The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-15
Presto-what is a Harmorium? I?

ment which in Europe takes the place
of the reed organ common to the homes
of this country. The reeds of the har-
monium are not so thin as those of our
reed organs, and are, In consequence,
not so prompt of speech. Another i'm
pOrtant difference is that in the har-
monium the wind is forced through the
reeds; in the cabinet organ air is sucked
through the reeds into the bellows,
hence the decided difference in the
quality of tone produced. The tone of
the harmonium is louder, more stri-
dent and carrying, while that of the
cabinet organ is more melodious and
sweet The American reed organ is
very popular in England, where it is
known as the american organ" in con-
ira distinction to the harmonium. Our
American reed organ manufacturers
have not been slow to take advantage
of the English liking for their instru-
ments by establishing agencies all over
the kingdom, consequently almost every
"music-shop' in England announces it's
ability to supply you with the latest
improved American organ" L forgot
to mention another difference between
the harmonium and reed organ, ana
that is the compass. The usual reed
organ has a compass of five octaves:
the harmonium has the same, but the
lowest key Of the former Is +, that of
the latter is C; consequently the up
ward compass is greater in the har-
monium, and the lower compass is
greater in the reed organ. This dis
crepanCy is most unfortunate. Many
beautiful original compositions have
been written for the harmonium, also
many arrangements have been made
from the classics for that instrument,
but as they almost invariably require
keys beyond the compass of the reed
organ they cannot be used on that in
strument unless it has the unusual six
octave compass. This matter of COM
pass has been freely discussed in the
English musical journals, but thus far
the American manufacturers have
pretty generally clung to the old COM
pass, declaring at the same time that
It is the most practical. If | were pur-
chasing a reed organ for my own use
! would require one of six octave COM
pass or. if it had a regular pipe organ
pedal board, one of the pipe organ or
harmonium compass.
NJ. L.-Will you please give the gem
ealogy of the celebrated Strauss fam
lily. noted for the compositions of
| waltzeS? Who was the original
Strauss, when was he born and how
many sons had he who were waltz
composers? Also please state whether
the present Richard Strauss, COM
poser and orchestra leader is of the
| waltz family or not
Answer.-Johann Strauss, the elder,
| was born in 1904 at Vienna. In 1928.
he established an orchestra of his
| own, with which he made extensive
tours, everywhere meeting with i'm
mense success. Later ne was made
conductor of the Court Balls of Vienna,
| where he died in lS49. He wrote 2t9
| works, most Of them being dances.
! Johann Strauss, the younger, son of
| the preceding, was born in 1926 at
! Vienna. Ite composed much fascinat-
! ing dance music--over 500 works, it is
said. Joseph Strauss, born in 1927, and
! Eduard Strauss, 1885, the younger
| brothers of the foregoing, like him,
| inherited the gift of composing and
| conducting dance music. Joseph
Strauss died in 1870. The present Rich
| ard Strauss, whose compositions for
| orchestra have called forth so much
| comment is not, l believe, one of the
| famous Strauss family. l had the
| privilege of seeing him conduct sorle
| of his compositions in the Philhar-
monte at Berlin in 1891. His compost
| tiOns are what is termed program
music: that is, although instrumen-
| tai works they were composed to suit
the subjects of great dramatic works
| or poems, hence endeavor to portray
scene without the aid of words
o
| T.-liow is the most successful male
| party of the world managed? Who is
| the conductor? How would a male
| party in Scranton be most success
fully managed in order to insure its
| permancncy?
Answer.-The most successful male
| chorus, so far as i am acquainted, is
the Mendelssohn Glee club, of New
| York. The conductor is Mr.. Edward
Mcdowell, the well known composer.
| Another splendld male chorus is the
| Apollo club of Boston. Mr.. b. ]. Lang,
| conductor. AS to how a male chorus
could be best managed in Scranton
| can not say. What works in one place
may not work in another. The Apollo
| club of Boston, is managed, or used
to be as follows The club is composed
| of active and honorary members. The
| honorary members pay ten dollars d
| year, the active members pay five dol
| lars The active members sing and
are admitted to the club only after
examination as to their ability. The
! concerts of the club are given by sub
| scriptlon only Active and honorary
members are entitled to four tickets to
each concert, to sell or give away as
| they see fit. Persons who subscribe
| for the concerts pay certain sum and
receive a certain number of tickets for
each concert of the entire season. The
money received from the subscriptions
and the members is all paid out in
the general expenses and in providing
| for the orchestra and soloists. 1t is a
rule of the society that no money
shall be left over. The more money
| received the more money expended in
securing a higher grade of soloists
The rchearsals are held in large room
over Chickering hall.
A. T.-Is "Anogretto" slower or
faster than "Allegro"?
Answer -"Allegretto" is the diminu-
tive of "Allegro" and is consequently
slower.
| q
| Pastor-What is your ideal OF a
church choir? DO YOU prefer a quar-
| tette choir to a chorus choir?
Answer.-My ideal of church choir
is "A combination of a quartette and
chorus, every member of which is paid.
This last item insures good voices,
good readers and prompt attendance.
| 1t was my good fortune to have such