Music Trade Review
Issue: 1913 Vol. 57 N. 10 - Page 47
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
HELEN KELLER CAN HEAR MUSIC.
Vibration of a Violin String, She Says, Is Like
Voice of Singing Angel.
PETOSKY,
(Special to The Review.)
MICH., September 2.—Miss
Helen
Keller, the noted Mind, deaf and dumb girl, has
heard her first note of music. She caught the vibra-
tions of a violin string through her teeth, held
against the bridge of the instrument, and although
her ear drums are useless, Proi. Franz Kohler, of
the Oberlin Conservatory, declared to-day that the
harmonies had been communicated to her brain
and she had caught the strain.
The first note which the former concert master
o F the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played for
Miss Keller was on the E string of his rare old
violin. Miss Keller was astonished. She held her
teeth firmly against the scroll while Professor
Kohler played strains of Saint-Saen's "The Sivan,"
using both the high and low registers.
"Like the voices of singing angels," Miss Keller
communicated to Miss Macy, her teacher.
Miss Keller was exhausted from the excitement.
Miss Macy declared to-day that this was the first
musical sound that has reached the brain of Miss
Keller, despite reports of her violin playing which
stated that she knew musical harmony before.
NEW KEYBOARD
INSTRUMENT.
(Special to The Review.)
CHICAGO, I I I . , September 2.—The "Dolcette" is a
new keyboard instrument that is being shown in
the Kimball Building by the Dolcette Co. It is a
keyboard instrument, resembling in many ways the
dulcimer, and probably evolved to a great extent
from it. It is the invention of a well-known vio-
linist and composer, Petrowitsch Bissing, and is a
solo instrument used in company with the piano.
The tone of the instrument is that of the Italian
harp, although by the use of a foot pedal the en-
tire tone quality of the instrument is changed, pro-
viding a pleasing chimes effect. The instrument
possesses remarkable action control, furnishing a
tremolo when desired by simply holding down the
Key when a note is struck. The key is immediately
released if a single tone is desired. A combined
effect of single and tremolo tones can also be
secured.
The Dolcette is 6 feet in height, 43 inches in
width, 19 inches deep, and weighs 500 pounds.
7 he Dolcette Co. is backed by Topeka, Kan.,
capital.
47
Another object of the invention is to provide a
violin bow with means which will permit the hair
to be mounted thereon in such a manner that it
can be replaced, when worn, in a simple, quick
and reliable manner.
NO SUMMERJLULL NOTICED.
"We are having a truly remarkable summer,"
remarked William J. llaussler, advertising man-
ager of M. Hohner, 114 East Sixteenth street,
\ T ew York, in a recent chat with The Review. "If
it
were not for the heat we would hardly have
French Writer Describes It as a Genuine Mu-
sical Instrument and the Player Must Have realized that the summer season was here, for
our business has shown no signs of any stagnation.
Many Qualifications.
Our gain over last August is substantial and most
A lecture on kettledrums was given in London gratifying, and we are looking forward to a record-
the other day by Gabriel Cleather. lie com- breaking fall trade."
mented on the fact that for generations the drum
has been regarded to a great extent as a comic
NEW VS. OLD VIOLINS.
implement—something to be used effectively at bye-
An
interesting
test of the relative merits of old
elections and public demonstrations of war or
violins
and
new
was made the other day by the
peace—and proceeded to demonstrate that the
kettledrum is a genuine musical instrument, the American guild of violinists in session at Chicago.
player of which must not only have a knowledge It may be recalled that some years ago some ex-
of rhythm and dynamics, but a very keen sense of periments of the same sort were made in Paris,
pitch and a most sensitive touch. By way of il- with the unexpected result that listeners not know-
ing what sort they were hearing awarded the
lustrating this lecture, as many as six timpani
palm to the new instruments. This is absurd, of
were used in a composition for pianoforte and
course, for if a Stradivarius cost $5,000 or $10,000,
drums by Julius Tausch, and in others three, four
how can it fail to be better than a new violin
and five. One of the critics wrote that "espe-
worth only a few hundred dollars or perhaps less?
cially in the Schumann 'Sketch in D flat' and the
Yet there is a heretical sect which holds that the
Grieg 'Berceuse,' the effect was most suggestive
superiority of the old Cremona makers is a myth,
and charming."
and the Chicago experiment was meant to settle
THE MUCH ABUSED KETTLEDRUM.
