Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-08-13
IN DISTANT AUSTRIA.

The Music and Drama Exhibition
The Steinert Collection OF New Ha-
ven.
Following is translation of an article
in the leading paper of Austria, the Neues
Wiener Tsgeblatt of Vienna, date of July
"a, 1892:
The collection of old keyed instruments
heretofore alluded to by US, belonging to
M. Steinert in New Haven, near New
York (Which on account of the presence of
the owner in Vienna, who by playing on
the same daily for several hours attracts
large audiences from those visiting the ex-
is indeed one of the most inter-
esting departments of the musical exhibit
ton. It is at the same time very costly
hobby. as the owner, who during the last
thirty years has collected these articles
one by one, has expended quite a fortune
in acquiring them, and has transported
this collection, consisting of thirty instru-
ments, at his own expense to Vienna.
Mr.. NJ. Steinert is ACKNOWLEDGED as an
in the history of the piano and
the construction of the piano, not only in
Germany. His collection depicts the
gradual perfection of the modern piano
by most characteristic exhibits. The two
Oldest instruments are harpsichord
made by Joseph Johann Couchet
in Antwerp in 1879 and decorated with
pictures of animals by Kessel and claw
chord dating from the beginning of the
sixteenth century. This last mentioned
instrument will be examined in its print
tive condition with the greatest interest by
connoisseurs. Every single string pro-
duces when struck three tones, for example.
9, G sharp and D. The keys are connected
with horizontal metal cross pieces, which
strike against the strings from below and
either cause them to resound through their
whole length or shorten the sound, accord
ing to certain points of partition, in order
to produce the sound necessary from its
position in the keys.
An improvement to this instrument,
another clavichord, shows forth, which also
has been made in the beginning of the
sixteenth century, and whose single
strings produce two tones each. Here a
rosette, by means of which the sound If
broken, indicates the relationship to the
lutte or viola. The tone is produced by
same was full of expression, the clavichord
could only be used in small room and fol
chamber music. To the attempt to produce
an instrument more powerful in tone the
spinet, in imitation Of the harp, owed its
origin. One of these most interesting
Instruments, made in 1880 by John Hitch
cock of London, is also in the possession
of Mr.. Steinert. A more advanced
phase of development is exhibited
by the quill grand piano of thu
Kirchman Brothers of London in 1776
This instrument has three registers, OF
which two have the same tone, while tn,
third Is one octave higher. After THU
comes the hammer piano. Of these Mr.
them made by Johann F. Schneider IL
Nuremberg having wooden hammers with
out covers, simple hammer mechanism
| without dissolvent, two registers for fort,
and piano. In this Nuremberg construc
| ton the hammers are not covered with
| leather. In a piano made by Jeckel ir
Worms in 1888 it is noticeable that it ha
| not separate hampers in order to deade1
the sound; to do this the player was DOM
PEELED, as in tina case of the cymbal, to pu
down his arm or to set in motion strip O.
cloth by some continuance over the who'll
instrument. This instrument still retain
| the clavichord form.
In an upright hammer piano the string
are mounted not vertically, but horizontal
~. Of great value is pianoforte mad
by A. B.bcock, Boston, in 1920. Tn
| square body is made in the purest empir
style, and the tone is most wonderful,
resonant and clear. This is without doub
one of the most beautiful instrument
built at that period. A concert gran,
from Mozart's time, with two choirs, will
black lower keys and white upper keys
dates from Vienna. It is noticeable tina
in this instrument the hammer heads cen
sist of small hollow card cylinders tina
are covered with leather. a metho'
which can only be found in the instru
ments of Christofori, the inventor of tn
pianoforte. Especially valuable is an up
right standing grand piano made by An
drea sStein of Augsburg in 1779: Thi
the pianos made by Stein, the father o
the art of making pianos in Germany
scarcely another one is in existence. Hi
name is of great interest to Vienna becaus
his daughter Nanette, who also was
piano maker, married Johann Andrea
Streicher Of Vienna, known as a friend Q
Schiller and founder Of the frs
piano factoryin Vienna. In the collectio
Of Mr.. Steinert there is also an instrumen
Streicher, nee Stein, 1916" STEMS daugt
tor is the maker of this instrument, and o
the sounding board il her name in he
own handwriting. A piano made by Hi
key in Baltimore in 1920 deserves specii
mention. It has four pedals by who
Fagott, Celeste, Turkish music with drur
and triangle can be produced. OF th
many gems and articles of art, which Q
present can be found in the rotunda, til
collection Steinert certainly forms moi
prominent part.