Music Trade Review
Issue: 1900 Vol. 31 N. 6 - Page 7
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Paris Exposition through Review Eyes.
THE RUSSIAN EXHIBIT—A SURPRISE TO MANY WHO WERE UNAWARE OF THE GREAT PROGRESS
MADE IN PIANO MAKING IN THE LAND OF CZAR—BECKER THE PREMIER MANU-
FACTURER OF RUSSIA A SPLENDID SHOWING OF GRAND PIANOS
IN A VARIETY OF CASES OTHER RUSSIAN EXHIBITS
DESCRIBED IN DETAIL THE SPANISH
MUSIC SECTION—WHAT
GREECE SHOWS.
[Special to The Review.l
Paris, France, July 26, 1900.
The country which runs a tie with Amer-
ica in the French estimation is Russia;
judging at least from Exposition facts
which may well be looked upon as the pro-
verbial straw, useful to show which way
the wind blows. This fact is apparent to
every visitor to Paris at the present mo-
ment. America and Russia both have the
next best place to France herself in all the
sections. This is one great way of show-
ing her favor. Then again the French
flag floats between those of America and
Russia on every occasion possible for
4
'flag-wagging" to be found, and these oc-
casions are not a few in the present year
of grace.
Then, again, Russia has of late years
made such enormous strides in all her
manufactured produce that the contents
of some of her sections can really bear
comparison with almost any country ex-
hibiting, and perhaps nowhere is this
more conspicuous than in Russia's section
devoted to musical exhibits. It is very
prettily arranged, showing the Russian
banner as a most successful arrangement
in black and yellow, while the double-
headed eagle is brought into great promi-
nence and gives a good finish to many a
center piece.
Amongst the piano manufacturers
exhibiting, is the firm of Messrs. E.
Becker, St. Petersburg, a photograph
of whose exhibit will give the reader
a good idea of its handsome appearance
with the six grand pianos in the fore-
ground just inside the barriers, while
the background is so harmonious and ap-
propriate that the visitor sees in the ar-
rangement the artistic hand of a master.
The marble bust beneath the velvet drap-
ery is that of the musician Rubinstein.
The musical notes on each side of this are
the score respectively of the Marseillaise
and the Russian national anthem. These
notes with their lines and bars were all
made at the factory of Mr. Becker, and are
composed of exactly the same metals as
those used for the different metal parts of
the interior of his pianos. The two large
cases shown, one on each side, near the back
of the stand, display in the one a complete
frame of a grand piano and in the other,
every different part of the action; these
are well worth a close inspection if it is only
for the perfect finish given to every thing;
for every part has been finished by hand,
and has a polish seldom rivalled.
The grand piano on the right hand side
is in white cherry wood overlaid with
carved maple; the photograph gives some
idea of the beauty of this combination of
woods and the workmanship lavished on
it. The frame of this piano is in metal
• made all in one piece: this frame is the
specialty of the firm, and it has a finish
of nickel and bronze. All the grands on
this stand have the same fine frames and
actions, the case being the only part
which causes them to differ one from
another. The grand on the opposite side
is the same shape, but with a case of
carved ebony, the carving here being light
and suitable. The piano immediately be-
side the latter is of interest, both to all
music lovers and to all who heard Rubin-
stein when he gave his concerts in New
York, for this piano he used when he
banjo, and the strings are , c truck with the
fingers, while in some a piece of bone is
used to produce the notes. This is a na-
tional exhibit sent to Paris at the cost of
and "by order of the Czar; " but the maker
is Mr. Andreeff, St. Petersburg.
Messrs. DiederichsBros., St. Petersburg,
are an old established firm, dating from
1810 and showing at the present Exposi-
tion several grand and upright pianos, all
of which have a good tone; also a great
deal of variety in the finishing of the
pianos. One extra small "baby" grand
has the frame of bronzed and nickeled iron
(as have all pianos on this stand), its case is
in ebony; a full sized grand is the fellow
to this in appearance, while a concert grand
quite plainly made is in mahogany. An-
other in the Renaissance style is in white
and gold with a little carving which is
rather heavily gilt. A narrow gilt beading
round the moulding finishes this piano.
