Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-11

CABINET 0RGASs.-It always afforded us
pleasure to point out evidences of native
progress in the manufacture of any valua-
BILE musical instrument, and we are the
more disposed to do this when an opportu-
nifty presents itself, for the reason that a
timely public recognition of the merit so
displayed acts as a strong incentive to still
further efforts towards the perfect pratical
development of acoustic science. We nave
recently examined the new instrument that
is seeking favor so generally with the music
al profession, under the name of the cabi-
net organ, the sole manufacturers of which
are Messrs. Mason & Hamlin, of Boston.
The cabinet organ is already the accepted
rival of the pianO-forte for family use, its
musical resources being such as will com
pare favorably with those of the best, and
its cost being considerably less than that of
the common square piano. The cabinet or
gan, first introduced in the year 1852, has
had to combat a very widespread, deep-seat-
ed prejudice against reed instruments, the
results of popular experiences with those
reservoirs of auricular torture, the melOdeon
and harmonium. To the educated ear the
asthmatic tones of those instruments caused
an aggregate amount of incurable agony
which begat a general vindictive feeling
against these offending boxes of almost vii
famous sound. But Messrs. Mason & Ham
lin have changed all this, and by their i'm
provements produced an instrument of the
highest order Of merit, both as regards the
quality of its tones and its capacity for ar
tistie as well as popular effects-an instru-
ment which appears likely, and deserves, to
become as popular as the piano-forte. A
novel feature is the application of an au-
tomato bellows swell, by which monotony
is wholly avoided, by investing power in the
performer to graduate the light and shade
of a composition to the full bent of his taste
and skill. These improvements have
changed the entire character of reed music,
and given to the cabinet organ claims to a
recognition at the hands of the profession,
which it has not been slow to receive.
Besides the advantage of its less cost, this
instrument has a popular attraction in that
sufficient skill Upon it to afford some mHsio
al satisfaction Is more easily acquired than
OF the pianO-forte.
But the cabinet organ need not be present
ed as a rival of the piano. Its field is n
which has to large extent been unoceupied,
for it is capable of sustained tones as well as
harmony-hence its better adaptation to all
sacred music, and to prescriptions of Orches-
trail and concerted vocal pieces, than that of
any instrument which has preceded it. 1t
will stand beside the p~iano-forte wherever
means for the graduation of musical taste
are not wanting; while in furnishing a real
ly desirable as well as available instrument
for persons of moderate means, small church
es, Sunday-SchoOls, etc, it will meet a want
which has not been supplied.
We advise all to call ats. Brainard 4 Sons
warerooms 2O3 Superior street, and examine
the beautiful assortment of these elegant in
struments which can at all times be seen
there. Persons living at assistance, whole
sire to purchase a Cabinet Organ, should
send for an illustrated circular giving full
descriptions of the different styles and pri-
ces.