Music Trade Review
Issue: 1922 Vol. 75 N. 2 - Page 12
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12
THE MUSIC TRADE
OUR TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
REVIEW
JULY
8, 1922
GOOD TRADE IN MILWAUKEE
Such is the opinion of the Milwaukee music
dealer,
who is always optimistically inclined, but
(Continued from page 11)
Summer Slackness Not to Be in Evidence This at the same time seldom far from wrong in an
cal talent can learn to produce a simple harmo-
Year, Say Local Music Dealers—Novel Ex- analysis of future conditions.
nized melody upon it after a few weeks of study. It
hibit of Reproducing Piano Actions
"In most European schools music is considered
is, therefore, necessarily a popular instrument, al-
as essential as arithmetic, reading or writing, but
though its technique, when raised above the low
MILWAUKEE, WIS., July 5.—The usual seasonal in America it is looked on as a luxury," said
levels of the amateur to the rarefied atmosphere slackness experienced through July and August Alfred H. Bergen, addressing the graduating class
in which the virtuoso lives and breathes, becomes in the local music stores will not prevail this of the Wisconsin College of Music here.
terrifically complex and difficult.
year, according to representative musical instru-
Mr. Bergen cited this fact in support of his con-
The player-piano now emerges and the matter ment retailers. Their optimism is thus far con- tention that "musically, America is behind the
of technique, in its old-fashioned keyboard han- firmed by one outstanding fact—that the depres- rest of the world." He admitted, however, that
dling sense, becomes of secondary importance. A sion, which usually begins the latter part of June, in the last fifty years great progress has been
new technique begins to appear. To the mere has not as yet been felt. On the contrary, the made by Americans—greater progress than any
business of learning to manipulate a keyboard—a last week in June was as good as the first.
other country, he said.
business which has usually comprehended all of
Portable phonographs for vacationists have
Edward Herzog, sales manager for the Ed-
piano playing to most pianists—succeeds the far proven immensely popular. There seems to be mund Gram Music House, will leave July 8 to
more delicate business of obtaining flexibility, no indication of a lessening in the demand for attend the annual convention of the B.P.O.E. at
color and contrast from the wires and hammers. this type of instrument, -indications pointing more Atlantic City. He will return to Milwaukee the
What the virtuoso in the past has held as his to an increased business in them. Dance rec- latter part of July, after spending some time in
own secret must now be mastered by all who ords to accompany the prospective victim of sun- New York and other Eastern cities.
would make of the piano what it ought to be, a burn are very much in demand, as are the song
A novel exhibit of reproducing piano actions is
self-contained, self-sufficient, perfect musical in- records of latest release.
being staged by the Milwaukee Piano Manufac-
strument.
One of the unusual features of sales in pianos turing Co. at the Plankington Arcade. The ex-
The Defects Emerge
reported at this time is the tendency of the hibit concerns itself mainly with the demonstra-
And here it is that there also begins definitely wealthy buyers to take one of each extreme in tion of five types of pianos, some of them with
to emerge the need for an overhauling of all our piano offerings. That is, the wealthy customer, electric action and others with mechanical foot
ideas of the piano. The mob has not known buying a grand piano for his city residence, also action. A skeleton piano fitted with both foot-
what the virtuoso has always known—that the purchases a used piano in fairly good condition player and electric action enables the public to
tone of the piano is hard and unmalleable, that for his Summer home. The second-hand pianos witness the operation of a reproducing piano.
it blends poorly with any other instrument, that sold to customers for Summer home purposes Special salesmen are in charge of demonstra-
is it singularly deficient in sostenuto and natural are usually uprights, probably because they oc- tions and explain any puzzling matters to pros-
warmth. Great pianists have always known and cupy less room. Enterprising- piano companies pects, who gather in large numbers, attracted by
deplored these defects. They have spent years report that by advertising "Summer cottage the music. Either of the two actions demon-
in endeavoring—often with remarkable success— specials" in second-hand pianos they have al- strated can be built into any type of upright
piano, according to the claims made by the
to reduce them to the minimum. But to-day these most cleaned out stock on these types.
vices are patent to all. The revealer has been
Another tendency in piano buying which is company.
the pneumatic mechanism.
peculiar to the industrial situation at the pres-
The Steinway piano, "the instrument of the
Indeed, it is no more than plain truth to as- ent time is the increase in sales of the cheaper immortals," will be used exclusively by the fu-
sert that the reproducing piano is having pre- pianos. This is especially true of the piano de- ture immortals who participate in the series of
cisely the same effect. It is showing up the piano partments of the large department stores, like twilight musicales arranged for the 1922-23 sea-
most effectively; and the reaction will inevitably the Boston Store and Gimbels.
son by Margaret Rice, Milwaukee impresaria.
come.
