Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04

most useful, the most resourceful. the
most susceptible to guidance.
Key to Masterpieces
"Do not turn the instrument over to
them with so many rolls of music and
let them regard it merely as mechan-
ical toy on a level with the musical box
of our fathers. Rather let them under
stand that the instrument is provided to
unlock for them the masterpieces of mel
ody from every nation in the world, and
that by a study of the productions of the
great composers and by an analytical
examination of the musical structure of
their works they can learn the elements
and beauties of correct composition
"a child of IL can learn more by re-
peated listening to one of Mendelssohn's
Leder than by hundred hours practice
of The Battle of Prague And the rela-
tive effects of the two on the nerves of
an anxious parent need hardly be dis
cussed.
IT cannot too strongly advise mothers
anxious to develop the musical intelli-
gence of their little ones to examine the
educational advantages of one of these
instruments.
Let them purchase a 'Cecilian,' place
it in their homes and give the children to
understand that its use constitutes a
privilege and reward. Select one or
two special classical pieces with suffi-
cient melody to attract the ear of a child
and let these particular pieces be consid-
cred it's own property. Encourage the
child to play these regularly, and let the
mother sit by the child's side and point
out the different expressions given to the
air by variations in the tempo, etc. The
child is by nature gifted with keen
faculty of imitation, and it will not be
long before he or she begins to appreci-
h. 1s~ft,, lows ,toI,
duce by variations in operating.
after one or two pieces have been
mastered, gradually enlarge the roper
toire, taking great care that the selec-
lions made have intrinsic merit from a
musical standpoint and giving the child
every opportunity to select pieces which
appeal to him.
'By this means the childs musical
perceptions will be quickened to an ex-
tent possible by no other method I
know of.
Sohmer-Ceci;ian
People who to fastidiousness join a
fondness for illusion will share my pleas
ure in learning that a new pianoforte,
called the Sohmer-Cecilian piano, has
been invented which carries within the
frame of the piano, in addition to all the
machinery belonging to itself, the me-
chanism of the 'Cecilian Piano Player
A marvellous dual instrument which is
always ready for use-either in the usual
manner or by simply inserting roll Of
perforated music, as a self-player.
Sitting before this instrument one
feels the magical result of invention as
applied to art; and, to a transcendent
degree one wishes that the great God
Pan, Sitting in the reeds by the river
and playing his simple pipe, might in
deed come back to see what humanity
has developed out of his primitive though
divine creation. The foolish wish lasts
but an instant; for it is dispelled by the
conviction that it is the great God Pan
himself who finally released from the
prison in which mans undeveloped brain
had held him and transferred thence to
the pianoforte, rejoices in that evolution
of man III which he also has found his
completion, viz, The Cecilian.'
The pictures reproduced on this page
represent the George J. Birkel company's
Cecilian hall and their library of per-
forated music rolls. Why not go and
test the possibilities of the Cecilian your
self? You'll find it an interesting study.