New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-09

Inc IhNonuNo genius Oh the American people
ever active never resting; 1t embraces in its grasp
Che merest trifes and the mightest conceptions from
10Y to point lead pencil TO lever TO raise pyramid.
That whatever has been done can be improved on,
and whatever is needed for the good of the human
family can be produced, are American logmas. They
are so purely indigenous to the soil that all who
seek asylum here find new springs of action new incen
tives TO ambition, and broadening of the mind which
had been dwarfed by the cramping influences of small
natonalites.
Inventive genius has not merely been directed TO the
physical needs of the people, the necessities of our life
have had their champions and the intellectual luXures
which at its solace aud its ornament, have
been fostered and developed to degree that shames
tie experience of the old world In the short space Of
thirty years have become the manufacturers Of
ewn musical Instruments in this ask nothing OF Eu
rope now: have learned all she knows, and some
thing more besides and have changed the course Of
trade which was always from East 10 West TO from
West 10 East.
There is scarcely musical instrument which we 90
n0 make and with scarcely an exception our manu-
facture equals. and in surpasses inc "oiA
manship Of the European models. Our hutes "i'"''
rival these OF the English, while they surpass III '
Of tone and elegance of workmanship INC INV,
made in Germany. Our harps in all points 'o"'' Wv
ganee finish and mechanical appliances are 'osV'"'
unsurpassed. Our Brass instruments ID 'nelF 'aue!
and excellence fully equal to those Oh fricc "i''
orr n,tars in all points of workmanship and in dura'
bIty in this climate preferred To the hheSt spcci
mems from Spain or Iay In the manufacture Oh Nl0-
Nm. e have made rapid strides toward excellence and
sbourh very far behind the great old makers whose
raues have a worldwide fame, can claim fair
.onaity with most of the modern European vions In
Reed Instruments such rs Mclodeons and Parlor Or
eans America has no equal in the world These in
sruments literally created here their superiority
everywhere acknowledged. and we are satisfied that
when some enlightened community shall decide tospend
SEQ 600 or $4,000 upon the building of great organ,
and shall give the contract at home and not abroad, we
shall have organ equal in every respect TO any of
foreign make and superior in points especially in
wood which will stand the climete.
The instrument however in which the most important
improvements have been made is the pianC-fortethe
instrument which is most popular throughout the
world
The pano-forte was, of course, invented somewhere
although it was more properly gradual Improvement
from one thing another than invention in its pres
ent form. There are two claimants for the honor of
ratng the original instrument and both have strong
supporters BY party it is attributed TO Cristofa.
sPaduau; by the other TO Schroeder OF Dresden Sax
any, We need not stop to discuss the rival claims.
The date of the invention is said to be I'LL, bat The
piano really rose but little above the dignity of Harp
sichord until half century later, when the genius
Of Erard followed by Peyel, Broadwood and
Collard developed its resources and powers
which until then. were undreamed or But
these great makers did not exhaust It's powers There
something left for America to dosoIne ort giit
from us to the old world, to be purchased by deep
thought ard laborous experiment or won by the insp
ration of a fOrtuitous moment
This one point whieh has revontionzed the manu-
aeture of piauofores nearly all over the world and has
added greatly the power and the capacity of the
instrument Is the system of oversringng the bass the
principle Of which established developed and per-
fected by Steinway & Sous Of New York. An instru'
ment of this class overstrung and with bridges IN
che bass exhibited by the Stenways in e1 at the
CRYSTAL Palace New-York There was a great compe-
titon many OF the best makers exhibiting but the ful
richly sonorous tone. and extraordinary power OF th'
Steinway piano gained, by the unanimous judgment o
the iury the first premium gold medal. Pubic opinio
conceded perfectly with this verdict and the reputation
of the Steinways settled fact from that day an'
their business increased with rapidty altogether IN
precedented rising in twelve years from the yery hun
BILE beginning Of one piano a week, TO grand total q
1900 pianos. grand, square and upright averaging
now over 800 per In 1855 at the MetroPoi
tan Fair in Washington City, they receive
two first prize medals; in November q
the same year. the first prize gold medal
at the American Institute New York; in 1876 the frs
prize gold medal of the Maryland Institute at Bait
more and the American Institute at the Crystal Palace
in New York and in 1851 the first premium gold med'
Of the Maryland Institute again. Altogether in te
years they have received less than twenty six fir
premiums in the shape of gold and silver medals at III
various fairs and exhibitions in Cincinnati, ST. LOui
Chicago and elsewhere.
Such repeated successes chroniced by the press an
Justified by their constantly increasing business. a
tracted the attention OF the whole trade and in shO
time nearly every piano in the United States mad
upon the oyerstrung principle.
In 1862, at the international Exhibition of London
the Stenway pianos secured the greatest victory yet oil
taned by them. There were 2GJ pianos on exhibition
from the manufactures Of nearly all the celebrate
makers on the continent and ia England. The jUr
appointed Of the highest char acter embracing
names as Sterndale Bennett musical director. Proies
sor at Cambridge; l. r. Black. VI. D.; Fets, OF Be
GUM; Ernst Pauer. Of Austriai Sir +. Gore Ouacy
Professor of music at Oxford; l. Schedmayer instru
ment maker Zollyerein; the Earl Of Wilton; Herr
Wilde, musical director. and others Of note and posi-
lion. The most thorough examination was made o
all the instruments exhibited and the Stenways were
awarded fTsicass Prize medal. For powerful. clea
brilliant tone. ana excellent workmanship. shown al(
in grand aud square pianO.fortes"
This was unqdcstionlb'y great triumph FOR The
frm and justified the expressed opinion on this side o
the Atlantic Of sach artists as Mills, Mason, Heller
Pattison, Tmm. Mmetzok. An,cbutz EisGald and
many Others who, in their open certificates. enUmerate