EXHIBIT OF BECKER-- ST. PETERSBURG.
played before his New York audiences.
This piano was made for the great musi-
cian by the firm, and his family have al-
lowed the piano to return to the makers,
a souvenir of one of their most famous
customers. These pianos all possess a
very full tone.
A case of violins and bass viols is shown
by E. Geisser, St. Petersburg. Behind
this is a case containing some Russian
musical instruments which are the only
instruments of music found all over Russia
from its Northern Siberian boundary down
to its most southern limits. As the general-
ly used music is either for the dance or as
accompaniment for songs, this instrument
is well adapted for its purpose. The tone
produced is much that of a most superior
banjo which has by some means been made
to give a sound in which there is greater
depth of tone than usual with the latter
instruments.
Various forms and sizes of this instru-
ment are shown, all bearing different
names, but the "Balalaika" is the Russian
name, by which an outsider would class
them all. The form of the "balalaika" is a
triangular base with a long neck like a
One upright in cherry wood is splendid-
ly carved, while another is in white maple
having a mosaic of red mahogany in front.
This mosaic is of quite an unusual pattern,"
for it is composed of a musical score con-
taining the Russian National Hymn.
A large glass case contains the exhibit
of Miss Zimmermann. who exhibited and
received a medal at Chicago. The instru-
ments shown are chiefly for military bands
and consist of trumpets of every descrip-
tion and size in brass and silver, flutes,
hautboys, bassoons, clarionets, in fact all
the wind instruments required for a mili-
tary band.
The trumpets by a clever and new
arrangement have a means of trans-
posing the notes which is a great
improvement on the usual method.
Some of these bear the coveted card
"Sold." Ebony and rosewood, mount-
ed with silver and mother-of-pearl,
make the wooden instruments very hand-
some, while many of the smaller wind in-
struments are in ivory with silver mounts,
and all are well finished.
The Japanese musical section hung with
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Paris Exposition through Review Eyes.
THE RUSSIAN EXHIBIT—A SURPRISE TO MANY WHO WERE UNAWARE OF THE GREAT PROGRESS
MADE IN PIANO MAKING IN THE LAND OF CZAR—BECKER THE PREMIER MANU-
FACTURER OF RUSSIA A SPLENDID SHOWING OF GRAND PIANOS
IN A VARIETY OF CASES OTHER RUSSIAN EXHIBITS
DESCRIBED IN DETAIL THE SPANISH
MUSIC SECTION—WHAT
GREECE SHOWS.
[Special to The Review.l
Paris, France, July 26, 1900.
The country which runs a tie with Amer-
ica in the French estimation is Russia;
judging at least from Exposition facts
which may well be looked upon as the pro-
verbial straw, useful to show which way
the wind blows. This fact is apparent to
every visitor to Paris at the present mo-
ment. America and Russia both have the
next best place to France herself in all the
sections. This is one great way of show-
ing her favor. Then again the French
flag floats between those of America and
Russia on every occasion possible for
4
'flag-wagging" to be found, and these oc-
casions are not a few in the present year
of grace.
Then, again, Russia has of late years
made such enormous strides in all her
manufactured produce that the contents
of some of her sections can really bear
comparison with almost any country ex-
hibiting, and perhaps nowhere is this
more conspicuous than in Russia's section
devoted to musical exhibits. It is very
prettily arranged, showing the Russian
banner as a most successful arrangement
in black and yellow, while the double-
headed eagle is brought into great promi-
nence and gives a good finish to many a
center piece.
Amongst the piano manufacturers
exhibiting, is the firm of Messrs. E.
Becker, St. Petersburg, a photograph
of whose exhibit will give the reader
a good idea of its handsome appearance
with the six grand pianos in the fore-
ground just inside the barriers, while
the background is so harmonious and ap-
propriate that the visitor sees in the ar-
rangement the artistic hand of a master.
