Music Trade Review
Issue: 1894 Vol. 19 N. 5 - Page 7
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
The Oldest Musical
Instrument.
believe the flute, in its primitive form,
may rightly claim to be the oldest of
musical instruments. The oldest flute, we sup-
pose, was the one the great god Pan made, when
he sat and hacked the reed by the river ; and
even if the right of his godship to be considered
the first musical instrument maker be disputed,
there is no doubt that the earliest flute, that is,
the earliest musical instrument, was named after
him ; and as Pan's pipe, otherwise the syrinx,
was known to the ancients. The flute, or pipe,
was the special instrument in the musical way
of the '' gentle shepherd ; '' and was peculiarly
consecrated to innocence, harmlessness, sheep
and green fields. The cynical-minded of to-day
may be inclined to say that some of the charac-
teristics thus suggested hang, even as its melody,
about the flute and the flute-player still. The
flute is known in many forms and lands. There
is a large double flute, called the arghool, used
by the boatmen on the Nile, which, judiciously
used, can equal the bagpipe in the production ol
woeful sounds.
The quaint Celestial has a flute of his own
and shows his natural and national oddness in
its construction ; he makes the mouth-piece in
the middle of the instrument, and blows into it
through a piece of thin paper. We cannot say
what manner of melody he thus invokes ; but a
vision of a boy and a piece of tissue paper and a
comb comes across us as we read.
Africa rejoices in a box flute, with not only a
hole for the lips below, but one for the nose
above. As this suggests a large part of the
player's countenance being hidden while he is
discoursing sweet sound, there may be advan-
tages connected with the African box flute which
anyone who has observed the ordinary European
performer and his instrument will at once recog-
nize.
The dweller in Tonga has sociable views on
the subject of flute-playing, and constructs his
instrument to allow of two performers, one at
each end. His is also a nose flute ; and a dis-
advantage that a country given over to catarrh
suggests is, what would happen if either, or
both, of the Tongan performers sneezed !
The South American Indian unites harmony
and self-defence in his flute or pipe. He cuts
the bamboo he uses as his rough material into a
sharp point at one end, so that, presumably, he
can make an impression somehow, if his strains
have not sufficiently affected his companions.
It would appear that those snakes who resist
the voice of the charmer and his flute are very
disagreeable creatures ; for the music construct-
ed for their special benefit is not by any means
charming to mortal ears, and the effect of a num-
ber of them played together is said to be truly
awful.
Between these and yet more ancient and un-
couth instruments and the flute of the modern
musician there is a wide gulf; and many im-
provements have been in recent times made in
the instrument. The names of Quantz, Ribock,
and, more recently, Bohm in Germany, and
Rudell and Rose in England, are great in the
history of the flute.
The modern orchestra flute (the octave, the
piccolo and others) has been developed into a
a very effective instrument; though, as a speci-
THE
men of good workmanship in the past, a flute
was exhibited last season in L,ondon more than
a hundred years old, and still at concert pitch.
Smokers may be interested to know that one
variety of the flute, the gunnet, is sometimes
used for a tobacco pipe ; we may be tempted to
add that it is probably far more soothing so used
than in its musical capacity.
David H. Schmidt.
f
HE house of Schmidt & Co., which has held
an honorable place in the trade for close
on forty years as felt coverers of pianoforte ham-
mers, is now under the capable management of
David H. Schmidt, their successor. Mr. Schmidt
is a thoroughly practical man, who makes it a
point to give the best satisfaction to his cus-
tomers, and the growth of his business since he
assumed charge is a proof that the merit of his
work is being recognized by the trade. Mr.
Schmidt's establishment at 312-314 East 226.
street, is equipped with the necessary essentials
to turn out good work.
Mr. Schiedmayer on American
Pianos.
