Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE MAGAZINES.
To the busy man, desirous of keeping
in touch with the exciting and interesting
trend of affairs in connection with the His-
pano-American war, the current issue of
The Review of Reviews is of especial in-
terest. This excellent magazine never
fails to keep in touch with all that is best
in public life in all parts of the world. It
is an ever-welcome visitor on our desk.
Among the notable features of the May
Ladies' Home Journal are Rudyard Kip-
ling's jubilee hymn "Recessional," set to
music by Reginald de Koven; an illus-
trated article on "Joseph Jefferson at
Home," and a page of brightly told anec-
dotes of prominent personages under the
caption " After Dinner Stories."
The complete novel in the May issue of
Lippincott's is " T h e Uncalled" by the
colored poet, Paul Lawrence Dunbar.
Though understood to be his first essay in
extended fiction, it is an extremely strong
and thoroughly readable story.
The current issue of McClure's is up to
the usually high standard of this popular
monthly. A poem on the torpedo by Rud-
yard Kipling, entitled " T h e Destroyer,"
is a feature of the number which is
compelling extended and favorable com-
ment and notice.
The May number of Current Litera-
ture is at hand, with its abundant store of
good things, literary and informational.
All of the departments are well filled and
interesting, as usual, the editorials being
especially strong and timely. Another
timely feature this month is the compila-
tion of newspaper verse entitled, '' Re-
member the Maine! " A new department
of French letters is also a noteworthy
feature. Frank L. Stanton, the popular
verse writer, is the American Poet of to-
day, considered by F. M. Hopkins in his
monthly contribution of this interesting
series.
The editors of the Literary Digest are
to be congratulated on the interesting
matter which they are furnishing each
week to their readers. Mostly every topic
of interest in all lines of effort is treated
of briefly but ably. The growing popu-
larity of this magazine is not to be won-
dered at.
CHEVALIER U. CRISPINI.
Chevalier Umberto Crispini, the trom-
bone soloist, was a visitor to The Review
sanctum this week. As his name indi-
cates, he is an Italian, and a member of
a Masonic Lodge at. Modica, Sicily. His
certificate shows a number of endorse-
ments of lodges where
he has visited. One is at
Malta, where he played
ALL ROADS ARE ALIKE TO A M O N A R C H . before the Governor ;
another by the lodge on
Perfection is the result of our long
t h e G r e e k island of
experience.
Corfu; another at Con-
stantinople ; others at
Bucharest, S h a n g h a i
(China), Y o k o h a m a
(Japan), and Port au
Prince, Hayti. He has
performed before the
Presidents of Venezuela
and Hayti; the Court at
Sofia, B u l g a r i a ; the
King of Upper Burmah
at Mandalay, and the
Shah of Persia at Tehe-
ran. Chevalier Crispini
intends to make a tour
of the United States.
KEY-CHARACTER A FALLACY.
Concerning the character of the various
keys, several standard writers have as-
signed fixed characteristics to them; in
other words, claim them to have varied
capacities for emotional expression.
For instance, Gretry says—and he will
do as a sample of the others—" The key of
C is noble and frank; D is brilliant; E flat
is grand and pathetic; F minor the most
pathetic of all; F-sharp major is hard and
sharp because it is overloaded with acci-
dentals," etc.
In this connection we have two questions
to ask and then leave the matter for our
readers to decide, each one for himself,
says W. F. Gates, in The Etude. If the
key of D had certain distinguishing char-
acteristics a hundred years ago, and if at
that time a composition in that key had a
particular emotional atmosphere, what
does that composition portend to-day, con-
sidering the fact that there has been con-
siderable change in the pitch in the last
ioo years?
And, again, what effect does the trans-
posing keyboard have? Does the tune in
D lose its natural effect if we shift the key-
board a half-step, and while using the
same keys let the piano play it in E flat?
In other words, isn't the whole thing a
fallacy?
*
Madame Calve is likely to pass from the
Paris Opera Comique to the Grand Opera
to create the chief part in Gluck's " Ar-
mida," should that opera be revived, at a
cost, it is estimated, for scenery and ma-
chinery of about $60,000.
A prize of $600 has been offered by the
Italian Minister of Public Instruction for
the composition of a sacred work to be
performed on the occasion of the opening
of the Turin Exhibition a few months
hence.
Win. L. Tomlins, for twenty-three years
director of the Apollo Musical Club, Chi-
cago, resigned on May 1st. Mr. Tomlins
is classed among the greatest of America's
chorus directors.
Carl Zerrahn has retired from the lead-
ership of Boston's Handel and Haydn
society in a very tempest of enthusiasm.
Verdi is said to have decided to live for the
future in Milan, where his wife is buried.
Caob, jgyebange, IRentefc, also
SoR> on J£a6£ payments
Grand, Square and Upright
MONARCH AND DEFIANCE BICYCLES
PIANOFORTES
are the product of mechanical ingenuity.
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. These instruments have been before the pub-
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$60.00
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Which establishes them as UNEQUALED
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Send for 1898 Catalogue.
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No. 19 East 14th Street,
NEW YORK.
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WAREROOMS
48 5th Ave., near 20th St., New York
83