Morning journal and courier., 1890-12-08
sTEINERr,s HOBBY.
A Collector and Connoisseur.

A Collector and Connoisseur.
Under the above headings the Musical
Courier of New York city, for the week
,nding November Goth last, has the follow
ng pleasant and appreciative notice of one
IF our best known New Haven merchants:
Anyone writing biographical sketch of |
Morris Steinert, the head of the great piano |
house of M. Steinert & Sons, would be
compelled to take cognizance of what is
generally considered by all those who have
formed an intimate acquaintance with him
as his hobby. And in NJ. Steinert's case
the hobby does not consist in merely speak
ing of or referring constantly to the sub
ject that appears to interest him most in
life. It has absorbed his time and atten-
ton to such an extent that he is uninter-
ruptedly at work in devising all possible
every possible detail and intricate story
connected with the subject that consti-
tutes this hobby of his.
In short, M. Steinert is a collector, and
history and experience tell us to what ex-
tent collectors will &c in securing speci-
mems and copies of the articles or curios
they are in search of, and how much time
and study they will devote to their sub
ject.
It was many years ago, at time when
Mr.. Steinert had just about begun to at
tempt commercial pursuits and when he
was teaching music, that he first became
deeply interested in old violins and 'cellos
It is not generally known, although M.
Steinert has general knowledge OF musl-
cal instruments, that his particular instru-
ment is the violoncello, on which he formerly
played in public. He is, of course, plan
list also, but it was the cello which he
chiefly cultivated. Assyears grew apace
and his business ripened into the extensive
establishments founded by him, he had OPP
portunities to travel considerably and to
learn where rare old musical instruments
were to be found. In fact Mr. Steinert
rummaged in all directions, and the more
he rummaged the more his appetite for
rare specimens of old musical instruments
of all kinds was whetted, until he became
thoroughly imbued with the notion that
life without old pianos, harps, clavichords
and violins was not worth living.
But Mr. Steinert not only cultivated
taste for rare old instruments and the
literature produced during hundreds of
years on the subject, he absolutely studied
how to perform on them, and, what is
more remarkable in the case of a man of
his years, he became an expert performer
on the viola de GAMBIA, on the clavichord,
the harpsichord, the clavicymbal, the
virginia. and the spinet, so that now his
appearance in any classical concert as a
performer on either of these instruments
would prove sensation. We doubt it
there is another individual in this country
who can play on these instruments the
old classical music as it was written for
them, and at the same time disclose the
intent and purpose Of the works and the
style in vogue at the time when they were
used in public.
These are rare accomplishments and in
dictate true artistic and aesthetic spirit,
and they stamp M. Steinert as one of the
few unique Municipalities of which this
rather practical country can boast. During
the past few years when M. Steinert made
occasional pilgrimages to Europe he spent
greater part of his time in visiting mo-
nasteries, converts and museums to find
rare old specimens and, if possible, to Sc
cure possession of some of them. He sue
ceeded thereby in enriching his already
large collection and in giving it a chrome
path when once he decided upon getting
possession of rarity or gem, and if the
''piece' had such potential value as pedi-
gree adds to q specimen, or if its history
was known or its identity was indisputa-
BILE, or if particularly its past was associ-
ciated with the life of great composer, AS,
for instance, the Steinert Beethoven grand
piano or the Mozart piano, Mr.. Steinert
would never relipc-iz' purpose to get
possession of the u .rument.
This all accounts or the periodical dis
appearance of NJ. Steinert, who occasional
| ly for days at time cannot be found in
| his usual haunts. 1t is then that he has
| located some rare specimen and is on its
| trail, to use a hunters expression. No
| matter where the instrument may be, NJ.
| Steinert does not despair of finding it and
| subsequently, adding it to his valuable col
| lection. The old instruments are to be
| found chiefly in strange localities-in the
homes of some old families, put aside in
| the store-rooms, sometimes hidden away
| under masses of old furniture and pictures
| in a barn, sometimes in the garrets among
| discarded household traps, sometimes in
auction rooms and cellars, and frequently
| held as heirlooms When M. Steinert dis
covers the whereabouts of such an old
| piano or instrument he keeps mum, says
| nothing even to his sons, disappears from
| view, and in day or week returns with
| an old instrument, which he at once re-
pairs and puts into presentable shape-fol
which he has all the facilities.
| His latest acquisition, found by him
somewhere in the vicinity of New York
heaven only knows in what corner of the
| island-was a small, old Broadwood square
/ with hand painted top and sides, all done
| in the most elaborate and artistic style al
| great cost. The instrument, prior to its
shipment to NJ Steinerts home at New
Haven, was on exhibition at the ware
| rooms of Steinway & Sons here, and at
tracted universal attention.
Much has appeared in public print of NJ
Steinerts collection at the Smithsonian in
stitute in Washington. 1t is by far the
most remarkable and valuable part of the
musical instrument section, and it does
honor to M. Steinert and at the same time
reflects great credit upon him as patriot
and public spirited citizen.
The enormous institution created by NJ
Steinert and known as the firm of NJ
Steinert & Sons, piano dealers, commands
great part of that gentleman's time anG
attention. His firm is now the great re
tail house in the American piano trade
with the original house at New Haven and
branch houses at Boston, Providence
Bridgeport, Waterbury, Cincinnati and
Indianapolis. These many branches are
all direct offshoots from the original ole
establishment, and are all conducted il
accordance with the principle and the
rules of commercial conduct originally
framed by the founder. NJ. Steinert is te
be congratulated on the strength of hi.
success not only as collector and con
noisseur of old instruments, but also as al
important element in the purchase and
sale of the very finest new instruments
made at the present time.
GROWING CITY.