•R. MAX SCHIEDMAYER, who acted as
member of the jury on musical instru-
ments at the World's Fair, has contributed his
report to our German contemporary, Zeitscrift
Fur Instrumentenbau. Mr. Schiedmayer speaks
very highly of the American instruments, and
commends the good taste displayed in case
architecture and general finish, particularly
varnish work. He has serious doubts of the
real practical value of the third so called moder-
ating pedal and the fourth pedal used as octave
couplar. He describes the tone of the American
instruments as '' exceedingly clear and pleas-
ing." The German pianos* he says, ranked
second to the American in representation. He
claims, however, for the German instruments a
superiority in workmanship, actions and tone, "
which he says are "sympathetic, full, mellow
and attractive." Nearly all the German instru-
ments he characterizes as beyond praise and
model instruments in every respect.
The
wealth of the Russian exhibit caused consider-
able surprise, and the full, clear and agreeable
tone, light touch and decorative case-work en-
titled them to special commendation. Of the
French instruments he says " few improvements
are to be noticed since the last Paris Exposi-
tion." They remain typically French and with
few innovations to be simulated. Instruments
of the other countries call for no special or ex-
tended mention in his opinion.
I 1
A Valuable Violin.
Stolen by a S t r a n g e r — I t
Stradivari us.
is a
Red
ii
^|j?HE Romance of a Violin " might well be
-c) the name of an interesting story which
could be written about a red Stradivarius valued
at $4,000, which was stolen from Prof. Jean Bott
while he was absent from his boarding house at
355 West 31st street, on March 31st. Mr. Victor
S. Fletcher, of 23 Union Square, who is collect-
ing violins for Nicollni, the husband of Patti,
now offers a reward of $500 for the return of the
violin.
The history of this violin, as told by Mr.
Fletcher, is to the effect that nearly one hundred
years ago a French collector passing through a
street in Paris saw a small boy playing on a
violin. Its tone attracted his attention, and up-
on examination he found the instrument to be a
celebrated Stradivarius. He bought it and later
sold it to the Duke of Cambridge for a fabulous
sum.
The Duke presented the violin to Prof. Hauss-
man, leader of the Imperial Hanoverian Orches-
tra, who left it to his son, who in turn sold it
to Prof. Bott, who brought it to this country.
While Prof. Bott was away from home a young
man called at his boarding house and said he
would wait for him, but when the professor re-
turned the young man and the violin were gone.
No trace of either has been found yet, although
Central Office detectives and many private de-
tectives have been employed in the case.
A New Piano Action Boring Lathe.
TfR. J. ERLANDSEN, successor to N. Er-
landsen, 172 Centre street, has just placed
a new style piano action boring lathe on the
market. In designing this lathe it has been his
aim to make it the best of its kind, and no de-
tail has been slighted to that end. The best
materials have been used, and, as might be ex-
pected from such a capable workman, the finish
and perfection cannot be excelled. This lathe is
certainly equal, if not superior, to any on the
market, and should meet with a marked appre-
ciation from those who find it necessary to use
these machines. Mr. Erlandsen makes a special-
ty of supplying light machinery for action or
key making, and all who desire anything in
that line should look him up.
Good Piano Makers and Good
Ball Players.
The Hamilton Organ.
3JTHE HAMILTON ORGAN CO., of Chicago,
~€) are not complaining about lack of busi-
ness or lack of orders. This is due in a large
measure to the fact that the Hamilton organ is
proving a highly satisfactory instrument and
becoming more popular with agents throughout
the country every day. The Hamilton organ is
an instrument that can be sold at a fair price,
and as a reliable instrument. That is why their
order book is kept pretty full.
CELEBRATED
n
STEGER
'\3jHHE Colby piano works have a ball team
-e) that prides itself upon being pretty handy,
and is of the opinion that there is not another
piano baseball team in this section of the
country that would stand any show with them.
They have now challenged the champion piano
baseball team of Buffalo. It will be one of the
most interesting games tha.t has been looked
upon at Buffalo baseball grounds for many
years, the winning club taking the great purse
put up by both firms.— Times, Erie, Pa.
PIANOS
PATENTED 1892.
are noted for their fine singing quality of
tone and great durability. The most
profitable Piano for dealers to handle.
STEG-ER & CO., Manufacturers,
Factory, Columbia Heights.
