Scan 33
Musical Courier 1893-06-21: Vol 26 Iss 694, 1893
45 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 34. See the scan on archive.org.
1Foreign Items of Interest.
3THE Leipsic, Germany, correspondent of the London, England, "Musical Opinion and Music Trade Review," almost always has something to say in his writings to that journal that is of interest to American readers, and we are pleased to again quote from his latest letter to his paper the appended items and opinions:
5This is not the time of year at which we look for any abnormal briskness in the musical instrument trade, but certainly during the past four weeks in Germany trade has been decidedly good. In some of the larger factories good orders have been received from England and her colonies; more especially from India. From some of the states of South America some good orders for divisible pianos (for mountain transport)—which some of the German makers have taken up as a specialty—have been received. A somewhat curious result of the war of tariffs, which is at present going on all over the world, is that upright pianos are now being sent to Brazil in parts—i.e., action, keyboard, case, frame, &c., all separate—so that they may be entered in the customs list as "parts of pianos," and thus avoid the heavy duty laid upon the finished instrument. Of course the workmanship must be very good and accurate if all the parts are to fit together properly; hence cheap instruments cannot be disposed of in this way.
7I dare say that not a few of your trade readers look upon me as a terrible raven—always croaking; still, I would ask them to read the preface to the musical instrument group in the official catalogue of the exhibits from the German Empire at the Columbian Exhibition at Chicago. It is not pleasant reading, I know; still, it literally confirms every word I have been so unceasingly urging upon the English trade, viz., that the German manufacturers are slowly but surely getting the markets into their own hands, and that if the English makers do not wish to go to the wall they must not rely solely upon intrinsic goodness, but must be prepared also to consult the tastes of their foreign customers. For instance, I would point out that for the Dutch and British Indian markets pianos are being made in various native woods which have already proved their fitness as furniture woods. The woods are sent over to the maker by the colonial dealer, and the result is that a considerable demand for such instruments has sprung up, while reasonably good prices can be obtained for them.
9I should like to call attention to one point which it may not even now be too late to remedy. All the German exhibitors at Chicago have taken care to furnish their representatives with a sufficient number of catalogues, some in five, some in three and some in two languages; but none that I am aware of have limited their glossary to one—the mother tongue. Now it is true that in Chicago American-English will be freely spoken, and probably those who use it can read an English catalogue; but how about the multitude of foreigners who will assuredly pay the World's Fair a visit? Have they been adequately provided for by English exhibitors?
11The enormous strides made by the musical note publishing trade in Germany during the past thirty years is hardly conceivable unless converted into figures. In 1863 the booksellers and stationers who also sold sheet music numbered 79, and the firms who published music numbered only 25. In 1873, the numbers were 134 and 80 respectively. In 1883 there was an increase of 44 booksellers and 65 music publishers, while in 1893 the numbers are: Booksellers, &c., selling sheet music, 230, and firms publishing music only, 261. The abnormally rapid increase in the number of firms who publish music is probably the most astounding aspect which these statistics present; but it may perhaps be very easily accounted for by the fact that there is a large number of composers whose one idea of earthly bliss is to see themselves in print. Of course they do not want to be paid for their work. On the contrary they are prepared to contribute something toward the expenses of engraving, paper, and printing. The publishers (equally of course), do not like to suppress such very praiseworthy ambitions. The risk is inconsiderable; one in a hundred may catch on: hence arises that flood of sheet music which appears only to disappear.
13One patented improvement to the upright piano which seems likely to be of some importance is Frederick Kaiser's sound bar, which he has christened the Legato system. It consists of a divided bar screwed on to the back of the sound bar in a position corresponding to and opposite to the upper bar. The result of this arrangement is, however, to furnish the upright piano with a fullness of sound and a prolonged and singing tone almost equal to that of a grand.
15Court Bandmaster Weingartner has suggested to M. Moritz, the well-known instrument maker in Berlin, to construct for him an alto flute which shall stand in the same relation to the ordinary flute that the alto oboe occupies to the ordinary oboe. The alto flute is considerably larger in size than the ordinary instrument, and sounds one-fifth lower; the music must therefore be written accordingly. The great advantage of the instrument lies in its wonderful low notes—below the low C of the Boehm flute—which possess a marvelous richness and roundness of tone.
17During the year 1891 there were imported from Germany into Denmark pianos valued at 112,026 crowns, and other musical instruments weighing 61,024 pounds. Unfortunately the official returns do not afford any information as to the value of the latter class.
19There is no denying or explaining away the unwelcome fact that, notwithstanding the reduction made in the tariff the import of German pianos into Austro-Hungary has not increased to anything like the extent which was at first hoped for. The Viennese have lately taken to constructing a cheap model with Vienna action; and the public, who dearly like to say that they have bought something cheap, are satisfied. There are boudoir grands being sold now in Vienna at prices which certainly defy competition. Nevertheless the only market for them is in Austria, as no one else will buy them. The only foreign places in which an Austrian instrument is occasionally sold are in some parts of the Levant and in the Balkan States.
21As yet nothing has been settled respecting a trade convention between Russia and Germany, which is a matter of considerable importance for German manufacturers of musical instruments, as not a few firms have been made unpleasantly aware that the high import duties by limiting the trade have had an appreciable effect upon their balance sheets. With Spain also negotiations are being carried on to restore to German traders advantages which they formerly enjoyed. In the meanwhile, however, another competitor has come into the Spanish market in the guise of the American organ builder, who has commenced to manufacture cheap upright pianos; and now that the means of communication between America and Spain have become rapid and proportionately cheap, it remains to be seen whether the American will be able to drive the German out of the field.
23One of the Markneukirchen firms has just introduced a new varnish for metal, by means of which the intolerable and constantly recurring annoyance of having periodically to clean metal wind instruments—by which process of cleaning, be it mentioned, the aforesaid instruments are in no way improved—is to a very great extent obviated. The varnish is simply painted on with a brush, it is not affected by the weather, and therefore does not require to be frequently renewed.
25A Very Important Combine.
27THE undersigned beg to announce that they have united their business, and in connection with the two principal log dealing firms of New York will hereafter conduct their business under the style of the National Mahogany and Cedar Company, with headquarters and plants in New York and Boston.
29Our object is three-fold: The introduction of economies, for which there is large opportunity over the prevailing methods; to encourage and promote the use of mahogany; and to place our business on a permanent basis. There will be no new departure in our business policy. It will be our aim, as in the past, to conduct it along the lines of recognized and well established business principles.
31In this step forward we are placed in a better position than ever to serve our patrons, and in the enlarged success and benefits which the fulfillment of these plans naturally implies, it is our most earnest expectation that they shall share. Very truly yours,
33Wm. E. UPTEGROVE & BROTHER, New York.
34OWEN BEARSE & SON, Boston.
35PALMER, PARKER & CO., Boston.
36NATIONAL MAHOGANY and CEDAR COMPANY, 457-475 East Tenth street, New York; 401 Albany street, Boston; 133-135 Portland street, Boston.
38WE DO NOT TRAVEL MUCH
40And would prefer to have you write us for prices on
42Thoroughly Kiln-dried CHESTNUT, Shipped on short notice.
43Also ASH, QUARTERED OAK, WALNUT, COTTONWOOD, MAPLE and POPLAR.
44BURDEN & COUCH, Cleveland, Ohio.
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