Music Trade Review
Issue: 1900 Vol. 30 N. 26 - Page 14
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Artist and the flachine.
Dr. Henry Hanchett, the well-known
lecturer and pianist, has contributed to the
current issue of Music (Chicago) an article
on the proper attitude of the artist toward
recent developments of the self-play ing
order in the field of musical instruments.
"Mechanism is inseparable from play-
ing, of instruments," says Dr. Hanchett,
'' and it is the mechanical part of his playing
that demands the incessant practice that en-
ters so largely into the pianist's life. Now
comes the machine and offers to save him all
that practice, all need of executing him-
self the mechanical part of his performance,
while leaving him as free as ever in the
matter of expression. The musician who
only knows how it ought to sound without
having the skill to make it sound so by
manipulating the keys, may now stand on
a par with the pianist who has spent hours
daily for years in acquiring the technic
necessary for that manipulation. On a
par, did I say? Where is the pianist so
accomplished that he can compete with the
machine in either accuracy or velocity?
And who can say that any of the qualities
of playing in which the machine is inferior
to the human pianist are more valuable
than the accuracy and velocity in which it
is superior? The machine can not apply
expression differently to different notes
that enter at the same instant.
As
it plays treble so it must play bass,
except as regards the duration of the
sounds produced. That is admitted to be
a serious defect; but it leaves a great
range of expression still open to any one
who can appreciate the hidden meaning of
the composer and knows how to bring it
out by the aid of the machine. The ma-
chine in tasteful hands not trained in the
slightest degree to the technic of piano-
playing can probably be made to approach
more nearly to the work of the best artistic
pianists than can the best chromo to the
best painting; and, moreover, the machine
can give upon the piano an approximate
interpretation of an orchestral score such
as no pianist can ever hope to rival for
faithfulness or richness of tonal effect."
But music, Dr. Hanchett reminds us, is
not the mere making of musical sounds; it
is the expression of emotion and artistic
ideas. And he adds: "He only really
knows the mind of the composer who ab-
sorbs his notes and interprets them by his
own voice or fingers. Even the amateur
who relies upon the machine finds himself
impelled to go to the artist concert that he
may there learn the true rendition of the
pieces he would play from his perforated
rolls. Not long ago it looked as if the
silent-practise machine was about to drive
the piano teacher from his field, since by
the aid of the machine and its methodical
use young girls were able to train embryo
pianists in technic quite as well as experi-
enced and high-priced teachers could do
it; but the technic machine has simply
<;hen the artist teacher a better opportun-
ity to do his legitimate work."
Willard Morris is soon to open a music
store in Wayland, N. Y.
A "Crown" Booklet.
The literature treating of the " Crown "
pianos, issued by Geo. P. Bent, bears the
earmarks of an expert. It is always well
and convincingly written, properly illus-
trated, and artistically conceived from the
typographical standpoint. A recent illus-
tration is a "Crown" booklet which has
just come to hand. It is, if it is possible,,
even daintier in design and execution than,
any "Crown" literature we have yet
seen. The pages open with a succinct re-
view of the especial claims which the
"Crown" pianos have on the consideration
of purchasers and why they occupy "a.
sphere of their own." Following come il-
lustrations and descriptions of the various
"Crown" styles—delightful instruments,
every one of them—closing with clever de-
signs of the various instruments the tones
of which the player is enabled to simulate
through the medium of the orchestral at-
tachment—a feature of the " Crown " pi-
anos. The book, from every standpoint,
is a clever one and should be productive of
splendid results for the "Crown" interests.
The Review, when visiting the Decker
& Son factory on Wednesday, saw an ex-
ample of a handsome new style A, Decker
& Son upright. It is being made in ma-
hogany, walnut and oak, and promises to
be a big success.
In a recent issue ot the Nashville Amer-
ican appears a splendid photographic re-
production of the employees of the Jesse
French Piano & Organ concern in Nash-
ville.
COLUMBIA GRAND GRAPHOPHONE
Reduced to
Former Price,
$75.00
$50.00
New Price,
$50.00
A Wonderful Talking Machine of the Genuine
Grand Type, made to meet the demand for a
Graphophone of less expensive construction
than the Graphophone Grand and Home Grand,
but embodying the same principles.
Grand Records Reduced to $1.00 each.
„
„ each.
Grand Blanks Reduced
to 75 cts.
The Co'umbia Grand with Columbia Grand records, brings in audible effect, the living singer or musician actually into the presence of the listener
Reproduces music, song or speech as loud and louder than the original, with all the original sweetness and melody. The real music • the actual
voice ; not a diminished copy or a " far away " effect.
'
The Columbia Grand is handsome and durable in construction and simple in operation. It is provided with a tandem spring motor that will run several
Grand records at one winding.
GRAPHOPMONES OF OTHER TYPES FROM $1.50 UP.
COLUMBIA RECORDS ARE SUPERB.
Small Records, 50 Cents each; $5.00 per dozen-
You can make your own records on the Graphophone.
L01IdMt
Grand Records, $1.00 each.
Write for Catalogue " M . "
COLUHBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY, Department "M"
NEW YORK, 143 & 145 Broadway.
Retail Branch: 1155, 1157, 1159 Broadway.
CHICAGO, 88 Wabash Avenue.
LONDON, 123 Oxford Street, W.
ST. LOUIS, 720-722 Olive Street.
PHILADELPHIA, 1032 Chestnut Street.
BALTIMORE, 110 E. Baltimore Street.
PARIS, 34 Bouleyard des Italiens.
WASHINGTON, 919 Pennsylvania Ave,
BUFFALO, 313 Main Street.
SAN FRANCISCO, 125 Geary Street.
