Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-21
MUSIC AS AN ART
FINDS EXPRESSION
LOCAL SUPPLY HOUSE GIVES
MOVING IMPULSE
Expert knowledge of Worlds Leading
Musical instruments Lends VaIu-
able Assistance Alike to
Masters and Pupils
BY GEE O'JAN

There is, so artists say, but one per-
feet manmade thing in al, the world
and that is the violin. In the long ago
genius shaped its exquisite curves and
located its principles of tone producing,
and the Instrument is, to all ntents and
purposes, the same today as it was in
that far away day.
From time to time he hear of mechan-
ical contrivarces that, the inventors de-
clare, will supersede the violin, but they
fade away to the musical junk pile. You
can no more improve the vioin than you
can paint the lily and better it thereby.
There is no tone like that of the violin.
1t suggests every motion, paints in your
mental eye every color of the spectum
evades you caresses and scorns you-and
all of this magic is dore simply by draw
| ing a few strands of horse hair across
a ligament of catgut!
| Wonderful, isn't it?
Rare VioIins Give Rich Tones
Did you ever look closely at a really
old violin? L am not asking the musician
| this question, but the lover of the work
of master artist. If you have never done
this go down to the Geo. j. Birkel COM
panys establishment at 345-SF South
Spring street and ask Mr.. Earl r.. Store,
the salesman in charge of their small
goods department, to show you a few of
the instruments in the collection installed
there 1 will not attempt to describe the
many gems in this galaxy of high-grade
nstruments-sufficien it is to say that
it is a superb collection-probably the
finest in the west.
Not only has the Birkel company
| fine assortment of violins but every
other instrument is there in large num-
bers. I venture to say that one could
frd instruments enough in their stock
to completely furnish a large symphony
orchestra, couple of military bands, a
| dozen or so mandolin ard guitar clubs
and a drum and fife corps and then leave
them enough to supply pupils by the hun
dred.
The Attractive Ukulele
The very latest addition to the Birkel
| company's stock is the ukulele-the most
charming of all of the Hawaiian musical
| instruments. introduced to the Pacific
coast by Professor Kia, native Ha-
waiian musician.
The ukulele is shaped like guitar, but
is much smaller. 1t is played by strum-
ming ard skipping the fingers from one
side of the instrument to the other, hence
the name ukulele-meaning a bouncing
! flea.
All the principal agencies in brass,
reed and stripged instruments are COW
ered-a Photographic reproduction of the
| displays appearing with this article. The
stock of sheet music and books is cor
ceded to be ore of the best in the coun-
| try, and has a large and most seIect pro-
fessional following.
Here is an article I clipped from a re-
cent number of the New York Musical
Courier. It's perusal will be interesting.
Store Reflects Musical Sentiment
"If music in Los Angeles ard Southern
| California has been advancing with the
momentum described it must have had
! and did have supporting and encouraging
| forces through and by which its future
could be practically sustained in the sup
ply of those means through which 1t be-
! comes manifest.
"Music speaks through instruments, and
the whole history of it's development is
an identification with the development of
musical instruments; in fact some of its
philosophers proclaim that the inventive
genius of the instrument always pre-
ceded the musical creator.
'In my own humble option it always
appeared as if the progress of the two
was coordinate from the very fact that
| they are interdependent. But beginning
with the voice, music speaks through ma
terial and mechanical means and the
|
ment.
"It has it to qualifying degree in
! Southern California through the fact that
there exists at Los Angeles the well
known George j. Birkel company, a. firm
identified not Only with supplying all that
is needed and required in a community
| of musical interests, but a firm whose
activity radiates throughout the musical
world where it operates, thereby stimulat-
ing and cuitivating musical appetite, ard
in a proper direction.
Covers Entire Range
1.-THE Instruments with which this is
accomplished represent musical enlarge
ment and progress the world over, an6
| their representation in Los Angeles i;
| maintained on an elevated basis by this
| George Birke company music firm.
"The Steinway pianos and the Kranicf
| & Bach pianos exercise a vital force here
through the conscientious and artistic
spirit in which the public of this center
! is instructed and cultivated and fol
twenty years past has this been the ef-
fort and aim of the firm of Birke
Both George j. Birkel. president, ard
e. A. Geissler, vice president I'd secre-
/ 10. ten. fok .arf Of ae