Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
PLAYER SECTON
NEW YORK, JUNE 26, 1920
Still Greater Interest in the Player-Piano Can Be Created Among the Public
if the Art of Demonstrating, Which Has Been Sadly Neglected During Recent
Years, Is Revived—Some Benefits Which Such a Revival Would Bring
There are many who suppose that the player-
piano is absolutely fixed in all its elements and
that from now on there is no sense in figuring
on any possible changes in its method of opera-
tion or in the principles of its merchandising.
But just suppose . . .!
Just suppose that some one were to come for-
ward with a new and greatly improved player,
with a player which would give its operator—
let us say, for example—a much greater range
of possible attainment in expression. Let us
suppose—to carry on the idea—that this new
instrument were not only much more refined
and musically satisfactory, but just as simple
and easy to use as the present less perfect
instrument. What would be the result? If the
trade some day found that ample capital and an
elaborate advertising campaign were to be
started to back up such a new departure what,
one asks again, would be the result?
These questions are not propounded with the
sole purpose of dressing up a puzzle. In point
of fact, they refer to a present possibility. For
it is perfectly evident that for some time past
the straight player-piano has been in a state of
equilibrium, so far as concerns the further im-
provement of its musical side. In production, in
the substitution of better for worse materials, in
a thousand and one other ways it has, indeed,
been much improved. But in respect of its musi-
cal side this is not the fact. As a musical
instrument the ordinary player-piano has not
been improved for ten years.
Just Suppose
Now, again, we say: Suppose some one were
to bring forward suddenly a new instrument,
with no greater complication than those which
are at present sold to the high-class trade, and
with expressive results extremely superior, an
instrument which any person with any sort of
musical feeling could easily operate with the
finest of results, what, we ask, would be the re-
sult? What would be the effect on the trade?
In a word, what would happen?
A Dazzling Prospect
A good many different answers might be
given, but probably the best of all is that the
retail trade would be wonderfully stimulated. It
does not seem to have occurred to some of our
wiseacres that the people have more than one
reason for their comparative apathy regarding
the player-piano. Let no one suppose that any
kind of an output such as we see at present, or
used to see before the war, really represents the
possibilities of the player business. If there
were a real outpouring of enthusiasm regarding
the player-piano the present factory output
would have to be doubled. At least the attempt stration of the player. This would not be an easy
task, but it would have to be completed some-
to double it would have to be made at once.
how. What would be the result of organizing
Some Inside Facts
* Now the point we have in mind is that there the demonstration of the player-piano in this
actually exist instruments which are very supe- way? It would first be that every player-piano
rior, indeed, to the general run of player-pianos. maker would be stimulated to produce something
These instruments are few in number, indeed, better. Every player-piano manufacturer would
and no one of them is actually on the market. find sales stimulated and competition put on a
Not one of them is a reproducing piano or has more discriminating basis. There would be a
anything to do with the reproducing principle. general and healthy revival of instructed and
Each of them is an instrument designed and critical public interest. And such interest would
built to enable its operator personally to obtain afford the healthiest influence the industry ha's
superior expressive results from it. Not one of had imposed on it for years.
them—we personally know of three—is on the
Now, of course, the remarkable private inven-
market, and it is not at all impossible that not tions which have been developed at one time or
one of them ever will be on the market. Yet it another are neither on the market nor particu-
is equally possible that they may.
larly likely to find their way thither. But the
Reviving the Dead
point is that sooner or later there is going to
The first result of such an event as we have be a movement towards a revival of musical
pictured would be to produce a great deal of progress. When this movement towards the real
interest in a subject which has been much foundation of the player business comes once
neglected; namely, the demonstration of the more into operation it is quite certain that there
player-piano. For at least ten years this subject will be an immediate need for the reorganization
has been dead, so far as any practical interest in of the art of demonstration. For several years
it is concerned. Yet it is quite certain that if this art has been so neglected that the number
once the existence of a superior player-piano of really good player-pianists can almost be
were established, and the superiority were of counted on the fingers of one hand. It is as cer-
such a character that it could not possibly be tain as anything can be that sooner or later
mistaken, there would at once be a revival of there will come a reaction towards a healthier
interest in the personal playing of the player- state of affairs. The present condition is the
piano. It is our belief that this neglect of the very reverse of healthy. It is not bringing new
personal side has been great enough to form a interest into the player field and it is not giv-
really serious obstacle to the progress of the ing the people any new inspiration. There is
just one way out of the blind alley up which we
player-piano.
We are certain, in fact, that this revival would are traveling. We must turn round, set our-
come. It would come because the people are selves where we were some years ago and take
ready to be interested in good playing of the up once more the retail exploitation of the
player-piano. They have, in fact, always been player-piano as a musical instrument and not as
ready. But there was in the past the trouble a mere grinder-out of jazz.
that the demonstration of good playing was ex-
It Can Be Revived
tremely difficult in the then condition of pneu-
Sooner or later there will come onto the mar-
matic art. Now, without doubt, so far as it ket the revolutionary player-piano for which we
went before expressive progress was brought have all been longing and which will put within
to a stop, the player-piano had been brought to the power of its user expressive capacities alto-
a condition some years ago where the demon- gether out of reach at present. Accenting at will
stration of good playing was not so hard as it and the complete control of the left hand parts
had once been. At the same time, however, the must sooner or later come. Already instru-
art of playing the player-piano has been so ments exist in which this ideal has been very
neglected that we are now no better off than closely approached. Such instruments, if they
we ever were.
were put on the market now, would, create a
veritable revolution. Whether they come or not,
A New Stimulation
Suppose that such a revival should come! "however, their existence serves to remind us
Suppose that the people manifested once more that we continue at our peril to neglect the musi-
an interest in the demonstration of the player- cal side of the player-piano. It was a great mis-
piano, in the personal production of player-piano take to allow the art of demonstration to pass
music. Plainly it would be necessary for the into its present state of suspended animation.
retail trade to organize once more the demon- Yet it can be revived.