Music Trade Review

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10
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
OuTTECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM BRAID WHITE.
times per second. By counting the oscillations for
ten or more seconds we can more accurately adjust
During the last few weeks I have been thinking its length. We can thus estimate by eye, and learn
about certain criticisms that have been made, in a to perceive mentally, a beat-rate of two per sec-
manner at once serious and plausible, upon the ond. It is then quite easy to increase or decrease
recommendations which I am accustomed to give the length of the pendulum, and thus increase or
to tho.se who desire to tune well in equal tem- decrease the rate of the oscillations at will. For
perament. As all my readers are well aware, 1 example, if the length be shortened till it is 4%
have frequently stood up in defense of such care- inches the beat-rate will be three per second,
ful work and such close understanding as is re- whereas if it be increased until it is 27 3/16 inches
vealed in, for instance, the Miller tables. To put the beat-rate will be six in five seconds. Of
the matter in another way, I am not content to say course, in all this I am co.unting each swing one
that a tuner should make up his mind to tune all way as one oscillation, and the swing back as
his fifths down flat three beats in five seconds and another. If desired, the oscillations can be
all his fourths up flat one beat per second. I am counted double, and in that case the beat-rates will
aware that this is about as near to accuracy as be estimated at one-half of the above frequencies.
most tuners get. But I am also aware painfully
With such a discipline, the mastery of beat-rates
that the preaching of just this laissez-faire doctrine soon becomes quite easy. But o,ne can go further
is responsible for the abundance of slipshod work than this. I do not know whether it has ever been
from which we to-day suffer. So far from being suggested before, but I have noticed a sort of
content with this sort of gospel, I have, even small pendulum clock—I think they are called
while approving (as see my books) the adoption French clocks—in which the pendulum oscillates
of approximate practical methods in the -absence quite rapidly, often as rapidly as twice per second
of better means, consistently shown that the better
(single oscillations). No.w, it is easy to take a
means themselves are necessarily the only correct clock like this and shorten the pendulum until the
ones and must remain the goal and aim of our rate of oscillation is more than twice as rapid, as
work.
much as five single oscillations per second. Inas-
Nevertheless, there have always been, and are much as the ticking remains as before, it is plain
now, tuners and well-intentioned persons of vari- that by shortening the pendulum of such a clock
ous sorts who have been pained and grieved at and carefully counting the number of o.scillations
this meticulous spirit; who have thought, in fact, in say, ten seconds at a time, as estimated by an
that I am at once too scrupulous and too, as they accurate watch, we can soon find out exactly how
love to call it, "academic." Just why to call a a rate of five beats per second actually sounds to
man "academic," or so to name his conduct, should the ear. I have a clock now in front of me, a
be held as terrifically denunciatory, I really do small desk clock witho.ut pendulum, in which the
ticks are accurately four to the second. The rate
not know. But so it seems to be.
Anyhow, I am called academic because I persist of four beats to the second is almost exactly the
in saying that there is a definite beat-rate for correct rate for the major third A flat-C2 in equal
temperament at the pitch A3-435.
every interval in the scale at any given pitch, and
that we should know that beat-rate, strive to recog-
Some of the rates that we need most accurately
nize it and work hard to attain it. Let us see to judge are o.ne in one second, one in two seconds,
whether, after all, the theorists are not the other
six in ten seconds or three in sixty-five seconds,
people. Let us see whether the impossiblists are
four in five seconds and seven in ten seconds.
not those who so quickly accuse me ot proposing Those who will consult the Miller tables will see
the impossible. Let us, in effect, see whether the why, for these are the nearest measurable rates
shoe is not on the other foot.
to the frequencies of the fifths and fourths within
Who is the more practical? Obviously he who the bearings octave in equal temperament at inter-
first mostly clearly sees the truth and then most effi- national pitch. It is also, requisite that we have
ciently devises means for approximating to it. But some definite idea of how rates of seven, eight,
first and foremost the discernment of the truth is nine and ten per second actually sound. And all
requisite, and the academic is the only one who this can be done, as I have been able already to
ever has the chance so to do. His opponents are prove, by the use of pendulums and clock ticks.
always too busy telling each other that perfection
Now, I am not going to say a word if anybody
is not to be attained.
gets very angry and proceeds to tell me that this
But is it true that true accuracy is not at all, is all nonsense. On the other hand, I am going to
even measurably, possible? Why is it not possible reply that I am rro.t the theorist. It is my oppo-
to train the faculties so that a definite beat-rate, nents who are theoretical. They are theoretical,
and in the wildest way. They are the wild theo-
if only it be not too high, may be perceived and
recognized? There is no doubt that intervals as rists, because they hold a wild theory, a theory
short as one-tenth of a second can be very justly which is no theory at all, but a daring hypothesis,
estimated if o.ne undertakes the trouble of dis- the frightfully daring hypothesis that good tuning
ciplining the faculties. Let me make a suggestion can come by constantly teaching men to. think only
about a method admittedly all wrong.
