The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-09-20

AMERICAN PIANoFoRTEs AT THE
PARIS ExHIBITIoN.-It will be highly
gratifying to our readers to learn the
marked success which has attended the
specimens of art which Americans have
sent to the Paris exhibition; but to
none of them has been attributed so
much merit as to our celebrated Ameri-
can pianofortes. 1t would seem hardly
possible that we could rival, as yet,
France and England, and the other
countries Of Europe, so distinguished for
their progress in the arts and sciences,
in SO delicate and important an instru-
ment as the pianoforte but the intell-
gent correspondent of the Chronicle, in
his letter to that paper, dated Paris,
August Ia, 1855, an extract from which
We give below, shows what rank our
Boston pianofortes take abroad. We
have before heard of the reputation Of
tho celebrated instruments manufac-
tured by Albert w. Ladd & Co., and
it gives us the greatest pleasure to add
o that already just gained reputation,
that they now rival the world. We
congratulate our friends, and the me-
chanics of the establishment, that they
have been able before such an ordeal +,
and in the presence of three hundred
French pianos, to take the first prize,
and we Americans should be proud, too,
that we have so eminent pianoforte
mandatory among us. We need no
longer to send to Europe for instruments
of superior tone and finish, but may
rather expect to furnish her with her
best and finest pianofortes
We copy from the Chronicle of Sep
tember Sd -
The great exhibition is now in a
more fourishing condition than ever,
and its future will, no doubt, be very
successful. The jury Of award are now
engaged in deciding as to the merits of
the various contributions. A remark
able affair has just taken place relative
to contribution from Boston, which
will much crafty the pride of Bostoni
ans. The trial before the jury of award
of the excellence of the various piano.
fortes on exhibition, took place at the
celebrated Paris Conservatory of Mu-
sic. The jury was composed of seven
of the most eminent professors of music
in Europe.
Joseph Helmesperger, director of the
Imperial Conservatory of Music at Vi
emma, the president, placed himself in a
position where he could hear the tone
of the instruments without seeing them,
so as to render perfectly impartial
opinion of their merits. In addition to
this, the manufacturers names were all
covered up with white cards, on each of
which was a certain number. when all
had been tried, Mr.. Helmesperger said,
now for the American piano, referring
to one from Boston, which he had on
several occasions examined and tried al
the exhibitions, and which, for some un-
accountable reason, had been neglected
to be sent with the rest. A New York
piano was among the number, and sup
posing he referred to that, they told him
it had been tried. His answer was pos
tive that it had not been tried, yet all
this time he had not seen, but only lis
tened to the tone of the instruments -
After repeated assurances by them, and
denals by him, he came and satisfied
them that the one he referred to was
not there, and directed them at once to
send to the exhibition for it. Soon it
arrived, and when tried before that tai
ented jury, was pronounced The best pi-
amoforte in the French exhibition, and =,
accordingly, it was awarded the highest
prize medal. This piano is from the
mandatory of Messrs. A. w. Ladd &
Co., of Boston. The above facts are
accurate to the letter, having received
my information personally from Mr..
Helmesperger himself. He is young
man, not over twenty-five years Of age
Having before heard the superior quail
ty of tone of the above instrument, his
practiced ear detected that it aoas no,
at the trial. 1t is, indeed, astonishing
, The circumstance that Boston piano
forte has so successfully stood the severe
test hf such eminent European profess.
ors of music, is an event which may
well crafty the pride of Bostonians.
Boston Transcript.