Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
"It is a harp-guitar and has ten strings,
six of them being tuned exactly like those
of an ordinary guitar. The remaining four
THE NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, COMBINING
strings
run parallel with and about a sixteenth
THE FEATURES OF TWO, ATTRACTING CON-
of an inch to the left (looking toward the
SIDERABLE ATTENTION IN TRADE AND
neck) of the four larger strings, and these
MUSICAL CIRCLES—DEALERS SHOULD
four extra strings are tuned an exact octave
LOOK IT UP.
above the strings paralleled.
"Thus the instrument is really a guitar,
The harp-guitar made by Rene Grunewald,
having the first four strings paralleled by
of New Orleans, and which was referred to at smaller ones.
some length in our issue of Jan. 22d, is ex-
"The method of playing upon the harp-
citing considerable interest in musical and guitar is slightly different than upon the or-
trade circles. Many inquiries have reached dinary, the air being picked with the bare
Mr. Grunewald about this instrument, and thumb upon the double strings, while the ac-
companiment is played upon the other avail-
all who have examined it are unanimous in able strings with the fingers. This plan
proclaiming it to be a radical and practical greatly simplifies playing and enables one to
improvement upon the time-honored guitar.
render almost any piece of music with the
The harp-guitar may be termed a dual or left hand in one position.
"Heretofore the guitar has been an instru-
combination instrument.
When played it
ment upon which but few of the ordinary airs
sounds virtually like two instruments, the of the day could be played, the principal mu-
one carrying the air, the other the accompani- sic for which it was adapted being merely ex-
ercises.
"This was owing to the arrangement and
tuning of the strings, but by the adding of
the four treble strings, as on the harp-guitar,
the possibilities for the instrument are imme-
diately changed and anyone who can play a
chord and run a scale, can, by means of these
extra strings, play with ease any piece he may
know.
"In tone the harp-guitar resembles two in-
struments, the mandolin and guitar (minus
the trill of the former), the volume being
nearly double that of an ordinary guitar."
The merits of the instrument are so unique
and so apparent that wherever it has been ex-
hibited, it has compelled much notice of a
favorable character. It is sold at a price
within the reach of all, and affords the dealer
a fair margin of profit. It is not only des-
tined to be popular in this country, but
throughout Mexico and Central America
where Mr. Grunewald's ambassador, Isadore
Pollatsek, is at present [making an extended
tour, introducing the harp-guitar as well as
the Grunewald mandolin.
Dealers desiring to have a novelty which
they can push with profit during '98 should
correspond with Rene Grunewald and place
a sample order for the harp-guitar.
As is well known, the guitar is an instru-
ment upon which, owing to the difficulties to
be overcome in execution, comparatively few
can play, and music for this instrument
must be written expressly for or arranged for
it. With the harp-guitar all difficulties are
ment. The quality of tone resembles that of overcome by having a larger number of treble
the mandolin and guitar, or more particularly strings arranged convenient for execution.
that of the harp, the volume of tone being On account of the latter instrument's numer-
much greater and clearer than that of the ous advantages it is thought by many that it
will soon supersede the ordinary guitar.
guitar.
Many dealers are now handling the harp-
guitar, and are quite enthusiastic about it.
It is proposed to form in Louisville a
The Columbus, O., State Journal referring permanent association, the purpose of which
recently to this instrument, which is sold by will be to give in that city annually a great
one of the dealers in that city, said:
musical festival. The first will occur next
"During the past week there has been on May. The Boston Festival Orchestra and
exhibition at the store of one of the principal several eminent soloists have been engaged.
dealers in musical instruments a stringed in-
strument, unique in pattern, but generally A chorus of 300 voices is now rehearsing
for the festival.
constructed on the order of a guitar.
The Grunewald Harp-Guitar.
Fort Wayne Organ Co.'s Boom.
THE BUSINESS IN JANUARY EXCEEDS THE
VOLUME OF TRADE EVER EXPERIENCED BY
THE COMPANY.
[Special to The Review.]
Fort Wayne, Ind., Feb. 7, 1898.
This morning it was announced at the
office of the Fort Wayne Organ factory that
the past month was the most prosperous ever
experienced. January has always been a
dull month at the factory, and occasionally the
plant has been shut down for stock taking
during the month. Not so this year; instead
of working two weeks only and on short
time, the factory was run every day and all
men worked over time, and none of them
worked less than ten hours a day. This is
the most flattering January announcement
made at the works since they were started
years ago. The high standing of the Pack-
ard organ and the merit of their new piano
has put the Fort Wayne Organ Co. at the
front of similar business institutions.
The fame of the Packard organ has pene-
trated the most remote parts of the earth,
and the Packard piano is now on the top
wave of popularity. It is fast becoming as
generally known as the organ which has dis-
seminated the name of the Fort Wayne manu-
facturers to all parts of the world. Com-
menting on the pleasing situation recorded
above a local paper says: "This is an institu-
tion of which Fort Wayne may well feel
proud. The most prominent musical artists
and critics who have visited Fort Wayne this
year, have given the new Packard piano the
unstinted praise and have heralded its merit
broadcast."
A Musical Prodigy
WHO IS AT THE STERLING CO. S WAREROOMS.
The Sterling Piano Co.'s warerooms on
Fulton street, Brooklyn, were thronged with
people Saturday afternoon to listen to the
improvisations of Darwin Wood, a child of
seven years, whose knowledge of harjnony is
wonderful. He is the creator of all his works,
having no instruction whatever. The differ-
ent keys of the piano are entirely unfamiliar
to him, but he produces the most beautiful
harmonic forms from simple melodies of his
own composition. Saturday he performed
two of his compositions which were full of
beauty, and showed all the grace and power
of an advanced professor. It must not be
supposed from this public performance that
this was any criterion of his real ability, which
can only be heard and understood upon the
large church organs.
The boy gave two recitals daily during
the week, and the Sterling Co. have had a
large number of interested listeners.
The parchment used on the best banjos is
said to be made from wolfskin.
.WARBROOMS.
New England Piano Co.
No. 601 Washington
-3*MAIN OFFICE, 601 WASHINGTON ST., BOSTON, MASs.*e-
No. 262 -64 Wabash Avenue
Street
BOSTON
No. 98 Fifth Avenue,
NEW YORK
CHICAGO