New-York tribune., 1899-07-23

Come and let me show you where he sings
for US"
Where he sings for u.s. is a queer corner. not
easily to be described in a few words. There is
cottage piano with its ripped out back turned
to the phonograph and its keyboard made NOV
able. placed with the treble keys further from
the phOnOgraph than the bass. The piano stands
on a platform. and between it and the horn is
another platform for Mr.. Sankey This is where
Mr.. Sankey sings "urbi ct orb' for New York
and the rest Of the evangelical world
II must be confessed that the courteous ex-
pert was less occupied with the religious wonder
Of the thing than with the scientific He gloried
in the compliment to his firm implied in Mr.
Sankey's allowing them to make his records and
had much to say about the irnperfectlons-noto-
riously enough. in all conscience-Of the phono-
graph its perfectibility and the prospects OF
better results hereafter The class Of singers OF
whom Photographic records are made does not
include such as the De Reszkes or prima
donnas like Nordca: this everybody knows.
Singers who are famous for their extraordinary
quality Of voice shudder at the bare idea Of
allowing il to be caricatured risk to which
the average phOnograph undeniaby exposes
them. But. It seems. there is another excellent
reason why the great operate stars are not
published" IN this way; they have not acquired
the art Of singing tor record" Mr. Sankey has.
Mr.. CatIin says that this singing for record
now has its own specialists. who receive high
pay for their services one requisite is abso-
lutely perfect memory Of both music and words
that the performance may be entirely free
from the least hesitation Moreover. there must
be- no coughing or clearing of the throat between
ulated according 70 the pitch in relation to the
horn is Of the greatest Importance. It may be-
too. that the operate stars would not willingly
lend their voices and their regulations to that
class of vocal compositions in which my baby"
appears 70 be the centre Of sentiment neither
would the oratorio people: and yet these songs
Of the coon" and allied orders appear to be the
vocal favorites Of the monograph Those who
are in the business Of record making. however
say that there are Indications Of a greater
willingness in future On the part Of the more
famous singers 10 allow themselves 10 be phono-
graphed
But We are more Interested in band and
orchestral records than in anything else" said
Mr Catlin. My partner Mr. Leeds, has spent
many years in experiment and in book study as
we'll 10 ascertain the most favorable conditions
for perfect band records where the timbres OF
the different instruments shall be fairly brought
out great deal is in the cylinder itself. the
shape Of the cOncave sapphire point that cuts it,
and the angle at which the cut is made. But
that IS not half Of IL all The room where the
records are made is the practical expression OF
years Of experiment. and in our specially, the
arrangement Of the band. A band playing for
record is arranged-well. certainly not as 1t is
usually arranged by musical directors. How is 1t
arranged? Perhaps you may get picture show
ing our arrangement of our record band-per-
haps"
From which it was inferred that the expert
had his own plan for the disposition of a record
band and that he had no idea Of making 4 pres
ent Of it 70 his competitors