PATENTS^IOLIN BOW.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, September 2.—Julius Dan-
that point. It proved, however, inconclusive, for
while the old violins as a rule carried off the hon-
ors, the first prize fell to a violin only three years
old. Nineteen instruments were entered, includ-
ing a Nicholas Amati of 1G43 and a Jacobus Stainer
of 1C50.
das, Altoona, Pa., has just been granted patent No.
1,068,985 for a violin bow, one-half of which he
has assigned to John Szalay, New York, and the
objects of which are to produce a violin bow, upon
If you desire a man for any department of
the head and frog of which the hair may be se- your service, either for your factory or for your
curely held in place without the use of glue or
selling department, forward your advertisement
other similar means.
to us and it will be inserted free of charge.
Bell Brand Harmonicas
"Made in America"
Have won a national reputation because of their remarkable and durable
qualities. They are not the best merely because they are American made,
and the only harmonicas made in this country, but they stand competition
with the products of the world, embodying the very best musical qualities
and workmanship.
BELL BRAND HARMONICAS
CAN BE PROCURED FROM THE FOLLOWING WHOLESALE HOUSES
C. BRUNO &. SON, New York City, N. Y.
BUEGELEISEN & JACOBSON, New York City, N. Y.
OLIVER DITSON CO., Boston, Mass.
C. H. DITSON & CO., New York City.
W. J. DYER & BRO., St. Paul, Minn.
J. W. JENKINS SONS' MUSIC CO., Kansas City, Mo.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO., Cincinnati, O.
ROBT. C. KRETSCHMAR, Philadelphia, Pa.
KOERBER-BRENNER MUSIC CO., St. Louis, Mo.
LYON & HEALY, Chicago, III.
C. MEISEL, New York City, N. Y.
SHERMAN, CLAY & CO., San Francisco, Cal.
JOS. W. STERN & CO., New York City, N. Y.
TONK BROS. CO., Chicago, 111.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO., Chicago, 111.
The National Musical String Co.,
New BrunswicK
N e w J e r s ey
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
HELEN KELLER CAN HEAR MUSIC.
Vibration of a Violin String, She Says, Is Like
Voice of Singing Angel.
PETOSKY,
(Special to The Review.)
MICH., September 2.—Miss
Helen
Keller, the noted Mind, deaf and dumb girl, has
heard her first note of music. She caught the vibra-
tions of a violin string through her teeth, held
against the bridge of the instrument, and although
her ear drums are useless, Proi. Franz Kohler, of
the Oberlin Conservatory, declared to-day that the
harmonies had been communicated to her brain
and she had caught the strain.
The first note which the former concert master
o F the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played for
Miss Keller was on the E string of his rare old
violin. Miss Keller was astonished. She held her
teeth firmly against the scroll while Professor
Kohler played strains of Saint-Saen's "The Sivan,"
using both the high and low registers.
"Like the voices of singing angels," Miss Keller
communicated to Miss Macy, her teacher.
Miss Keller was exhausted from the excitement.
Miss Macy declared to-day that this was the first
musical sound that has reached the brain of Miss
Keller, despite reports of her violin playing which
stated that she knew musical harmony before.
NEW KEYBOARD
INSTRUMENT.
(Special to The Review.)
CHICAGO, I I I . , September 2.—The "Dolcette" is a
new keyboard instrument that is being shown in
the Kimball Building by the Dolcette Co. It is a
keyboard instrument, resembling in many ways the
dulcimer, and probably evolved to a great extent
from it. It is the invention of a well-known vio-
linist and composer, Petrowitsch Bissing, and is a
solo instrument used in company with the piano.
The tone of the instrument is that of the Italian
harp, although by the use of a foot pedal the en-
tire tone quality of the instrument is changed, pro-
viding a pleasing chimes effect. The instrument
possesses remarkable action control, furnishing a
tremolo when desired by simply holding down the
Key when a note is struck. The key is immediately
released if a single tone is desired. A combined
effect of single and tremolo tones can also be
secured.
The Dolcette is 6 feet in height, 43 inches in
width, 19 inches deep, and weighs 500 pounds.
