City and the greater
metropolitan section. "Trade with me has been com-
ing very good of late," said Mr. Pattison to Presto-
Times correspondent on March 20. "Of course, I've
had to work hard for it, as everybody is obliged to do
nowadays. But my success is proof that the trade is
there if one will go after it hard enough."
And in a more general way, E. Vogel, advertising
manager for the Kohler Industries, spoke of an in-
crease in trade lately on the occasion of my call.
Herinanna Irion Enthuses.
Hermann Irion, president of Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, is becoming more enthusi-
astic every day over the work and the promotion of
efforts that are planned for the coming trade con-
vention in Chicago. Of course, he is to have a lead-
ing part in this work; that is, a part of the general
drive of the convention will be under his direction.
Mr. Irion said that no pains will be spared to make
the convention a success from every possible angle.
What he asks now, and he thinks the trade press
can help him greatly, is for every man to put his
shoulder to the wheel to push the piano business out
of any ruts it may have fallen into. He believes there
is a high road, a great paved highw r ay, of prosperity
just ahead for the piano business. And he has rea-
sons for this faith in the better conditions that have
set in throughout the length and breadth of the land.
It is not only in a large attendance at the convention
but in its work and the ideas and plans that will be
promoted there that Mr. Irion's interest centers. He
is a worker, and one of the kind of workers who
believe in steering right and in making the car of
progress go forward. His record as President of
the Chamber shows that.
New York Interested.
Among things that attracted attention in New
York during the last week were the negotiations for a
merger of the Radio Corporation of America with
the Western Union Telegraph Co. It seems that
radio had proposed the establishment of a radio
communication system throughout the United States,
which would put the inland cities into direct touch
with the entire world over the air. According to
Wall Street sources conversant with the situation the
contest for the communications business of the
(Continued on page 15.)
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