What
which will fit in with this idea, and which is itself
suggested by some remarks of A. J. Ellis, trans- wilder hypothesis could I possibly frame than this
lator of Helmholtz's "Sensations of Tone," in ap- which says that we can make men better tuners
by teaching them that a certain method which we
pendix 20, page 488, edition of 1895.
Suppose we construct a pendulum of which the admit is entirely imperfect will, if they persist in
rod is a string and the bob a curtain ring or some- practicing its imperfection, gradually make them
thing similar. Let us make the length of the less imperfect?
pendulum from the center of the ring to the fixed
If to be academic, impractical, dreamy, is to
end of the string exactly 9 7 / 8 inches. Then this frame notions of which the wro.ngness is glaringly
pendulum will swing backward and forward two
ON THE ESTIMATION OF BEAT RATES.
FAUST SCHOOL OF TUNING
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This formerly was the toning department of the Ne« Eng-
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of that department for 20 years previous to its discontinue
Courses in mathematical piano scale conatructim and
drafting of same have been added.
Pupils have daily practise in Chiekering ft Son* factory.
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obvious and of which the utter failure is daily
apparent, then for heaven's sake don't call me the
unpractical person. I am, on the contrary, the
most practical of men, because I try to find out
the truth of a condition or situation, and having
found it proceed to discover whether means for
realizing it are within human power. Having dis-
covered, as I generally do, that they are, I proceed
to do my best to attain to that condition by trans-
lating it, as nearly as possible, into. fact. And I
always find that knowing the thing required,
though you know its entire perfection is not yours
to recognize now, is the best way to make your
practice so perfect relatively that you shall have
hopes of realizing its full glory within your own
experience.
All of which, politely speaking, is what I mean
by suggesting that the shoe was, in effect, on the
other foot.
Communications for this department should be
addressed to the Editor Technical Department,
The Music Trade Review.
PROTECT ALL SHIPMENTS.
Shippers Should Note Carefully Revised Code
of Storage Rules Adopted by American Rail-
way Association in Order to Avoid Losses.
Under the revised code of storage rules adopted
by the American Railway Association, effective
May 1, which have been approved by the Interstate
Commerce •Commissio.n and various shippers' or-
ganization, there is a provision for notification to
the shipper in the event of refusal of shipments at
destination, or when the carrier for some other
reason is unable to. deliver.
The rule referred to reads as follows:
"Where shipments have been plainly marked
with the consignor's name and address, preceded
by the word 'from,' notice shall be immediately
sent or given consigno.r of refusal of L. C. L.
shipments. Unclaimed* L. C. L. shipments will be
treated as refused after fifteen calendar days from
expiration of free time."
The importance, therefore, of showing the ship-
per's name on all shipments by freight is obvious.
This rule will undoubtedly reduce losses oc-
casioned through goods being refused by the con-
signee without any notification being given to the
shipper, says the Merchants' Association.
Our attention has been called to many cases
where shipments have been sold for charges with-
out notice to the consignor and witho.ut his hav-
ing any opportunity to protect his interest in the
shipment. It is recommended that members o.f
this association adopt the practice of marking all
shipments by stencil, using one of the following
forms:
FROM
JOHN
DOE & Co.,
500 BROADWAY,
N E W YORK,
PLEASE ADVISE PROMPTLY IF UNABLE TO DELIVER.
IF THIS PACKAGE SHOULD GO ASTRAY OR NOT BE
DELIVERED PROMPTLY, NOTIFY
J O H N DOE & Co.,
500 BROADWAY,
N E W YORK.
Yellow Ivory Keys Made
~ mm White as Snow a r
"Caplan's Patent Ivory Polish" will do it. Samples
60 cts. and $1.00 (dollar size will whiten four sets of
piano keys). For further particulars write to
HENRY CAPLAN, 49 Sherman Ave., Jersey City, N. J.