Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 80 N. 26 - Page 3
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REVIEW
THE
VOL. LXXX. No. 26 Published Every Saturday. Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., 383 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Jane 27, 1925 H ' na g.<£°iS i 0 *^" 1 "
A National Contest for the Players
of the Player-Piano
One of the Most Striking Means That Could Be Used to Bring Home Both to the General and Musical
Public That the Player-Piano Is a Medium of Personal Expression in Music — A Tentative Plan
for Such an Event—What Would Be Accomplished by Successfully Staging It
~>| EVERAL
months
ago The Review
made the suggestion of a national con-
test among amateur player-pianists, with
the belief that by means of it a great deal of
interest could be worked up throughout the
country in the player-piano, and that the whole
industry would vastly benefit thereby. Quite
a deal of favorable comment was elicited by this
suggestion at the time, but it seemed best to
let the matter rest then without going further,
in the hope that the seed sowed would in due
course spring up into bud, perchance to come to
fruit in its season.
A short time ago a distinguished member of
the industry suggested a national piano playing
contest, and some steps have been taken, so it
ia understood, to put his idea into operation,
although it does not yet appear how far these
st^ps have gone. Now, as a parallel to this, and
because the one idea represents, in our opin-
ion, quite as much in trade utility as does the
other, we bring our own pet notion forward
once more without further apology.
Briefly the idea is that the industry, through
its music advancement bureau, or through some
equally authoritative and capable agency, should
plan and carry out a nation-wide contest among
owners of player-pianos, to determine who is
the man, woman or child who can most artis-
tically, most musically, and altogether in the
best way, play a pre-determined program of
music upon the player-piano (pedal-control) of
his or her choice.
Outlines
It would be advisable to have such a contest
made known by means of announcements in the
newspapers of greatest general circulation
throughout the country, and its actual manage-
ment would be naturally entrusted to local as-
sociations of music dealers where such exist,
or to individual dealers where no associations
exist.
To get local contests adjudged, and the win-
ners invited to State-wide contests in turn,
would doubtless require all of one season; and
the following season might witness the round-
up of these .State winners into a national con-
test to be held and decided at the annual con-
vention of the music industries. Thus, if State
contests could be held next year, the national
winner could be selected at the Chicago con-
vention of 1927.
Of course the prize considerations would
\
sic industries, and two musicians of whom one
should be a pianist. The dealer would be the
chairman in each such committee. In the State
contests the jury would have to be large and
more carefully chosen, consisting of a represent-
ative of the industry, two or more musicians
and some recognized musical critic to represent
the public.
In the final contest similar ar-
rangements could be made, in proportionately
more elaborate fashion.
Each contestant would of course have to be
permitted to use his or her own instrument if he
or she thought this necessary; and in any case
r T
l HIS article on this page, proposing a should always have the choice of instruments
•*• national contest for player pianists, throughout all the contests and including the
exposes a means by which the real musical finals. It is not to be expected that the industry
or the dealers would feel much hesitation in
value of that instrument could most strongly
seeing that contestants were supplied with in-
be brought home to the public, both general struments.
and that part which is interested profes-
The question of music to be played by con-
testants would be important. One way of get-
sionally in music. A successful staging of
such a contest would give, the player-piano ting round it would be to allow each contestant
to select his own pieces, meanwhile laying down
more desirable publicity than any other
certain rules as to choice. Thus the local con-
means within the reach of the trade, and tests might be conducted for the main pur-
probably at. a lower expense than any similar pose of determining sense of rhythm, melodic
amount of valuable publicity could be had accent and tone. The State contest could also
judge general musical intelligence, as indicated
for player exploitation.—EDITOR.
by the contestants' choice and interpretation of
music. The finals of course would call for the
and presents no more real difficulties than do highest display of general player musicianship,
the music memory contests in the schools, let and here the program would have to be ^aid
us look at some of the possibilities, and at some down more particularly, yet even in this case
too of the practical results which would be contestants might be permitted perhaps to
choose their own compositions, provided that
likely to flow from this undertaking.
Obviously the first thing would be for some each selection fell within certain fairly narrow
central authority, preferably the National Asso- limits. The general object of the contest would
ciation of Music Merchants, or the National be, of course, to determine who is the best
Piano Manufacturers' Association, to announce player-pianist in each class and the determina-
to the nation a contest open to (a) professional tion would be along the lines of (a) technical
demonstrators in one class, (b) men amateurs control over the player-piano and (b) general
in another class, (c) women amateurs in a third musical intelligence. Thus, in the finals, the
and (d) children younger than fifteen years in requirements would undoubtedly include a piece
a fourth class. The contest in each class would of contrapuntal music, to judge melodic control,
be for the purpose of determining who is the a piece of poetic music, as by Chopin, to judge
best player-pianist in that class, firstly of each emotional control, a piece of elaborate form
community; secondly of each State, and lastly such as a classic or modern sonata to judge
of the nation. It might be considered advisable rhythmic, harmonic and form sense, and a piece
to bar all professional demonstrators, but this of very modern piano music to judge general
musical intelligence and control over ^one pro-
would not affect the principles.
duction. For instance: for the finals Doric
Judging
The judges in the local contests might be Toccata, Bach: Hammer-clavier Sonata (first
(Continued on page 4)
three, one music dealer, representing the mu-
have to be substantial and there would arise the
question of the expenses of the competitors in
attending the contests, after these had progress-
ed beyond local regions. At the worst, how-
ever, there could only be less than fifty State
winners and more probably the number would
be less than half this, at least the first time.
