Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
M. STEINERT & SONS CO.
T
HE M. Steinert & Sons Company consists
entirely of members of the Steinert family,
namely, Mr. Morris Steinert and his seven sons.
This concern dates from December 4, 1865, when
Mr. M. Steinert opened, in a humble way, a
store in New Haven, Conn. At that time his
funds were somewhat limited, but through close
application to business, thorough integrity and
strict honesty he succeeded in enlarging his field
to such an extent that now the M. Steinert &
Sons Company occupies stores in Boston, Mass.,
Providence, R. I., Newport, R. I., Springfield,
Mass., New Haven, Conn., Bridgeport, Conn.,
Portland, Me.
Without doubt this company does
the largest retail business in pianos in the
United States, and probably it has not its equal
in Europe.
MORRIS STEINERT.
The founder of the house of M. Steinert &
Sons, Mr. Morris Steinert, was born in 1831, at
Scheinfeld, a small town in Bavaria. At the age
of six years he was quite proficient as a per-
former on the clavichord. A pianoforte at that
time was not to be found in his native place.
He received his first lesson on the clavichord
from the old and venerable cantor of his place,
a pupil of Carl Philip Enianuel Bach. By these
lessons he learned how to strike the keys of the
instrument, or, as the old cantor called it,
" clavierschlagen. " No attention was paid to
the learning of notes or the principle of time.
The cantor merely sat down and played a tune
and the pupil was requested to play it after him.
The thumb was used as little as possible—it
only came into demand while playing chords
then called " bachgriffe. " Young Steinert soon
mastered the difficulties of the clavichord, and
began the study of the violin, flute and viola
di gamba. Like many youths of his native
country, he took part in the musical services of
the Catholic Church, playing at high mass. At
the age often he lost his father. On account of
the financial condition of the family, he was ap-
prenticed to his brother-in-law to learn the trade
of making astronomical, mathematical and
optical instruments. In this he soon acquired
considerable skill, and accompanied his employer
in extended travels through Germany and Rus-
sia, which were of great benefit to him, giving
him ample opportunities to visit the principal
astronomical observatories and the studios of
celebrated artists and professors of mathematics.
During these travels Mr. Steinert did not ne-
glect his musical studies. He took lip the study
of the violoncello, and at the age of sixteen j-ears
breaking out of the civil war, when he came
North with his wife and three children. He had
lost all his property, like a great many other
fugitives, and was compelled to start afresh as
organist and music teacher at New Haven, Conn.
He at once undertook to improve the musical
taste and culture of his new home. He formed
an orchestra, organized a string quartette, and
infused new life into the musical elements of a
place known for its "Old dents' Band." He
became interested in local stock corporations for
making organs and pianos, but withdrew from
them without having gained any financial ad-
vantage. His health failed, and, following the
advice of his physicians, he abandoned teach-
ing and opened a store for the sale of musical
instruments and sheet music in one of the small
streets of New Haven. At that time his finan-
cial resources were very limited, but his courage
was great, and ere main- months had passed he
was considered a very promising violoncello
player. He then left his employer and made a
prolonged journey through France, Switzerland,
and Germany, not only for the purpose of per-
fecting himself in his trade, but also to extend
his knowledge of music and to behold the archi-
tectural features of those countries.
In 1854 he came to the United States. At that
time there was a great demand for good musi-
cians here. For that reason he gave up his trade
and accepted an engagement as violoncellist in
the Mario and Grisi Italian Opera Troupe, under
the conductorship of Arditi, then performing at
Castle Garden. He played later at a great many
concerts in New York and other leading cities
of the Union. In 1856 he accepted a position as
organist and piano teacher at Savannah, Georgia.
Thence he moved to Athens, Georgia, following
the same pursuits. He remained there until the
moved his store to the principal business street
in New Haven.
In 1869 he obtained the agency for the sale of
the pianofortes of Steinway & Sons. This was
the turning point in his career. The conscious-
ness that he was now prepared to supply the
public with an instrument perfect in all its de-
tails, and one that was able to meet all the re-
quirements of musicians and artists, imbued
him with new energy. He was eminently suc-
cessful. At this time, being the happy father of
seven .sons, he concluded to enlarge his field of
work, and to employ his sons, who had been
carefully trained and educated ]>y him for this
purpose, therein.
Tie, therefore, opened a store in Providence,
R. I., and placed it under the management
of his two sons, Henry and Alexander. The
venture was completely successful. He then