The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-07-29
Music Teachers Convention,
AT SYRACUSE, N. Y.

The Piano Manufacturers Associa.
ton OF New York and vicinity met in
New York, and after hearing an ex-
haustive and mastery essay upon the
subject of Musical Pitch by Col. Levi
X. Fuller, unanimously adopted the
suggestion of the &C mmittee appointed
to investigate this subject, and accept
ed the 435 A as standard pitch for their
pianos.
The Importance of this step cannot
be over estimated when it is consider
ed that when pianist wished hereto
fore to play with an orchestra, or even
chamber music with quartet or quintet
club, 1t was usually necessary to order
piano tuned especially for the occa-
sion. Not only that, but at most large
concerts two pianos were used, one for
the pianist and a second for the vocal
list. 1t was also difficult for the pianist
to keep the @sthetical balance as re-
CARDS the absolute repose of style nee
essary to artistic playing when his or
her ears were rasped with the tones of
an instrument from third to half a
tone higher than the one used the night
before, or few hours previously.
Our weekly music journals have long
advocated the necessity of the piano
manufacturers arriving at some under
standing upon this point, the impor-
lance of which was correctly estimat-
ed by Mr.. VIM. Steinway when he de-
clared on the day that the 435 A was
adopted, that cit was remarkable day
in the annals of musical history, per-
hanS tho rpnct i'm, dow ~
Some little idea may be given of the
confusion that may arise from the eff
feet of poor judgment of pitch by
quoting paragraph from Col. Fuller's
excellent address upon that occasion:
"Sir Michael Costa attempted to climb
the heights of fame by first sending
the pitch heavenward, to be obliged in
the cold and dreary month of Februa-
ry, in the very middle of the concert,
when the pitch of his orchestra by the
rising temperature OF the room had
completely run away with him, to stop
his concert, arrest the pitch, retuDe his
instruments and begin again. | had 1t
from one present on that occasion, who
told of the excitement and consterna-
ton that seized hold of Sir Michael,
his orchestra, and produced most tre-
lnendous state of excitement in the au-
dience."
We might 60 deeper into the matter
and treat of the impossibility of edu-
eating musical students to have that
nicely of ear and purity of intonation
that every musician should possess and
without which artistic results are well
nigh impossible without the advantage
es arising from uniform pitch. Thanks
to the music Journals and the Piano
Manufacturers Association, we have
now arrived at this happy conclusion,
the benefits of which we will not be
slow to feel, as a resolution was also
carried that the piano. |
and other musical instruments of the |
thirty, business firms represented should |
have the 435 A pitch in use by July l.
Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, two
thirds of the pianos that ego upon the |
market" after that date will be tuned |
to standard pitch.
The following firms who constitute
the membership of the Piano Manufac-
turers' Association are pledged to it,
and the manufacturers of other cities |
will speedily follow: Behnlng & Son,
r. M. Bent Il Co, Decker & Son,
Decker Bros, Estey Piano Co., j. & c.
Fischer, E. Gabler & Bros, Gildemees-
ter Il Kroeger, Henning Piano Co ,
Peck & Co., E. G.. Harring-
ton u Co., Jacob Brothers, James Il
Holstrom, Kranich & Bach, Lindeman
& Sons Piano Co., Mathushek & Son
Piano Co., Paul G.. Mehlin & Sons,
Newly & Evans, Pease Piano Co.,