235 WABASH AYE., CHICAGO.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
The Oldest Musical
Instrument.
believe the flute, in its primitive form,
may rightly claim to be the oldest of
musical instruments. The oldest flute, we sup-
pose, was the one the great god Pan made, when
he sat and hacked the reed by the river ; and
even if the right of his godship to be considered
the first musical instrument maker be disputed,
there is no doubt that the earliest flute, that is,
the earliest musical instrument, was named after
him ; and as Pan's pipe, otherwise the syrinx,
was known to the ancients. The flute, or pipe,
was the special instrument in the musical way
of the '' gentle shepherd ; '' and was peculiarly
consecrated to innocence, harmlessness, sheep
and green fields. The cynical-minded of to-day
may be inclined to say that some of the charac-
teristics thus suggested hang, even as its melody,
about the flute and the flute-player still. The
flute is known in many forms and lands. There
is a large double flute, called the arghool, used
by the boatmen on the Nile, which, judiciously
used, can equal the bagpipe in the production ol
woeful sounds.
The quaint Celestial has a flute of his own
and shows his natural and national oddness in
its construction ; he makes the mouth-piece in
the middle of the instrument, and blows into it
through a piece of thin paper. We cannot say
what manner of melody he thus invokes ; but a
vision of a boy and a piece of tissue paper and a
comb comes across us as we read.
Africa rejoices in a box flute, with not only a
hole for the lips below, but one for the nose
above. As this suggests a large part of the
player's countenance being hidden while he is
discoursing sweet sound, there may be advan-
tages connected with the African box flute which
anyone who has observed the ordinary European
performer and his instrument will at once recog-
nize.
The dweller in Tonga has sociable views on
the subject of flute-playing, and constructs his
instrument to allow of two performers, one at
each end. His is also a nose flute ; and a dis-
advantage that a country given over to catarrh
suggests is, what would happen if either, or
both, of the Tongan performers sneezed !
The South American Indian unites harmony
and self-defence in his flute or pipe. He cuts
the bamboo he uses as his rough material into a
sharp point at one end, so that, presumably, he
can make an impression somehow, if his strains
have not sufficiently affected his companions.
It would appear that those snakes who resist
the voice of the charmer and his flute are very
disagreeable creatures ; for the music construct-
ed for their special benefit is not by any means
charming to mortal ears, and the effect of a num-
ber of them played together is said to be truly
awful.
Between these and yet more ancient and un-
couth instruments and the flute of the modern
musician there is a wide gulf; and many im-
provements have been in recent times made in
the instrument. The names of Quantz, Ribock,
and, more recently, Bohm in Germany, and
Rudell and Rose in England, are great in the
history of the flute.
The modern orchestra flute (the octave, the
piccolo and others) has been developed into a
a very effective instrument; though, as a speci-
THE
men of good workmanship in the past, a flute
was exhibited last season in L,ondon more than
a hundred years old, and still at concert pitch.
Smokers may be interested to know that one
variety of the flute, the gunnet, is sometimes
used for a tobacco pipe ; we may be tempted to
add that it is probably far more soothing so used
than in its musical capacity.
David H. Schmidt.
f
HE house of Schmidt & Co., which has held
an honorable place in the trade for close
on forty years as felt coverers of pianoforte ham-
mers, is now under the capable management of
David H. Schmidt, their successor. Mr. Schmidt
is a thoroughly practical man, who makes it a
point to give the best satisfaction to his cus-
tomers, and the growth of his business since he
assumed charge is a proof that the merit of his
work is being recognized by the trade. Mr.
Schmidt's establishment at 312-314 East 226.
street, is equipped with the necessary essentials
to turn out good work.
Mr. Schiedmayer on American
Pianos.