At the present time, however, with unemploy- Guiomar Novaes, brilliant young South Ameri-
ment on the wane, and an industrial revival in can pianist, will be one of the artists playing
Influence of the Player
The piano of the future cannot be considered sight, interest in the cheaper offerings is waxing during the coming season. This is to be the
without taking into effect the influence of the strong, and this trend, more than anything else, sixth season of the musicales, which are very
pneumatic mechanism. It is unthinkable that points to good late Summer and Fall business. popular.
the reproducing piano—proposing only to simu-
late the play of an individual pianist—can pos-
sibly have the last word in the development of
the pneumatic action. For this would be to take
THE CELEBRATED
away from that action the one of its powers which
is greatest and most characteristic—the power,
in combination with the perforated control sheet,
of playing the piano without the slightest regard
for ten-finger limitations. The property here
disclosed is of tremendous importance, and the
whole future of the piano must be vastly influ-
enced by it. In the discussions which are to fol-
(FELTEN & GUILLEAUME)
low this great fact must be taken into the closest
consideration.
I have now considered the reasons for the pop-
ularity of the piano, the reasons for its decline and
the need for an overhauling of its technical
ground. The reader will now be ready to ac-
company me in the next step, which will involve
IN BLACK, RED and GREEN
an investigation into the nature of the tone-pro-
LABEL BRANDS
ducing material.
(To be continued)
F&G
IMPORTED
MUSIC WIRE
IS UNEXCELLED
CONTRIBUTIONS
as tending to relieve the dryness of longer dis-
cussions are always welcome. The present, in
all the circumstances, appears to be an excellent
time for reminding readers of this fact. I may
add that, so far as I am concerned, it is never too
hot to edit. Send your letters to William Braid
White, care The Music Trade Review, 373 Fourth
avenue, New York.
The " F & G " Blue Label Brand is again being
used by Rudolph C. Koch in the manufacture
of the Reinwarth Covered Bass Strings
For TUNERS and REPAIRERS we have the
convenient one quarter pound clamps
HAMMACHER,SCHLEMMER&CO.
PIANO AND PLAYER HARDWARE, FELTS AND TOOLS
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
4th Ave. and 13th St.
12
THE MUSIC TRADE
OUR TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
REVIEW
JULY
8, 1922
GOOD TRADE IN MILWAUKEE
Such is the opinion of the Milwaukee music
dealer,
who is always optimistically inclined, but
(Continued from page 11)
Summer Slackness Not to Be in Evidence This at the same time seldom far from wrong in an
cal talent can learn to produce a simple harmo-
Year, Say Local Music Dealers—Novel Ex- analysis of future conditions.
nized melody upon it after a few weeks of study. It
hibit of Reproducing Piano Actions
"In most European schools music is considered
is, therefore, necessarily a popular instrument, al-
as essential as arithmetic, reading or writing, but
though its technique, when raised above the low
MILWAUKEE, WIS., July 5.—The usual seasonal in America it is looked on as a luxury," said
levels of the amateur to the rarefied atmosphere slackness experienced through July and August Alfred H. Bergen, addressing the graduating class
in which the virtuoso lives and breathes, becomes in the local music stores will not prevail this of the Wisconsin College of Music here.
terrifically complex and difficult.
year, according to representative musical instru-
Mr. Bergen cited this fact in support of his con-
The player-piano now emerges and the matter ment retailers. Their optimism is thus far con- tention that "musically, America is behind the
of technique, in its old-fashioned keyboard han- firmed by one outstanding fact—that the depres- rest of the world." He admitted, however, that
dling sense, becomes of secondary importance. A sion, which usually begins the latter part of June, in the last fifty years great progress has been
new technique begins to appear. To the mere has not as yet been felt. On the contrary, the made by Americans—greater progress than any
business of learning to manipulate a keyboard—a last week in June was as good as the first.
other country, he said.
business which has usually comprehended all of
Portable phonographs for vacationists have
Edward Herzog, sales manager for the Ed-
piano playing to most pianists—succeeds the far proven immensely popular. There seems to be mund Gram Music House, will leave July 8 to
more delicate business of obtaining flexibility, no indication of a lessening in the demand for attend the annual convention of the B.P.O.E. at
color and contrast from the wires and hammers. this type of instrument, -indications pointing more Atlantic City. He will return to Milwaukee the
What the virtuoso in the past has held as his to an increased business in them. Dance rec- latter part of July, after spending some time in
own secret must now be mastered by all who ords to accompany the prospective victim of sun- New York and other Eastern cities.
would make of the piano what it ought to be, a burn are very much in demand, as are the song
A novel exhibit of reproducing piano actions is
self-contained, self-sufficient, perfect musical in- records of latest release.
being staged by the Milwaukee Piano Manufac-
strument.
