Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-11
PRODUCING DULCEr TONES.
Muslcal Instruments which Som G
Amateurs Prefer

EITHER, GUITAR, C0RNET, FLUTE, HARMoNICA
AND ACCORDEoN-A VARIETY OF TASTES.
From the New York Times
pumpkin "hath charms to sootne the
savage breast not in the shape OF pie, but.
IL music will accomplish that end, by the strains
That 1t will produce. The negroes on the
southern plantations used, it is related. to cut
In twain pumpkin and dry the parts until they
were hard and sOnOrous. Then they would
affix an arm to one hemisphere of the pumpkin,
draw strings across it, tune them to proper
key, and pick them to the measures of their
melodies. That was long ago, but not so long
that the tradition of the rude instrument has
been lost. The banjo Of to-day takes the part
OF the pumpkin gourd in the negro
delineations, but the instrument itself
is as old well-nigh as the hills.
In the imperial tombs in the pyramids it was
found in its primitive form, which showed that
the ancient Egyptians drew from it's chords an
accompaniment to their airs. Since the time
when Joe" Sweeney first twanged its strings to
the Essence of Ole Virginny" on the stage of
the Bowery theater, nearly 40 years ago, the
banjo has been transformed into an instrument
that finds a favorite place in the drawing-room
and gives forth the magic of its notes beneath
fair hands. No instrument of this day, it is fair
to say, has sprung into popular favor so rapidly
or attained as great perfection during the past
few years as the banjo. Bright in FURNISHED
metal, and with long band of ribbon from shell
TO Keys to hang upon the shoulder like the
troubadours guitar, the lady bends over it as
did the harpist in times of old over the Tyre
One well-known teacher of the banjo in this city
counts among those have been his pupils Earl
Dunraven, Lady Randolph Churchill. nee Miss
Jerome; Miss NJ B. Patterson the fayOrite grand
danUltpr of I
Jr., James Gordon Bennett, Arthur Claflin Miss
carleton, daughter of the publisher; Miss Kings
land, c. d. Arthur, nephew of the President
Lieut.. IL. j. Slocum, United States army; Chas
Hartman, Pierre Noel, Miss Matthews daugh-
ter of Edward Matthews; Frank Work, George
Mallory, grandson of ex-President Tyler and
Ludlow Patton. There are many other banjo
players. among them Miss w. A. Bgelow, two
Misses May sisters of Frederick May; Nine. Chris
tine Nilsson, and Clara Louise Kellogg banjo
can be bought as low as 81, but SIS is little
enough to pay, and some have been made with
solld silver heads, rosewood necks, and raised
ivory frets, that cost as high as $500. In twenty
lessons person with an ordinary penchant can
learn to play very WELL The banjo has come to
be looked upon as an American instrument
manufacturers have not reached perfection on
the other side OF the water, and the instruments
are sent across the ocean in large numbers. They
sound very finely with piano or guitar. Music
Is published in sheet and book form for them
and one who is skilled can play any air on
them. How long the banjo will continue to be
popular remains to be seen. Certain it is its
music is heard in more fashionable parlors than
one would suppose. The tambOurine a kindred
instrument, is occasionally used to accompany
piano. The greatest use to which it is put is
an ornament. It's head is decorated and it is
placed in the parlor. The cost is from so cents
to s..
taste for the harp. so seldom seen except in
the hands of the strolng players, has developed
OF late years and there are several ladies in
New York who touch the strings with rare
grace. 1t is the high price of harps that pre-
vents their general use as they are not difficult
to learn to play There are two kinds of barps
the single and the double action The first costs
from $3.50 to $780, and the second from $3.50 to
Sl.OOO. Even the street players who buy theirs
secondhand. pay 800 and $3.50 apiece. Harps
are made OF ash and maple There is but one
maker in AmeriCa-GeOrge H. Blackwell With
care harp will last the lifetime of three per-
sons. In Mr.. Buckwelrs establishment is q
harp that has been In use 35 years, and is unim-
paired. The private players are chiefly ladies.
and there are more of them in Baltimore than
in any other city of the Union. The music of
grows weary OF the instrument. It's strains
blend with those of almost any instrument. Its
classic form and its tender and passionate vibra-
ton will make the harp forever divine, object.
Before the war the harp was much In use iu the
south, but the rebellion stopped it's sale.
Since the Princess of Wales began to play on
the either the sweet Hungarian instrument has
found much favor with English people. In this
country the last four or five years have wit
messed q great increase In the number of play
ers There are four or five excellent teachers
in New York at present. and they do not lack
pupils either costs from 80 to $780, The
learner does not find it difficult to acquire the
art of playing on it. The principle ia much the
same as that OF a guitar. The music of the
either Is very agreeable when solos are played
On it. and it may be played with the piano
Beneath gray castle walls the gay serenader
swept the strings of his light guitar in impas-
stoned strain to his lady-love In the chivalrous
days Of old. In these matter-of-fact DAYS there
is ne bespangled cavalier to tune his guitar to
the passions of his heart, but the tinklng of the
instrument is still the romance of music The
Prince OF Wales plays on a guitar that was made
In America. 1t was constructed for exhibition
at the Crystal Palace, and was valued at $500
The best guitar in the world is made In Amer
ica One house has sustained this reputation
since 1888. The price is from S35 to $3.50. For
eign instruments can be bought as low as 80
but OF course. at this price they are worthless
Except for drawing-rOOm entertainments the
guitar does not now figure prominently and
the players are largely ladies. Since stringed
Instruments became so popular the guitar has
regalned much OF the popularity that it had
lost.
Life in many neighbOrhOod has been made
miserable by persons who blew their lungs out
and filled the air with dscOrd under the sad de-
fusion tiat tney were LeyyS and Arbuckles in
embryo. Since the great soloist have blown
shrill notes from their pedestals there has been
what might be called craze for cOrnet-playng.
The amatuer talent where there is little or no
real knowledge Of music runs as much If not
more to the cOrnet than any other instrument.
Until the passion subsidies natural talent In the
shape of cat concerts cannot hope to hold the
place that it once occupied as the greatest dis
turber Of peace and comfort. Comets cost
from so to SIS. A brass instrument is much
preferable to any other kind on account of the
superiority of its tone Flute-playng has long
been popular There is a witchery In the music
that is pleasing to the ear and. besides, the in
trument Is quite an essential thing in an Orches-
ira. The ordinary make costs from 81 so to
S75 and BOehm flutes reach as high figure as
$500. The piccolo, which may be ranked with
the flute, is only played in orchestras and cannot
be included in the list Unpopular Instruments
Since the saxOphOne, with its hoarse tones
for solos, was introduced, few venturesome
amateurs have permitted their lofty ambition
to soar up to It. There are very few indeed
who can play on it, and great many more who
can bring their capabilities to do greater perfec-
tion than feeble imitation Of fOg-horn The
cost is from S35 to $3.50. and music-struck ANA
teurs would do well to choose cheaper instru-
ment. No reed instrument is played by anna