The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-06

Professor Gray'S TeiephOnc concert
Successful Tran s,nissiOH Of u
Musical Performance from s'hIla-
delphia 10 New YOrk-The Instru-
menu and How 1t Works "A Great
Crowd in steinway Hall.
From the New York Sun.
Mr.. Strakosch has struck "bonanza."
The rush to Steinway Hall last evening
was unparalleled. The stairways, pre-
vious to the hour of beginning, were
blocked, so that entrance was matter OF
disheveiment and ruffled temper. AT
eight O'clock every seat was occupied,
and standing room was scarce. 1t was
half-past nine before Professor Elisha
Gray, the inventor, appeared. There
were two grand pianos on the stage, and
on the one that had not been in use stood
what alterward turned out to be the re.
ceiving sounding-board OF the new
wonder II consisted of a doubly-
graduated series of rectangular hollow
wooden tubes. Joined by wooden bars, to
which they were attached in the middle
by pivotal brass keys. They ranged
from two feet to six inches and under in
length, and were of corresponding
breadth To the center of one bar was
attached an electro magnet, out of which
ran two ordinary covered wires. One of
these continued up and out through an
aperture on the left of the back of the
stage, near the top, and the other through
q corresponding aperture on the right. A
table with an ordinary telegraph instru-
ment was placed on the left of the stage.
The operator was loudly applsuded when
he took his place, as was also the supe
who followed him for the purpose Of ar
ranging the pianos.
The operator on the stage was then d.
rected to telegraph to Philadelphia that
all was in readiness, the Professor re-
moved the sounding-board from one
piano to another, and dead stiffness fell
over the audience. Presently the fsmil-
lar tones of "dome, Sweet Home" were
heard, proceeding from nowhere in par
ticular. The general sound was much
subdued, but every individual tone was
quite distinct, especially the lower notes
The higher notes were very faint, yet
perfectly audible No. note was
missed. The music bore no resemblance
to that of a piano. 1. had rather
the sound Of an organ. The
applause was very hearty, and
that tact being telegrapbed to Phila-
delphia, Professor Boscovitz sent back
message to the effect that he was much
gra,i6ed. "Comc, Gentil," and "Yol'll
Remember Me-" were also successfully
reproduced, SO far rs distinctness was
concerned, the transmission of the varia.
tions in the latter air being especially
worthy of mention. Professor Gray
here removed the sounding board to the
floor, lest, he said, the audience might
think the pianos had something to do
with it. While in this position the "Lsst
Rose of Summer" was given, but IN this
and subsequent performances the sounds
were much fainter. In this tune one |
high note was completely missed |
"M'Appari," from Martha, the Carnival |
of Venice, and "Yankee Doodle" the
latter IN response to an encore, concluded |
the telephone portion of the entertain
ment, which, as novelty, was highly |
entertaining, though, unless an almost |
incredible improvement be effected, it is
difficult to see how the transmission OF |
music over the new instrument can be of /
permanent or practical value, the inferi-
GRITTY of the reproduction in contrast with
the performance being very great.