Music Trade Review

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THE: MUSIC TRADE: REVIEW
INCREASING DEMAND FOR STEINWAY ART PIANOS.
Two Recent Creations of Steinway & Sons That Exemplify the High Artistic Standard of This
House Shown—Interesting Chat with Arthur E. Blackmore, Head of the Art Department,
Who Tells of the Growth in Appreciation of Art in Piano Making During His Nineteen
Years' with the House of Steinway—Details of Necessary Work on Art Pianos.
No one department of the great business of
Steinway & Sons, New York, has shown such re-
markable strides as that devoted to the creation
of special art pianos to grace the homes of our
wealthy Americans and built to match interior
decorations and satisfy the increasing demand for
correct artistic standards. Wide recognition has
been accorded Steinway & Sons in this special
domain of case elaboration; every instrument
turned out by their art department enhances the
prestige of the illustrious name of Steinway in the
art field and has placed it in front to correspond
with its position in the piano industry, where the
name of Steinway occupies a position of interna-
tional eminence.
At the head of the art department of Steinway
& Sons is Arthur E. Blackmore—a decorator and
painter of prominence. In a chat with The Review
Mr. Blackmore outlined his methods of art piano
production, and the results accomplished during
his nineteen years of service with the house of
Steinway.
"As a result of our unceasing work in the realm
of art-piano. production," stated Mr. Blackmore,
"we have produced instruments that command
prices far in excess of any ever received for any
type or make of piano. The prices that have been
paid for some of our creations have reached thou-
sands of dollars, but it must be considered that they
do not represent the efforts of one man, but rather
the talents of artists, sculptors and decorative ex-
perts who have all united in their efforts to con-
struct one single instrument.
"My idea is that the piano should be a part of
its surroundings. It should be regarded primarily
as a part of the furnishings of the room. Its use,
of course, is not similar to that of a table, chair or
cabinet, as it is essentially a musical instrument,
and therefore must be considered from a musical
standpoint in the highest degree. That is the
foundation on which we work, namely, we recog-
nize its musical import and at the same time aim
to have the instrument in complete harmony with
its surroundings.
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"The case design and finish of pianos make their
appeal to the eye and leave a most pleasing impres-
sion if constructed along the lines of beauty. They
have, pianos that fulfilled the requirements of the
public by possessing a glassy, hard finish with
sharp edges. Instead the public asks for a finish
that is pleasing to the sense of touch. When you
rub your hand over the case of a piano you do not
want to feel that it is harsh, but you want to
have it radiate that feeling of pleasure which
seems to make it a part of your life; something
that you seem to have lived with happily as applied
Steinway "Robin Hood" Piano Top of Which Was
appeal to the sense of touch by the texture or finish.
No one to-day is anxious to have, as we once did
Fiano, Illustrated for First Time.
Architectural
League.
to the sense of the eye or touch. The sense of
sound is produced by the splendid mechanism of
the instrument. You are made aware of the beauty
or charm of the instrument's tone when you play
it. In accordance with these demands of the senses
of touch, of the eye and of sound, the art piano
must be so constructed as to case and embellish-
ments that the sense of sound is never lost, but is
enhanced by combining the three senses. You will
then be led up to its inner charm that is only di-
vulged when you realize the glorious musical per-
fections of the instrument.
"The foregoing remarks on the requirements of
the ideal art piano may give some idea of the
thought and attention devoted to the production
of the Steinway art piano. In having the art
piano mount to its proper standing in the realm of
piano lovers, we are greatly assisted by the fact
that the sense of fitness of things in the public
mind is increasing wonderfully. The people of
to-day will not dream of having in their houses
the bizarre, astounding and astonishing results that
were the fashion some years ago and promoted by
decorators of the period. People now realize that
they desire a satisfactory combination of case and
musical qualities that they can live with and learn
to love.
"In decorating pianos we never duplicate, for the
reason that we want all our customers to feel that
when they have a decorated Steinway piano it is the
only one in existence. We have maintained that stand
right along. In architectural designs there may be
more than one of a design, but even these are
changed somewhat, as differences may be attained
by the juxtaposition of the wood or some other
change of detail, but the customers are always con-
sulted as to their desires. I find that the tendency
ot all people who care for an individual piano is
to appreciate any suggestion that is advanced to-
wards making the instrument one for 'their home'
rather than for 'any home.'
"By assuring the customer that it is absolutely