Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
1. Overture, -
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FROM MELBOURNE TO SAN FRANCISCO.
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[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRRESPONDENT.]
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MELBOURNE, January 20, 1889.
The great International Centennial Exhibition at
Melbourne is drawing near its close. Every effort is
being made to keep up and even increase the number of
attractions, that the last days may bring all the reward
possible at the turn-stiles. Mr. Frederick Cowen and
his orchestra are firing big guns—" The Creation,"
" Messiah," etc., with most attractive general pro-
grammes; the military band by the illuminated lake
play nightly from eight to ten o'clock ; a gondola party
sing during the intervals from a lighted fairy-like boat
on the lake ; the Spanish students prick their sweet-
toned mandolins on the stage in the German Court ;
daily afternoon concerts are continued in both the Ger-
man and French Courts ; the Maori natives give an ex-
hibition of their war songs and dances in a tent on the
lawn; a brass band plays in the early evening hours in the
garden by the Main Building ; Sunday school as well as
public school children give singing and calisthenic per-
formances ;—and all these do not complete the list of
the musical feasts we have had. You can see that
music is accepted as the chief attraction. Australians
certainly love music. It is as true of this country as of
America, that almost every house has its piano ; and
the American organ is rapidly coming into general use.
The American Court is oppressively quiet, and if it
were not for the recitals given on the Antisell piano,
the visitors would think, that while Yankees could make
and sell musical instruments, they were " no good " for
making music—that there was no music in their souls
The Colonials feel loth to give up Mr. Cowen. The
people of Sydney have asked him and his orchestra to
give a few concerts in that city after the Exhibition is
closed, and the request will be complied with. Mr.
Cowen cannot be tempted, however, to make Australia
his permanent home.
The Royal Opera Co. have just finished, at the Opera
House, a very unsuccessful run. Colonials do not take
to Italian opera. Amusements must come nearer their
pet one—horse-racing ; therefore, the lightest works
take best. The Princess' Theatre, with its Comic
Opera Co., has done well. " Dorothy" is on the boards
just now. Miss Nellie Stewart, a local star, makes a
fairly good Dorothy, but, in my opinion, her ability
generally is greatly overrated. The support is weak and
would not please an American audience. I never heard
a poorer rendering of " Queen of my heart."
SYDNEY, January 22, 1889.
I am thus far on my homeward journey. The Mari-
posa sails to-morrow. After six months of colonial life,
I feel quite willing to embark on the wide Pacific for
good old California.
Yesterday afternoon a complimentary benefit was
tendered Miss Dora Wiley, the well-known American
vocalist, and proved to be a success, netting our bright
American girl a hundred pounds profit. Miss Wiley has
been unfortunate in her Australian engagerrfent. She
was a member of the Amy Sherwin Opera Troupe,
which failed, leaving Miss Wiley with others minus
salary, eight thousand miles from home, among strang-
ers who had only a glimpse of her capabilities—it was
rather a predicament. But, Yankee-like, she showed
grit and made a host of friends. Hence the benefit of
yesterday. She returns with us to-morrow on the
Mariposa. I had a chance to ask her what she thought
of Australian talent. She thinks there are some really
good voices here, but that they have been badly school-
ed and will too soon show signs of failing.
Many will remember Miss Wiley in her successful
engagement with the Norcross Opera Co., at the Star
Theatre in New York, and with the Carlton Opera Co.,
at the Bush Street Theatre, San Francisco.
While speaking of Exhibition music, I forgot to men-
tion the " swell" concert tendered to the members of
the Australian Medical Congress, then meeting in Mel-
bourne. It was a full dress affair, and was held in the
Music Hall, Exhibition Building. Here is the menu:
9.
" Der Freischiltz," -
- Weber
The Centennial Orchestra.
Andante from Symphony in C (No. i), Beethoven
The Centennial Orchestra.
Song,
- "Adelaida," -
Beethoven
Mr. Armes Beaumont.
Entr' Acte (Act iii.), " Lohengrin,'
Wagner
The Centennial Orchestra.
Air, - " I will extol Thee," (" Eli'"), -
Costa
Mrs. Bethell.
Hungarian Rhapsody (No. 4),
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- Liszt
The Centennial Orchestra.
Duet,
- " One word at parting," -
- Nicolai
Mrs Bethell and Mr. Armes Beaumont.
Gavotte,
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" Mignon,"
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- A. Thomas
The Centennial Orchestra.
Song,
- " Good night, beloved," -
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Balfe
Mr. Armes Beaumont.
10. Air Varie,
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" Coppelia,"
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The Centennial Orchestra.
11. Song,
" Rose softly blooming,"
Mrs. Bethell.
12. Overture,
" Le Lac des Fees,"
The Centennial Orchestra.
ON
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Delibes
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Spohr
- Auber
BOARD THE MARIPOSA, January 24, 1889.
Our good ship left her moorings at four yesterday
afternoon. At five, we were passing the noble heads of
Port Jackson, heading for Auckland, N. Z. The sea is
delightfully smooth—it being mid-summer in this clime.
How different from the wild storms that tossed our
ship about six months ago, in these very same waters.
Now the music of the sea is like the sweet stringed
adagio of a Weber ; then it was like the mighty blasts
and full orchestra of a Wagner presto con spirito.
Besides Miss Wiley, we have the members of the
Wilson and Cameron Minstrel Company on their way
home to 'Frisco, after a successful Australian engage-
ment of eighteen months, and also several good ama-
teur musicians. Out of this material, Dr. C. C. Vander-
beck, who is returning from a tour of Australia and the
South Seas, and who is a pianist of considerable ability,
organized a concert that was given on February 2, just
after leaving the Samoan Islands. This was entitled
the " Grand Tropical Concert," and was voted clear
beyond the usual entertainments on ship-board. It is
true, no fish is as big as the fish we see in travelling;
but when you reflect what talent was aboard, you can
see we had the stuff out of which a good entertainment
is made.
