Music Trade Review

8
THE MUSIC TRADE
JOURNAL.
is always open to visitors, and there are daily and nightly concerts by the
of which the veteran, Carl Sentz, is director. Some of the old aroma
Within this "row" Schomacker, Hallet & Davis, Chickering, Weber, band,
of
outlawry
lingers about the precincts of the Park. Fights are not un-
and Steinway, and the omnium gatherum establishment of that veteran dealer known, and still
the special police stationed on the island are sometime kept
J. Bellak, are all comprised as tenants. The progress of the improvements busy. The tract
is within city jurisdiction, not belonging to New Jersey, as
is not of a character to increase the immediate facilities of these good people. some people suppose.
After the unfragrant memories have had time to fade
It cannot be said, as Cowper said of Queen Anne's ice-palace, "No sound of out, there is no reason why
Ridgway Park should not prove a very delight-
hammer or of saw was there.", Both of these useful implements are doing ful acquisition to the summer
resorts of such citizens as do not take long or
their full share of noisy work, while the piano tuners and the piano sellers expensive journeys. The place
is convenient, close at hand, cool in hot
alike find their equanimity put to a severe test.
weather, and cheap.
DISTURBING THE DEALERS.
HOWE.
THE CONDITION OF TRADE.
There seems to be a fair business doing in musical instruments, consid-
ering the time of year.
SCHOMACKER.
A WESTERN MAN'S VISIT TO NEW YOKE.
MARK F . LOW'S IMPRESSIONS OF MUSICIANS, THE TRADE, ETC.
NEW YORK, July 28, 1880.
Schomacker's representative, Col. Gray, at 1103 Chestnut street, says he
No doubt most New York manufacturers have been on the road, and
is selling more pianos than all the other houses in the city put together. have brought home a strong conviction that the prospects are such as to jus-
Not being skilled in the science of numbers, I must leave the demonstration tify laying in a good stock for Fall and Winter trade. It is probably for this
of that statement to himself.
reason that I found manufacturers, whom I had the pleasure of seeing, very
busy.
WM. G. FISCHER.
GEO. STECK & CO.
Professor Wm. G: Fischer, who does the business here for the Decker
Brothers, sailed for Europe some weeks ago. Capt Harris, of the American
At George Steck & Co.'s warerooms I considered it a good sign to see
Line, told me the other day, that the professor was the "life of the ship " several men taking out a concert grand, which a wealthy New York brewer
during his voyage, and that he was " hardly ever sick at sea." The professor had bought. Steck has beautiful warerooms. Among the new features in
is a favorite here for many reasons. He will sing and lead choirs gratis for their stock is a baby grand, with great power and exquisite tone and touch.
any and every charitable undertaking that appeals to him. He had charge Mr. Steck is pushed with work, and even at this time of the year, is behind
of the music during the celebrated Moody & Sankey meetings, which re- with his orders.
sulted chiefly in raising a magnificent contribution to the building fund of the
KRANICH & BACH.
statelv edifice owned by the Young Men's Christian Association at Ffteenth
and Chestnut streets. So long as Prof. Fischer's old-time attaches, Messrs.
The next call I made at Kranich & Bach's. When a firm gives such
Roberts & Simmons remain on hand, the sweet-voiced tenor may continue his proofs of prosperity as these gentlemen did, when they built their new fac-
conge with impunity. The house does the biggest kind of a business in tory, which is a model in every way, then it is useless to say much more
organs, Mason & Hamlin leading in amount of sales.
about them. They have been very successful with baby-grands. From all
appearances, from Mr. Kranich's smiling countenance and his improvement
E. M. BRUCE.
in bodily circumference, one could see that success made work pleasant to
Still, I believe that Mr. E. M. Bruce can sweep the deck so far as the him.
organ business goes, and then he has the Estey variety, which is as popular
JARDINE & SONS.
here as it is everywhere else. Mr. Bruce does a great deal of personal work
I was soon at Jardine & Sons' organ factory. Would my humble opinion
in introducing his instruments, and, being another " sweet singer in Israel,"
his voice is heard at many and many a religious gathering here and add anything to their reputation ? They make excellent work. I was lucky
enough to meet there Mr. H. W. Nicholl, an artist on the organ and a terror
hereabouts.
with his pen—which gave him the name of " the-fellow-who-goes-for-every-
MUSIC STORES.
body." He played elegantly, and I was astonished to hear that he considers
The music stores look limp and lonely. There is no month in the his proficiency in organ-playing a secondary consideration. What a pity ! I
twelve when the dealers wear such gloomy countenances. This may be in shall "go for him " some day. He is young and good-looking—but I cannot
part because the quarterly statements rendered on July 1st meet with so few tell your lady-readers whether he is yet in the market or not,
responses. The great army of teachers, who do their toiling during the
JAMES B. NUGENT.
cold weather, commence to spin towards rural haunts as soon as the pupils
show signs of dropping off. Most of them find living cheaper in the coun-
From the organ factory, I went to J. B. Nugent's—young, hard-working
try, and so make departures as early as possible during the unproductive piano-makers. They cannot help but be successful.
period.