•R. MAX SCHIEDMAYER, who acted as
member of the jury on musical instru-
ments at the World's Fair, has contributed his
report to our German contemporary, Zeitscrift
Fur Instrumentenbau. Mr. Schiedmayer speaks
very highly of the American instruments, and
commends the good taste displayed in case
architecture and general finish, particularly
varnish work. He has serious doubts of the
real practical value of the third so called moder-
ating pedal and the fourth pedal used as octave
couplar. He describes the tone of the American
instruments as '' exceedingly clear and pleas-
ing." The German pianos* he says, ranked
second to the American in representation. He
claims, however, for the German instruments a
superiority in workmanship, actions and tone, "
which he says are "sympathetic, full, mellow
and attractive." Nearly all the German instru-
ments he characterizes as beyond praise and
model instruments in every respect.
The
wealth of the Russian exhibit caused consider-
able surprise, and the full, clear and agreeable
tone, light touch and decorative case-work en-
titled them to special commendation. Of the
French instruments he says " few improvements
are to be noticed since the last Paris Exposi-
tion." They remain typically French and with
few innovations to be simulated. Instruments
of the other countries call for no special or ex-
tended mention in his opinion.
I 1
A Valuable Violin.
Stolen by a S t r a n g e r — I t
Stradivari us.
is a
Red
ii
^|j?HE Romance of a Violin " might well be
-c) the name of an interesting story which
could be written about a red Stradivarius valued
at $4,000, which was stolen from Prof. Jean Bott
while he was absent from his boarding house at
355 West 31st street, on March 31st. Mr. Victor
S. Fletcher, of 23 Union Square, who is collect-
ing violins for Nicollni, the husband of Patti,
now offers a reward of $500 for the return of the
violin.
The history of this violin, as told by Mr.
Fletcher, is to the effect that nearly one hundred
years ago a French collector passing through a
street in Paris saw a small boy playing on a
violin. Its tone attracted his attention, and up-
on examination he found the instrument to be a
celebrated Stradivarius. He bought it and later
sold it to the Duke of Cambridge for a fabulous
sum.
The Duke presented the violin to Prof. Hauss-
man, leader of the Imperial Hanoverian Orches-
tra, who left it to his son, who in turn sold it
to Prof. Bott, who brought it to this country.
While Prof. Bott was away from home a young
man called at his boarding house and said he
would wait for him, but when the professor re-
turned the young man and the violin were gone.
No trace of either has been found yet, although
Central Office detectives and many private de-
tectives have been employed in the case.
A New Piano Action Boring Lathe.
TfR. J. ERLANDSEN, successor to N. Er-
landsen, 172 Centre street, has just placed
a new style piano action boring lathe on the
market. In designing this lathe it has been his
aim to make it the best of its kind, and no de-
tail has been slighted to that end. The best
materials have been used, and, as might be ex-
pected from such a capable workman, the finish
and perfection cannot be excelled. This lathe is
certainly equal, if not superior, to any on the
market, and should meet with a marked appre-
ciation from those who find it necessary to use
these machines. Mr. Erlandsen makes a special-
ty of supplying light machinery for action or
key making, and all who desire anything in
that line should look him up.
Good Piano Makers and Good
Ball Players.
The Hamilton Organ.
3JTHE HAMILTON ORGAN CO., of Chicago,
~€) are not complaining about lack of busi-
ness or lack of orders. This is due in a large
measure to the fact that the Hamilton organ is
proving a highly satisfactory instrument and
becoming more popular with agents throughout
the country every day. The Hamilton organ is
an instrument that can be sold at a fair price,
and as a reliable instrument. That is why their
order book is kept pretty full.
CELEBRATED
n
STEGER
'\3jHHE Colby piano works have a ball team
-e) that prides itself upon being pretty handy,
and is of the opinion that there is not another
piano baseball team in this section of the
country that would stand any show with them.
They have now challenged the champion piano
baseball team of Buffalo. It will be one of the
most interesting games tha.t has been looked
upon at Buffalo baseball grounds for many
years, the winning club taking the great purse
put up by both firms.— Times, Erie, Pa.
PIANOS
PATENTED 1892.
are noted for their fine singing quality of
tone and great durability. The most
profitable Piano for dealers to handle.
STEG-ER & CO., Manufacturers,
Factory, Columbia Heights.
235 WABASH AYE., CHICAGO.
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