The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-12-22
THE PIANOS TONE.
6eme Theories on the Piano That
Are Probably Hypercritical.

Sc me Theories on the Piano That
Are Probably Hypercritical.
:This instrument" said the plane
dealer. as he ran his fingers lightly over
the keys, is uneven in tone It Ia
somewhat worn. You ask $500, but I
cannot give you more than $780,"
can absurd offer,'' exclaimed th0
owner Of the instrument, indignantly.
''That piano is not yet a year old, and
it cost me $400 when new AS regards
its tone, it is better to-day than it was
when I bought it,
There is where you are wrong"
responded the dealer. "Why, there 10
not piano made that holds it's tone
for longer than six months, if it has
been used to any extent, OF course
you, having heard this instrument ev-
cry day, cannot detect any difference
in its tone. AS it has gradually de-
terlorated in quality, your ear has grad
ually deteriorated with it. All mus-
clans know that the ear can be edu-
Gated down as well as up. An artist,
or competent piano salesman, for that
your piano was the worse for wear
a trife wcrn''
But L have a written guarantee
that this instrument would last for five
years, and do you mean to tell me
that it is worn out already?"
ITO all intents and purposes it is as
good as new, and will probably remain
50 as long as your guarantee holds good
and loEger. But it has lost it's original
tone. nevertheless. although the change
would be p2rceptibic only to an educat-
cd ear Pianos are said to last a life
Une and for ordinary uses good ones
90, bit for artistic purposes they last
Dut tive OF SIX months, as have said
NO first-class pianist would give a pub
lie recital on al old Instrument, nor
VIII an artist use an old piano even
for practice. When Paderewski was
Ill this country he used up q new piano
III practice every month. He realized
than even an ear as educated as his
would lose its fine perception Of tone
1t he accustomed 1t to the gradual
changes that time and usage effect in
a piano.
''The ear for tone is such very deli
cate sense that it can be deteriorated
without the knowledge of it's rtssessor.
Custom exerts a powerful influence in
the matter. To employ familiar IL
lustration: You have observed that
those in daily intercourse with the sick
fa1l to mark any material change for
weeks at time. But the changes have
taken place. nevertheless, and are plain
ly noticeable to outsiders.
1T is exactly so with pianos Those
who play upon them every day fail.
to mark the gradual falling Off Of their
tone that time effects. The deteriora-
ton has taken place in such impercep-
tible degrees that the ear has failed to
distinguish it. Hence a piano five or
six years old is as satisfactory to the
ordinary player as it was when he
first bought it, and it was new.
Pianos are at best but imperfect
Instruments, continued the dealer.
The chamos skin caps that cover the
hammers in the middle octaves are
worn down sooner than those in the
upper and lower. because they are
brought into play of TENOR and an un-
cvcnness of tone in the instrument re-
suits. Even the sounding board wears
out in time. The constant vibrations Of
sound to which it is subjected cause a.
disintegratiOn Of particles in the wood
Of which it is made and it becomes
porous, losing its resonant quality So
you see when I offer you $3.50 for your
instrument l am making you fair bid,
especially when you take into consider
alton the fact that I shall have to sell
it for $500 or more to- recompense me
OF my palms,