Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-11-21
RETURNS FROM VIENNA.


struments-He Secures the Pianos
of Mozart and Haydn.
from the American Art Journal
Mr.. Morris Steinert, the popular head of |
the firm of M. Steinert & Sons, returned
on Wednesday last from Vienna, where he
has been spending the last six months at
the musical and dramatic exposition. Mr..
Steinert, when seen by an American Art
Journal representative few hours after
his arrival on the City of Paris, seemed to
have suffered no i'll effects from the very
stormy voyage. Speaking of his famous
collection, which has been increased from
twenty four to seventy-fve instruments,
and of his trip abroad, Mr.. Steinert said:
= 'sMy mission has been simply to show to
the musical profession how the compost
lions of Bach sounded on instruments for
which they were written. Though in
Bach's time the pianoforte had been in
vented 1t was not in general use. In fact,
Bach was averse to it, The keyed instru-
ments then used differed entirely in con-
struction from the present pianoforte.
The player was then in more direct com
munication with the strings of his instru-
ment, which he could make vibrats in
manner resembling to greater degree the
violin. The instrument I refer to is
called the clavichord. Bach's style is
that of the fugue, and it sprung
from vocal music, a continuous long
sounding tone, which cannot be
produced from the instruments of the
present time. Mendelssohn about fifty
years ago brought out compositions of
Bach, playing them upon the present
pianoforte, but the instrument they were
composed for was the clavichord, and that
was lost. I have been engaged during the
past ten years in the study of Bach, and in
| Investigating and searching for the in
strument he used, found it and studied
| how to play his compositions upon that
| instrument, and to demonstrate to the
| American people, first in universities, then
| in high schools, then in ladies' seminaries
and to musicians in general, and have
been successful. I went abroad with
the object in view of further studying
this subject, and to my great sunrise
found the ignorance prevailing in
Europe far more dense than that in
America. I took my collection to the
| Vienna exhibition, where it was placed
together with collections from Great
Britain, Austria, Germany, Spain and the
private collection of Rothschild, and
found without an exception that the
instruments composing these collections
have mentioned were broken down and
were unfit for use, we'll enough to look
upon as curios, but useless from the
| players standpoint. Ny collection alone
of all others was in playable order and in
condition for use. At Vienna I lectured
daily between and 6 O'Clock on the
history Of my instruments, and I also
played upon them. The most promi
nent musicians heard them ant
listened with surprise and de
light and went away thorough,
satisfied that the study of the harpsichorC
and the claviehord was worthy of investi
cation, and assuseful to classical musica
ough collegiate course. 1 received invita-
! tons to lecture from all the principal cit
les in Europe, and Sir George Grove of tn
Royal College OF Musicians of Englan,
personally invited me to lecture there.
, was obliged to decline, however, as wa
unable to get my Instruments to Great Bri.
ain. The conservatory of music in Vienna
t the finest conservatory, by the by, in tn
( world, took the greatest interest in m
r work and invited me to lecture on the sui
ject of the early pianoforte for the benef
of the faculty and the advanced pupils c
I | that splendid institution. This invitation
: accepted with much pleasure, and my wor
i there was very successful. Ny lectures WEI
! listened to with much interest by the facult
of the conservatory. As they expresse
30 much satisfaction with my work, I, fc
: the purpose Of insuring the continuance
q the study of the classics, presented IL
T Vienna conservatory with a clsvichort
A with a proviso that it be studied by al
4 vanoed pupils, and played upon in publ
at least twice a year, which condition
:. were cheerfully accepted. The mo-
q prominent musicians have already unde
e taken to study and teach the Bach scho
Il in it's primitive form, and to compare tn
It method with the present manner of pls,
}. ing upon the piano. Thus better unde
standing of the subject of these compos
l. tions is obtained by comparing the origin
with those as practiced now.
j. Among many musicians who honored II
}, with visits was the brother of the emper'
% of Austria, Carl Ludwig, Princess Matte
+ mich, hans Richter and Pietro Mascagr
In my search for old instruments I four
J. at Salzburg the pianoforte formerly ownt
by Mozart, which purchased. WAS al
Il fortunate in obtaining the Grand plan
81 formerly belonging to Haydn. Ny collie
70 ton. consisting of seventy-fve instr
ia ments, will come over on four separa
"a steamers.