DITSON.
GILDEMEESTER & CO.
At No. 14 East Fourteenth street, I found Mr. T. Leeds Waters, of Gil-
Mr. J. E. Ditson, who has represented the great Boston house here for a demeester & Co. These are pushing, active, business-like young men, and
number of years, has returned to that city, and does not expect to be identi- have a bright future before them.
fied with this department of the firm hereafter. Mr. C. W. A. Trumpler,
CONEY ISLAND.
who has been connected with the Ditsons during the larger portion of his.
business life, will take charge of the establishment of J. E. Ditson & Co.
Among
other
places
of
amusement
I visited Coney Island with all its
hereafter.
noise, claptrap, and silly actions of big and little children playing in sand
and water. The fireworks were grand. The music in front of the hotel very
VACATIONS FOR CHOIRS.
good. Among the curiosities was a conductor in one of the beer-halls. He
Apropos of the musicians' hegira, there is always one question which was an elderly man. It was hard work, poor fellow. No wonder. The
mutually interests them at this season. Nearly all of our music teachers are players never looked at him. But then there was no need of it. He kept
organists, or choir leaders, or, at least, they sing in choirs. The worthy time with his foot—a No. 14 brogan—loud enough to be heard in the furthest
and thrifty music committees of the various churches very often treat their corner of the hall. He was so carried away by his enthusiasm, and fol-
special department of church work as churches do their sextons. The lowed the players to such an extent that he made a motion for every note, no
preacher must have his vacation, and a good, long one it is generally— matter whether long or short, in the measure. He is a far greater wonder
always at the church's expense, and often with a handsome purse thrown in than the aquarium with the escaped sea-lions. It was here that I enjoyed (?)
to make him sure of a good time. But only a few religious organizations for the first time in my life the luxury of eating clam chowder. I am enjoy-
are generous enough to give a holiday to their choirs. Hence there is, ing the memory of it yet. What won't New Yorkers eat—and suffer.
every year, at this season, or a little earlier, an interminable amount of
planning, so that one may help another without either missing the pleasures
KOSTER & BIAL'S.
and advantages of his summer trip. Of course the most obliging do the
most work at such periods, and some of the fraternity, to my knowledge,
A rare treat was the concert at Koster & Bial's, Rudolph Bial directing.
have given away every one of their Sundays, where brief vacations have been S. Liebling, the pianist, was greeted with much applause. He has great
allowed them in order to oblige personal friends whose church committees power and technique.
were less liberal.
METROPOLITAN CONCERT HALL.
JUVENILE OPERA.
One evening was spent at the Metropolitan Concert Hall. What a su-
It is a melancholy fact that the children's "Pinafore" is again promised perb building ! The fifty men in the orchestra are certainly fine musicians,
here. Two more "Fatinitza" performances were given last week at the Per- but the conductor, Rudolph Aronson, is a phenomenon. He is an automatic
manent Exhibition Building, in presence of small audiences. Mr. J. F. time-keeper—a human metronome. He did not face the musicians. His
Zimmerman, the manager, and founder of this idea of juvenile opera, an- right side was toward the musicians, the left toward the audience, and part
of the orchestra was behind him. He worked very hard. Once in a great
nounces "Pinafore" to follow "Fatinitza."
while he changed his automatic attitude by making a motion with his left
SUMMER GARDENS.
hand. He scratched the air with his fingers like a hen in the sand. The
The two musical successes of the season are in the summer garden line, only difference was—he did the scratching when there was no need of it—a
The Maennerchor more than holds it own, but it is too small to hold many, thing a hen would never do. Aronson a conductor ! New York a musical
and decidedly more limited in dimensions than in its present popularity. city ! Can they stand such a humbug in so musical a city ? Aronson is cer-
The orchestra gives a fresh programme every night. On Wednesday last tainly beyond his depth. The orchestra leads him. He cannot read the
Mozart's " Jupiter " symphony was performed to a crowded attendance. score. He had his hands and eyes full of work watching the melody so that
The only successful rival to the Mamnerchor Garden this season is Eidgway he could keep up with the players. I feel sorry for the fifty musicians, but
are paid for it. The young conductor excels, if not in conducting—or
Park. Bidgway Park is what Coney Island would look to be through the they
composing—at least, in possessing an amount of brass sufficient to supply the
wrong end of an opera glass. It is a summer garden with all the modern American
wind-instrument market.
improvements, but in miniature. The Park is located on an island in the
Delaware Biver, a few rods from the city wharves. It has been known for a
TAFFY.
generation past as Smith's Island, and for more than half that length of time
has been noted as the resort of bootblacks continuously, and shoulder-hitters
It is understood that I would not miss visiting the Music TRADE JORRNAL
occasionally. Last season it was taken in hand by Mr. Bidgway, a wealthy office. There I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Gotthold Carlberg, the
speculator, who is the present sole proprietor. He spent about $75,000 on eminent conductor and critic. He has a pleasant address, and is a gentle-
his pet project, and has been reaping a good return this summer. The Park man of high culture and refinement. Last but not least, the Music TKAD E