February 16.
At an early hour we entered the Golden Gate, and
once more we are in " God's own country" and the
land of Yankee Doodle.
CLIFFORD.
THE CHICAGO AUDITORIUM ORGAN.
E alley of the auditorium block forms a right
angle at its centre with the north wall of the great
^~ structure; and right above this point juts out from
the building a receptacle for the great pipe organ soon
to be put in position there. The organ will completely
fill the 4c x 40 niche over the alley's angle, and will be
larger than any other organ in America, besides possess-
ing unequalled details of mechanism. It will contain
over 7,000 pipes, 150 stops and five banks of keys. The
wind will be supplied by electric motors, and electricity
will also run another curious organ—an "echo organ" of
smaller design, away up in the roof, and played from
the same key-boards as the great organ. Imagine the
effects which Clarence Eddy, who is to be the " organist
laureate " of the auditorium, will produce with the aid
of the " echo organ." By an ingenious contrivance, sets
of stops can be locked in place in the new, great organ,
and brought into use at pleasure during a performance,
by the touching of a button. Other remarkable im-
provements will appear in this grand instrument, which
Chicago enterprise will soon give to the music-loving
world.
IMPORTANT CHANGES IN SEVERAL OF
STEINWAY AND SONS' AGENCIES.
C
HANGES of importance and interest have recently
been effected in regard to some of Messrs. Stein-
way and Son's piano agencies in this country. The
agency at Birmingham, Ala., will hereafter be controled
by the Jessie French Piano & Organ Co., who have rep-
resented the Steinway in Memphis, Tenn., for a long
period. The Houston, Tex., agency has been given to
Mr. C. Grunewald; and that of Atlanta, Ga., has been
taken from Messrs. Phillips & Crew and placed in the
hands of Messrs. Freyer & Bradley.
THE B. SHONINGER CO.
THE NOTED PIANO AND ORGAN MANUFACTURERS OF NEW
HAVEN, CONN., OPEN A BRANCH HOUSE IN NfeAV
YORK CITY.
r I l H E first house to add the manufacture of pianos
to that of organs was the B. Shoninger Co., of
New Haven, Conn., who began to make pianos as
far back as 1876. For very many years previous to that
date their organs were known throughout the land as
possessing rare musical qualities. A similarly high repu-
tation has now been gained by their pianos. This fact
is demonstrated by the constantly-increasing demand
for the latter instruments, thirty-six of which are turned
out every week from the splendid New Haven factory.
According to the present outlook this weekly output
will be increased to fifty before the next harvest is gath-
ered. Their output of organs reaches the figure of two
hundred and fifty per month, or more than eight per
diem, every one of which is of the highest attainable
grade and the most costly and elegant style.
That so eminent a firm should establish warerooms
in New York is only natural. The wonder is that the
move has been delayed so long. Now that it has been
decided upon there can be but one opinion of it, and
that is that the trade and the public will be greatly ben-
efited. The location chosen is at No. 86 Fifth avenue,
a thoroughfare whose associations with musical instru-
ment dealers and manufacturers have become classic.
Mr. Albert Holden, formerly with Messrs. Charles H.
Ditson & Co., N. Y., has been selected to manage the new
Shoninger branch in this city. He is one of the best
known and most experienced gentlemen to be found in
the retail trade.
Among the numerous original and successful selling
points of the Shoninger piano is the chime of bells.
Other important characteristics are its clearness, purity,
and depth of tone, its chasteness of design, its won-
derful durability, and its moderate price.
The trade and profession cordially greet the B. Shon-
inger Co., and bid them welcome to the city of New
York.
THE NEW ENGLAND PIANO.
A FAVORITE WITH LEADING ARTISTS.
T
H E R E is not a shadow of doubt about it. J. Burns
Brown, who presides over the warerooms of The
New England Piano Co., at Fifth avenue and
Fifteenth street, N. Y., did sell that piano to the Jersey
Lily. How much that distinguished lady was impressed
by the piano and how much by Mr. Brown is not known,
nor need the depths of the respective impressions be
inquired into, for both salesman and piano are excellent
of their kinds. We have had ocular proof of the good
sense and good taste shown by Mrs. Langtry in the
matter, having seen the contract to which the signature
of the fair Lily is attached, for the genuineness of which
signature we are prepared to vouch in any court,
whether of law or of piano dealer?.
After all, there is nothing strange in a leading artist
or society lady purchasing a New England piano. 1 he
New England Co. have sold their admirable wares to
many of the leaders of art and fashion, all of whom
speak of them in the highest terms. This fact probably
accounts, in some degree, for Mr. J. Burns Brown hav-
ing been permitted to experience the fascinations of
the famous Lily.
GEO. W. PEEK A LECTURER.
N E W YORK, February 27th, 1889.
MESSRS. BILL & BILL,
3 East 1 th street,
New York City.
GENTLEMEN : As a matter of possible interest to
the trade will say, that Mr. Geo. W. Peek made quite a
hit the other evening, with his famous lecture entitled
" Mrs. Grundy." He entertained an appreciative
audience and was enthusiastically applauded many
times during the evening.
Mr. Peek is nearly as much of a success as a lecturer
as he is as a manufacturer of pianos. He is writing a new
lecture, which will be brought out during the season,
and I am busy managing dates for same.
Yours truly,
J. W. STEVENS,
Manager of Lecturer G. W. Peek.