Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
A Vigorous Plea for
the Reed Organ.
what does such a one know of the sustained
power of a note, or the force of a swelled
note? What use for or knowledge of the
various tone qualities produced by com-
binations of stops, has he? And it is the
THINK OF THE HOMES THAT ARE BRIGHTENED,
single ones here and there who go on to
THE HEARTS THAT ARE CHEERED BY THE
the pipe organ, while it is the hundreds
AID OF THIS HUMBLE INSTRUMENT.
who never get beyond the piano. Hence
O you ask, what can be done with the it is, that if these things are to be a part of
reed organ? And do you say noth- their musical experience, they must be ob-
ing? You don't care to use sandstone for tained from the reed organ.
Perhaps, as teachers, we do not exactly
the statue in your parlor, yet you prefer it
for the foundation of your house.
You do despise or even dislike this factor in our
not derive your literature, your science, profession, but do we always appreciate its
your philosophy from a series of common- importance, its bearing upon our later
school readers, and yet they served you work that must, of necessity, be built upon
well in your childhood. You don't found the basis it furnishes? Can we tell ap-
your system of theology on "Now I lay me proximately, how many of our pupils be-
down to sleep," but you acknowledge that come discouraged and gave up the study
the prayer on your baby lips helped to entirely, because the teacher showed a lack
Do we remem-
make your present religious state possible. of interest in the lessons?
We are too apt to despise our own small ber how one pupil stumbled and blundered
beginnings, or at least to underrate them when he came to the piano, because we had
very much.
How many of you, readers, been indifferent with him about bis organ
did not press out your first faltering tones work? And did we not find it difficult to
on the keys of a melodeon or reed organ? teach him to study the peculiarities of his
And you have been measurably successful piano, because we had neglected to point
upon such a meagre beginning; why should out to him the distinguishing qualities of
not others, if circumstances forbid their his organ? Although by its very construc-
tion, the range of the organ has been fixed,
having a better one?
True, the reed organ has proved itself a do we not often limit it still further by our
nuisance, in a variety of ways, to many a ignorance of even its possibilities? I
progressive teacher; and I confess to hav- sometimes meet young teachers who come
ing found it burdensome at times, although from musical institutions, prepared, as they
far from disliking the instrument. But, think, to teach all pupils that may appear
circumscribed and unsatisfactory as it is in in a small town or country district. They
many respects, it is with us, and around understood the piano well; indeed, they
us, and in a sense, upon us, and we must have never studied anything else. And
make the best of it. City teachers may be they are farther equipped with the errone-
exempt from this obligation, but it is cer- ous notion that anybody can teach the
tainly incumbent upon those of us who are organ. They confess they have no taste
in smaller colleges, towns and rural dis- for it, are ignorant of its resources, have
no knowledge of instruction books and
tricts.
organ music, but what of that? The in-
The American people are music loving,
evitable result is that their pupils are play-
and will have music if it must be furnished
ing piano music, as far as possible, and that
by a mouth organ; but it is not the fault
with a touch that is sempre staccato. And
of these same Americans that each one of
perhaps they wonder that their organ
these mouth organs is not a concert grand
pupils become listless and soon discouraged.
piano or an organ that is worthy of the
A great hindrance in the way of success-
name; for they are ambitiously progres-
sive, and as rapidly as finances will permit, ful organ teaching is the scarcity of ma-
Few organ instruc-
they advance through the intervening terial to teach from.
grades toward the most perfect instruments tion books that are in the market are of
man's skill can produce. Nevertheless, in any use to a conscientious teacher, and
many humble homes, musical aspirations composers seem to think that the instru-
are never permitted to soar beyond the ment is unworthy of their notice. As a
scope of the cabinet organ. And, again, consequence, pupils must feed on the very
in many homes, the organ is but a short- meagre food of much diluted piano music,
lived precursor of the piano, the parents and puny, sickly waltzes and marches.
not feeling justified in investing the re- Almost every teacher has been tried by the
quired sum of money in a piano, until their cheap methods and schools which organ
children have given some evidence of taste dealers are wont to bestow upon the un-
or aptitude for the study of music. A per- wary purchaser of an instrument, and nine
nicious practice, perhaps, some think; but cases out of ten the teacher has found diffi-
I am not prepared to say that it is alto- culty in persuading the parent to buy a
gether evil; for I contend that he who good book, since he cannot understand
plays the piano and nothing but the piano, why the inferior one will not do. If com-
misses much of real beauty. Practically, posers could be enticed from their lofty
D
THE
CELEBRATED
STEGER
flights to serve the common people, and if
organ dealers could be prevailed upon to
desist from throwing in their mischievous
books, the profession would be less weari-
some to the ordinary teacher. However, I
have found one or two instruction books
that are systematic and progressive, and
have no doubt there are others published
that are equally as good, which have never
come to my notice; and by dint of careful
searching, I have discovered a reasonably
satisfactory amount of music for supple-
mentary wdik. And after all, the success
of the work depends largely upon the will
and energy of the teacher.
Since then, whether we wish it or not,
the organ will affect every phase of our pro-
fession, since hundreds of country children
must depend upon it for their start in the
study of music, and since to these same
children future years must look for those
teachers who shall be the most desirable
additions to the ranks, is it not imperative
that we who teach interest ourselves in
this neglected line? asks M. F. Freed, in
the Etude. If the quality of the instru-
ment be inferior, is not the use to which it
is put sufficient to appeal to our attention?
Think of the homes that are brightened,
the hearts that are cheered, even the souls
that are uplifted by the aid of this humble
instrument. Think of the immense num-
ber of churches whose music is almost en-
tirely controlled by a reed organ, and call
to mind some of the times when your own
worship was sadly interfered with by the
bungling playing of an untrained organist,
and you will have an unanswerable argu-
ment in favor of a more careful, conscien-
tious system of reed organ teaching.
The Schimmel=NeIson Piano.
D
EALERS better be on the lookout for
the new grand upright pianos which
the Schimmel-Nelson Piano Co., Faribault,
Minn., have almost ready for the trade.
They are splendid instruments, and all who
have examined them state that they are
not only handsome from an architectural
standpoint, but their tone quality is un-
usually sonorous, with a scale that is pleas-
ingly even throughout. These representa-
tive instruments of the great Northwest are
bound to win their way into recognition
before many seasons.
BOGUS piano tuners are visiting Ten-
nessee and other States soliciting business.
They claim to represent J. W. Davis & Co.,
Chicago. It is needless to say there is no
such concern in Chicago.
Dealers and
others should be on the lookout for these
scoundrels.
GEO. BOTHNER, SR., the veteran
action
maker, left for Europe by the "Havel"
last Thursday.
" •
PIANOS
PATENTED 1892.
are noied for their fine singing quali'y ol
tone and great durability.
The most
profitable Piano for dealers to handle,,
STEG-ER & CO., Manufacturers,
Factory, Columbia Heights.
23o WABASH ATENUE, CHICAGO.