New-York tribune., 1902-04-06

New-York Tribune raises several important ques-
tons:
On what grounds can the modern factory mace
piano. and particularly the Steinway piaiio
be regarded object of art!
Has its development been fostered by the same
conditions which have brought about the renais-
sance of American arts and crafts with which the
How does plano making stand related to the the
other arts and crafts the present moment, ana
are these relations likely to be laSllllS.
THE PIANO A WORK OF TRUE ART.
The makers of the Steinway piano firmly believe
their craft TO be an art. because they have passed
through the steps of the artistic experience An
art is the expression of truth in terms of beauty
behind the beauty-revelation and perception; 1t
formulates this truth into law-science: II appnes
it Incorporates its original xbeauty.and
Whatever exists in this world which does not pass
through these stages Of creative activity NO NO
not recognize them part of his personal ex,
perience Creation is the endowing OF spiritual
vision with body art is nothing diferent or
The vision behind the steinway piano is q beautI,
AIilos is a beautiful body. The craft Of the musi-
cal instrument maker is the more subtle OF 'he
The reality of the artistic quality of piano making
ufacture, or rather that art is made by haho
but by If So anS P9reP 81
Here we have conditions precisely 5n similar to
macRine niS 'e The art lies in the design the craft
In the weaver, the mechanic The art is the OBJ
tanning OF the product-beauty.
ALI. ARTS TO AN EXTENT MANUFACTURED.
When one stops to consider. comparatively few
arts can be or are conveniently completed In the
scope OF but one personality. In the beginning art
was one 1t is still a unity but in diversity The
possibilities of expression that have since dfVerged
into Independent arts Michelangelo was not only
an architect painter and sculptor but also poet
Few poets handle a brush; few archltects
model human figure Salvador Rosa was
not only painter. but also composer These
arts are widely separated. Milton was fine
organist, and Browning followed him in this par
ticular. But few poets now possess the Qualifca-
line Of poet-composers united as matter or
course Leonardo da Ninci added to his abilities
painter and sculptor the professional actlVltles
IF engineer. Who expects an inventor 10 De
adays? Art has become complex; like the Baby
lonian Tree of Life, its branches pear all manner
Of diverse fruits. Even In the complete ex-
preston Of single art we have become specialists
their dramas; to-day the dramatic poet ex-
poets confide his roles to the actor Josquin
de Pre- sang his own lay; but Wagner needed an
hundred men his orchestral utterance. Patti
training but the Steinway voice needed Rubin
stein and Paderewsk to thrill the world Mac
Monnies does cast his models: Mckm.
Mead and White do not handle chisel or in
that has given rise to its subsidiary craft
The art of the creative musical instrument maker
is not less because IL is half of perfect
marriage. Neither is 1t less an art because the
that many of the operations Of its manufacture
can be better done by machinery than by hand.
Machinery itself is the twin of 1t is first
in a vision; 1t is born of rhythm and fed by energy