The marble bust beneath the velvet drap-
ery is that of the musician Rubinstein.
The musical notes on each side of this are
the score respectively of the Marseillaise
and the Russian national anthem. These
notes with their lines and bars were all
made at the factory of Mr. Becker, and are
composed of exactly the same metals as
those used for the different metal parts of
the interior of his pianos. The two large
cases shown, one on each side, near the back
of the stand, display in the one a complete
frame of a grand piano and in the other,
every different part of the action; these
are well worth a close inspection if it is only
for the perfect finish given to every thing;
for every part has been finished by hand,
and has a polish seldom rivalled.
The grand piano on the right hand side
is in white cherry wood overlaid with
carved maple; the photograph gives some
idea of the beauty of this combination of
woods and the workmanship lavished on
it. The frame of this piano is in metal
• made all in one piece: this frame is the
specialty of the firm, and it has a finish
of nickel and bronze. All the grands on
this stand have the same fine frames and
actions, the case being the only part
which causes them to differ one from
another. The grand on the opposite side
is the same shape, but with a case of
carved ebony, the carving here being light
and suitable. The piano immediately be-
side the latter is of interest, both to all
music lovers and to all who heard Rubin-
stein when he gave his concerts in New
York, for this piano he used when he
banjo, and the strings are , c truck with the
fingers, while in some a piece of bone is
used to produce the notes. This is a na-
tional exhibit sent to Paris at the cost of
and "by order of the Czar; " but the maker
is Mr. Andreeff, St. Petersburg.
Messrs. DiederichsBros., St. Petersburg,
are an old established firm, dating from
1810 and showing at the present Exposi-
tion several grand and upright pianos, all
of which have a good tone; also a great
deal of variety in the finishing of the
pianos. One extra small "baby" grand
has the frame of bronzed and nickeled iron
(as have all pianos on this stand), its case is
in ebony; a full sized grand is the fellow
to this in appearance, while a concert grand
quite plainly made is in mahogany. An-
other in the Renaissance style is in white
and gold with a little carving which is
rather heavily gilt. A narrow gilt beading
round the moulding finishes this piano.
EXHIBIT OF BECKER-- ST. PETERSBURG.
played before his New York audiences.
This piano was made for the great musi-
cian by the firm, and his family have al-
lowed the piano to return to the makers,
a souvenir of one of their most famous
customers. These pianos all possess a
very full tone.
A case of violins and bass viols is shown
by E. Geisser, St. Petersburg. Behind
this is a case containing some Russian
musical instruments which are the only
instruments of music found all over Russia
from its Northern Siberian boundary down
to its most southern limits. As the general-
ly used music is either for the dance or as
accompaniment for songs, this instrument
is well adapted for its purpose. The tone
produced is much that of a most superior
banjo which has by some means been made
to give a sound in which there is greater
depth of tone than usual with the latter
instruments.
Various forms and sizes of this instru-
ment are shown, all bearing different
names, but the "Balalaika" is the Russian
name, by which an outsider would class
them all. The form of the "balalaika" is a
triangular base with a long neck like a
One upright in cherry wood is splendid-
ly carved, while another is in white maple
having a mosaic of red mahogany in front.
This mosaic is of quite an unusual pattern,"
for it is composed of a musical score con-
taining the Russian National Hymn.
A large glass case contains the exhibit
of Miss Zimmermann. who exhibited and
received a medal at Chicago. The instru-
ments shown are chiefly for military bands
and consist of trumpets of every descrip-
tion and size in brass and silver, flutes,
hautboys, bassoons, clarionets, in fact all
the wind instruments required for a mili-
tary band.
The trumpets by a clever and new
arrangement have a means of trans-
posing the notes which is a great
improvement on the usual method.
Some of these bear the coveted card
"Sold." Ebony and rosewood, mount-
ed with silver and mother-of-pearl,
make the wooden instruments very hand-
some, while many of the smaller wind in-
struments are in ivory with silver mounts,
and all are well finished.
The Japanese musical section hung with
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