Assuming that the general idea, however, is
a good idea,, and waiving the question of ways
and means for the time with the mere remark
that the problem is by no means insuperable
REVIEW
THE
VOL. LXXX. No. 26 Published Every Saturday. Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., 383 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Jane 27, 1925 H ' na g.<£°iS i 0 *^" 1 "
A National Contest for the Players
of the Player-Piano
One of the Most Striking Means That Could Be Used to Bring Home Both to the General and Musical
Public That the Player-Piano Is a Medium of Personal Expression in Music — A Tentative Plan
for Such an Event—What Would Be Accomplished by Successfully Staging It
~>| EVERAL
months
ago The Review
made the suggestion of a national con-
test among amateur player-pianists, with
the belief that by means of it a great deal of
interest could be worked up throughout the
country in the player-piano, and that the whole
industry would vastly benefit thereby. Quite
a deal of favorable comment was elicited by this
suggestion at the time, but it seemed best to
let the matter rest then without going further,
in the hope that the seed sowed would in due
course spring up into bud, perchance to come to
fruit in its season.
A short time ago a distinguished member of
the industry suggested a national piano playing
contest, and some steps have been taken, so it
ia understood, to put his idea into operation,
although it does not yet appear how far these
st^ps have gone. Now, as a parallel to this, and
because the one idea represents, in our opin-
ion, quite as much in trade utility as does the
other, we bring our own pet notion forward
once more without further apology.
Briefly the idea is that the industry, through
its music advancement bureau, or through some
equally authoritative and capable agency, should
plan and carry out a nation-wide contest among
owners of player-pianos, to determine who is
the man, woman or child who can most artis-
tically, most musically, and altogether in the
best way, play a pre-determined program of
music upon the player-piano (pedal-control) of
his or her choice.
Outlines
It would be advisable to have such a contest
made known by means of announcements in the
newspapers of greatest general circulation
throughout the country, and its actual manage-
ment would be naturally entrusted to local as-
sociations of music dealers where such exist,
or to individual dealers where no associations
exist.
To get local contests adjudged, and the win-
ners invited to State-wide contests in turn,
would doubtless require all of one season; and
the following season might witness the round-
up of these .State winners into a national con-
test to be held and decided at the annual con-
vention of the music industries. Thus, if State
contests could be held next year, the national
winner could be selected at the Chicago con-
vention of 1927.
Of course the prize considerations would
\
sic industries, and two musicians of whom one
should be a pianist. The dealer would be the
chairman in each such committee. In the State
contests the jury would have to be large and
more carefully chosen, consisting of a represent-
ative of the industry, two or more musicians
and some recognized musical critic to represent
the public.
In the final contest similar ar-
rangements could be made, in proportionately
more elaborate fashion.
Each contestant would of course have to be
permitted to use his or her own instrument if he
or she thought this necessary; and in any case
r T
l HIS article on this page, proposing a should always have the choice of instruments
•*• national contest for player pianists, throughout all the contests and including the
exposes a means by which the real musical finals. It is not to be expected that the industry
or the dealers would feel much hesitation in
value of that instrument could most strongly
seeing that contestants were supplied with in-
be brought home to the public, both general struments.
and that part which is interested profes-
The question of music to be played by con-
testants would be important. One way of get-
sionally in music. A successful staging of
such a contest would give, the player-piano ting round it would be to allow each contestant
to select his own pieces, meanwhile laying down
more desirable publicity than any other
certain rules as to choice. Thus the local con-
means within the reach of the trade, and tests might be conducted for the main pur-
probably at. a lower expense than any similar pose of determining sense of rhythm, melodic
amount of valuable publicity could be had accent and tone. The State contest could also
judge general musical intelligence, as indicated
for player exploitation.—EDITOR.
by the contestants' choice and interpretation of
music. The finals of course would call for the
and presents no more real difficulties than do highest display of general player musicianship,
the music memory contests in the schools, let and here the program would have to be ^aid
us look at some of the possibilities, and at some down more particularly, yet even in this case
too of the practical results which would be contestants might be permitted perhaps to
choose their own compositions, provided that
likely to flow from this undertaking.
Obviously the first thing would be for some each selection fell within certain fairly narrow
central authority, preferably the National Asso- limits. The general object of the contest would
ciation of Music Merchants, or the National be, of course, to determine who is the best
Piano Manufacturers' Association, to announce player-pianist in each class and the determina-
to the nation a contest open to (a) professional tion would be along the lines of (a) technical
demonstrators in one class, (b) men amateurs control over the player-piano and (b) general
in another class, (c) women amateurs in a third musical intelligence. Thus, in the finals, the
and (d) children younger than fifteen years in requirements would undoubtedly include a piece
a fourth class. The contest in each class would of contrapuntal music, to judge melodic control,
be for the purpose of determining who is the a piece of poetic music, as by Chopin, to judge
best player-pianist in that class, firstly of each emotional control, a piece of elaborate form
community; secondly of each State, and lastly such as a classic or modern sonata to judge
of the nation. It might be considered advisable rhythmic, harmonic and form sense, and a piece
to bar all professional demonstrators, but this of very modern piano music to judge general
musical intelligence and control over ^one pro-
would not affect the principles.
duction. For instance: for the finals Doric
Judging
The judges in the local contests might be Toccata, Bach: Hammer-clavier Sonata (first
(Continued on page 4)
three, one music dealer, representing the mu-
have to be substantial and there would arise the
question of the expenses of the competitors in
attending the contests, after these had progress-
ed beyond local regions. At the worst, how-
ever, there could only be less than fifty State
winners and more probably the number would
be less than half this, at least the first time.
Assuming that the general idea, however, is
a good idea,, and waiving the question of ways
and means for the time with the mere remark
that the problem is by no means insuperable
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