BERLIN, 65 A Friedrlchstrasse.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Artist and the flachine.
Dr. Henry Hanchett, the well-known
lecturer and pianist, has contributed to the
current issue of Music (Chicago) an article
on the proper attitude of the artist toward
recent developments of the self-play ing
order in the field of musical instruments.
"Mechanism is inseparable from play-
ing, of instruments," says Dr. Hanchett,
'' and it is the mechanical part of his playing
that demands the incessant practice that en-
ters so largely into the pianist's life. Now
comes the machine and offers to save him all
that practice, all need of executing him-
self the mechanical part of his performance,
while leaving him as free as ever in the
matter of expression. The musician who
only knows how it ought to sound without
having the skill to make it sound so by
manipulating the keys, may now stand on
a par with the pianist who has spent hours
daily for years in acquiring the technic
necessary for that manipulation. On a
par, did I say? Where is the pianist so
accomplished that he can compete with the
machine in either accuracy or velocity?
And who can say that any of the qualities
of playing in which the machine is inferior
to the human pianist are more valuable
than the accuracy and velocity in which it
is superior? The machine can not apply
expression differently to different notes
that enter at the same instant.
As
it plays treble so it must play bass,
except as regards the duration of the
sounds produced. That is admitted to be
a serious defect; but it leaves a great
range of expression still open to any one
who can appreciate the hidden meaning of
the composer and knows how to bring it
out by the aid of the machine. The ma-
chine in tasteful hands not trained in the
slightest degree to the technic of piano-
playing can probably be made to approach
more nearly to the work of the best artistic
pianists than can the best chromo to the
best painting; and, moreover, the machine
can give upon the piano an approximate
interpretation of an orchestral score such
as no pianist can ever hope to rival for
faithfulness or richness of tonal effect."
But music, Dr. Hanchett reminds us, is
not the mere making of musical sounds; it
is the expression of emotion and artistic
ideas. And he adds: "He only really
knows the mind of the composer who ab-
sorbs his notes and interprets them by his
own voice or fingers. Even the amateur
who relies upon the machine finds himself
impelled to go to the artist concert that he
may there learn the true rendition of the
pieces he would play from his perforated
rolls. Not long ago it looked as if the
silent-practise machine was about to drive
the piano teacher from his field, since by
the aid of the machine and its methodical
use young girls were able to train embryo
pianists in technic quite as well as experi-
enced and high-priced teachers could do
it; but the technic machine has simply
<;hen the artist teacher a better opportun-
ity to do his legitimate work."
Willard Morris is soon to open a music
store in Wayland, N. Y.
A "Crown" Booklet.
The literature treating of the " Crown "
pianos, issued by Geo. P. Bent, bears the
earmarks of an expert. It is always well
and convincingly written, properly illus-
trated, and artistically conceived from the
typographical standpoint. A recent illus-
tration is a "Crown" booklet which has
just come to hand. It is, if it is possible,,
even daintier in design and execution than,
any "Crown" literature we have yet
seen. The pages open with a succinct re-
view of the especial claims which the
"Crown" pianos have on the consideration
of purchasers and why they occupy "a.
sphere of their own." Following come il-
lustrations and descriptions of the various
"Crown" styles—delightful instruments,
every one of them—closing with clever de-
signs of the various instruments the tones
of which the player is enabled to simulate
through the medium of the orchestral at-
tachment—a feature of the " Crown " pi-
anos. The book, from every standpoint,
is a clever one and should be productive of
splendid results for the "Crown" interests.
The Review, when visiting the Decker
& Son factory on Wednesday, saw an ex-
ample of a handsome new style A, Decker
& Son upright. It is being made in ma-
hogany, walnut and oak, and promises to
be a big success.
In a recent issue ot the Nashville Amer-
ican appears a splendid photographic re-
production of the employees of the Jesse
French Piano & Organ concern in Nash-
ville.
COLUMBIA GRAND GRAPHOPHONE
Reduced to
Former Price,
$75.00
$50.00
New Price,
$50.00
A Wonderful Talking Machine of the Genuine
Grand Type, made to meet the demand for a
Graphophone of less expensive construction
than the Graphophone Grand and Home Grand,
but embodying the same principles.
Grand Records Reduced to $1.00 each.
„
„ each.
Grand Blanks Reduced
to 75 cts.
The Co'umbia Grand with Columbia Grand records, brings in audible effect, the living singer or musician actually into the presence of the listener
Reproduces music, song or speech as loud and louder than the original, with all the original sweetness and melody. The real music • the actual
voice ; not a diminished copy or a " far away " effect.
'
The Columbia Grand is handsome and durable in construction and simple in operation. It is provided with a tandem spring motor that will run several
Grand records at one winding.
GRAPHOPMONES OF OTHER TYPES FROM $1.50 UP.
COLUMBIA RECORDS ARE SUPERB.
Small Records, 50 Cents each; $5.00 per dozen-
You can make your own records on the Graphophone.
L01IdMt
Grand Records, $1.00 each.
Write for Catalogue " M . "
COLUHBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY, Department "M"
NEW YORK, 143 & 145 Broadway.
Retail Branch: 1155, 1157, 1159 Broadway.
CHICAGO, 88 Wabash Avenue.
LONDON, 123 Oxford Street, W.
ST. LOUIS, 720-722 Olive Street.
PHILADELPHIA, 1032 Chestnut Street.
BALTIMORE, 110 E. Baltimore Street.
PARIS, 34 Bouleyard des Italiens.
WASHINGTON, 919 Pennsylvania Ave,
BUFFALO, 313 Main Street.
SAN FRANCISCO, 125 Geary Street.
BERLIN, 65 A Friedrlchstrasse.
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