7 he Dolcette Co. is backed by Topeka, Kan.,
capital.
47
Another object of the invention is to provide a
violin bow with means which will permit the hair
to be mounted thereon in such a manner that it
can be replaced, when worn, in a simple, quick
and reliable manner.
NO SUMMERJLULL NOTICED.
"We are having a truly remarkable summer,"
remarked William J. llaussler, advertising man-
ager of M. Hohner, 114 East Sixteenth street,
\ T ew York, in a recent chat with The Review. "If
it
were not for the heat we would hardly have
French Writer Describes It as a Genuine Mu-
sical Instrument and the Player Must Have realized that the summer season was here, for
our business has shown no signs of any stagnation.
Many Qualifications.
Our gain over last August is substantial and most
A lecture on kettledrums was given in London gratifying, and we are looking forward to a record-
the other day by Gabriel Cleather. lie com- breaking fall trade."
mented on the fact that for generations the drum
has been regarded to a great extent as a comic
NEW VS. OLD VIOLINS.
implement—something to be used effectively at bye-
An
interesting
test of the relative merits of old
elections and public demonstrations of war or
violins
and
new
was made the other day by the
peace—and proceeded to demonstrate that the
kettledrum is a genuine musical instrument, the American guild of violinists in session at Chicago.
player of which must not only have a knowledge It may be recalled that some years ago some ex-
of rhythm and dynamics, but a very keen sense of periments of the same sort were made in Paris,
pitch and a most sensitive touch. By way of il- with the unexpected result that listeners not know-
ing what sort they were hearing awarded the
lustrating this lecture, as many as six timpani
palm to the new instruments. This is absurd, of
were used in a composition for pianoforte and
course, for if a Stradivarius cost $5,000 or $10,000,
drums by Julius Tausch, and in others three, four
how can it fail to be better than a new violin
and five. One of the critics wrote that "espe-
worth only a few hundred dollars or perhaps less?
cially in the Schumann 'Sketch in D flat' and the
Yet there is a heretical sect which holds that the
Grieg 'Berceuse,' the effect was most suggestive
superiority of the old Cremona makers is a myth,
and charming."
and the Chicago experiment was meant to settle
THE MUCH ABUSED KETTLEDRUM.
PATENTS^IOLIN BOW.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, September 2.—Julius Dan-
that point. It proved, however, inconclusive, for
while the old violins as a rule carried off the hon-
ors, the first prize fell to a violin only three years
old. Nineteen instruments were entered, includ-
ing a Nicholas Amati of 1G43 and a Jacobus Stainer
of 1C50.
das, Altoona, Pa., has just been granted patent No.
1,068,985 for a violin bow, one-half of which he
has assigned to John Szalay, New York, and the
objects of which are to produce a violin bow, upon
If you desire a man for any department of
the head and frog of which the hair may be se- your service, either for your factory or for your
curely held in place without the use of glue or
selling department, forward your advertisement
other similar means.
to us and it will be inserted free of charge.
Bell Brand Harmonicas
"Made in America"
Have won a national reputation because of their remarkable and durable
qualities. They are not the best merely because they are American made,
and the only harmonicas made in this country, but they stand competition
with the products of the world, embodying the very best musical qualities
and workmanship.
BELL BRAND HARMONICAS
CAN BE PROCURED FROM THE FOLLOWING WHOLESALE HOUSES
C. BRUNO &. SON, New York City, N. Y.
BUEGELEISEN & JACOBSON, New York City, N. Y.
OLIVER DITSON CO., Boston, Mass.
C. H. DITSON & CO., New York City.
W. J. DYER & BRO., St. Paul, Minn.
J. W. JENKINS SONS' MUSIC CO., Kansas City, Mo.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO., Cincinnati, O.
ROBT. C. KRETSCHMAR, Philadelphia, Pa.
KOERBER-BRENNER MUSIC CO., St. Louis, Mo.
LYON & HEALY, Chicago, III.
C. MEISEL, New York City, N. Y.
SHERMAN, CLAY & CO., San Francisco, Cal.
JOS. W. STERN & CO., New York City, N. Y.
TONK BROS. CO., Chicago, 111.
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO., Chicago, 111.
The National Musical String Co.,
New BrunswicK
N e w J e r s ey
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