One of the unusual features of sales in pianos turing Co. at the Plankington Arcade. The ex-
The Defects Emerge
reported at this time is the tendency of the hibit concerns itself mainly with the demonstra-
And here it is that there also begins definitely wealthy buyers to take one of each extreme in tion of five types of pianos, some of them with
to emerge the need for an overhauling of all our piano offerings. That is, the wealthy customer, electric action and others with mechanical foot
ideas of the piano. The mob has not known buying a grand piano for his city residence, also action. A skeleton piano fitted with both foot-
what the virtuoso has always known—that the purchases a used piano in fairly good condition player and electric action enables the public to
tone of the piano is hard and unmalleable, that for his Summer home. The second-hand pianos witness the operation of a reproducing piano.
it blends poorly with any other instrument, that sold to customers for Summer home purposes Special salesmen are in charge of demonstra-
is it singularly deficient in sostenuto and natural are usually uprights, probably because they oc- tions and explain any puzzling matters to pros-
warmth. Great pianists have always known and cupy less room. Enterprising- piano companies pects, who gather in large numbers, attracted by
deplored these defects. They have spent years report that by advertising "Summer cottage the music. Either of the two actions demon-
in endeavoring—often with remarkable success— specials" in second-hand pianos they have al- strated can be built into any type of upright
piano, according to the claims made by the
to reduce them to the minimum. But to-day these most cleaned out stock on these types.
vices are patent to all. The revealer has been
Another tendency in piano buying which is company.
the pneumatic mechanism.
peculiar to the industrial situation at the pres-
The Steinway piano, "the instrument of the
Indeed, it is no more than plain truth to as- ent time is the increase in sales of the cheaper immortals," will be used exclusively by the fu-
sert that the reproducing piano is having pre- pianos. This is especially true of the piano de- ture immortals who participate in the series of
cisely the same effect. It is showing up the piano partments of the large department stores, like twilight musicales arranged for the 1922-23 sea-
most effectively; and the reaction will inevitably the Boston Store and Gimbels.
son by Margaret Rice, Milwaukee impresaria.
come.
At the present time, however, with unemploy- Guiomar Novaes, brilliant young South Ameri-
ment on the wane, and an industrial revival in can pianist, will be one of the artists playing
Influence of the Player
The piano of the future cannot be considered sight, interest in the cheaper offerings is waxing during the coming season. This is to be the
without taking into effect the influence of the strong, and this trend, more than anything else, sixth season of the musicales, which are very
pneumatic mechanism. It is unthinkable that points to good late Summer and Fall business. popular.
the reproducing piano—proposing only to simu-
late the play of an individual pianist—can pos-
sibly have the last word in the development of
the pneumatic action. For this would be to take
THE CELEBRATED
away from that action the one of its powers which
is greatest and most characteristic—the power,
in combination with the perforated control sheet,
of playing the piano without the slightest regard
for ten-finger limitations. The property here
disclosed is of tremendous importance, and the
whole future of the piano must be vastly influ-
enced by it. In the discussions which are to fol-
(FELTEN & GUILLEAUME)
low this great fact must be taken into the closest
consideration.
I have now considered the reasons for the pop-
ularity of the piano, the reasons for its decline and
the need for an overhauling of its technical
ground. The reader will now be ready to ac-
company me in the next step, which will involve
IN BLACK, RED and GREEN
an investigation into the nature of the tone-pro-
LABEL BRANDS
ducing material.
(To be continued)
F&G
IMPORTED
MUSIC WIRE
IS UNEXCELLED
CONTRIBUTIONS
as tending to relieve the dryness of longer dis-
cussions are always welcome. The present, in
all the circumstances, appears to be an excellent
time for reminding readers of this fact. I may
add that, so far as I am concerned, it is never too
hot to edit. Send your letters to William Braid
White, care The Music Trade Review, 373 Fourth
avenue, New York.
The " F & G " Blue Label Brand is again being
used by Rudolph C. Koch in the manufacture
of the Reinwarth Covered Bass Strings
For TUNERS and REPAIRERS we have the
convenient one quarter pound clamps
HAMMACHER,SCHLEMMER&CO.
PIANO AND PLAYER HARDWARE, FELTS AND TOOLS
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
4th Ave. and 13th St.
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