The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-05-18
Honolulu, May Is, 1909.

Editor Advertiser: Recently pamph-
let in German was handed me and as I
am doubtful that the pamphlet is OBJ
tainable in English, and as the subject
is of considerable interest [ will make
several excerpts and TRANSACTIONS and
leave it entirely to your discretion
whether the matter and the way | am
able to present it is worthy of space
in your paper.
For years a discussion has been con-
Quoted in the musical press of Germany
regarding the superior quality of the
violins made by the old Italian mas
tiers; and the center of the stage is now
held by one Dr. Grossmann, who asserts
that violin can be constructed today
| that is the equal of the best old instru-
ments, and backs up the assertion by
| building instruments that are attested
to be equal to the old instruments by
such artists as Arthur Nikisch, Alexan
der Sebald, Eugene Ysaye, Jan Won
Oordt and many others. The latter
says: These violins are wonderful in
struments. They are entirely equal to
the best Italians. Yesterday in my con
evening a frst-class old Cremonese. l
rendered two eneores on an entirely
new violin made by Seifert and Gross
| mann. The tone was in fact fuller,
stronger and more brilliant than the
| tone of my own Cremona. I was es-
peeially surprised by the easy adapt
liability and great penetration. The in
strument fully responded to my inten-
Itions."
DR.. Grossmann in his pamphlet.
stDoes Age and Much Playing Really
Improve the Tone of the Violins,'' gives
to the world his secret of how to con-
struct instruments that are equal to the
best in existence and in SO doing he
sets commendable example. He has
discovered a principle in violin con-
struetion which is highly susceptible of
commercial exploitation, but instead of
so doing he puts at the disposal of any
one who can utilize his discovery the
facts as they appear TO him. His ideas
are entirely revolutionary and he un-
qnalifedly asserts that an instrument
is either good or poor and that it Is
never improved by use or age. He
seems to have discovered valuable
fact and has woven about this fact a
philosophy which fouts the idea of
Improvement with use or age. Much
that he says in this connection seems
superficial while the main part of his
argument is palpable and is borne out
by the fact that he can furnish the
proof in tangible shape.
His theory is that the main point
| in the construction of stringed Instru-
ments is the harmonious attunement OF
the back and front Of the instrument.
Shape, polish and even material are
secondary considerations. He asserted
that a good violin could be constructed
of poor material, that is, of such wood
| that is recognized as not suitable.
prominent violin maker, Mr.. Lietschg,
| denounced his assertion as nonsense,
| whereupon DR.. Grossman proposed that
| they each build violin. Herr Lletschg
was to select the poorest wood he could
1 find of which he was convinced that
good violin could not be constructed,
and give it to DR.. Grossman to build his
| violin: while Mr.. Lietschg was to select
his own materials. DR.. Grossmann was
| to turn the making of the violin over
| to a Mr. Seifert, violin maker IN Ber-
| lin, and reserve to himelf only the
/ harmonic attunement of the two sound
! ing boards, that part which he con-
| tended to be the most important FACTOR.
Here layman with poor material was
| to be pitted against recognized pro-
fessional with good materials. II ever,
success in this case would prove the
value of DIR. Grosmann S theory and the
issue is interesting.
Mr.. Lietschg selected piece OF COM
mon white pine board and cut cross
| grain and tainted the Doctor to bulid
| a violin. The absolute unsuitablllty OF
| this piece of wood was SO apparent that
| he left it to his opponent to select ms
own material for the back, convinced
| that a good instrument could not pos
| siblv be constructed from such material.
| DR.. Grossmann went at his task, Sc
| lected piece of common maple WOOD
| which had not been originally intended
| for violin material and finished has IN
| strument with common cane Yarnlsh,
| the poorest proeurable. The finlshed
violin was handed to Prof. Joachim
| who had been informed of the questions
involved. who examined the offal of the
hoard to ascertain that the violin had
really been constructed from the board
submitted. and then proceeded to test
the instrument. comparing the violin
with Stradivarius, thus making the
examination as thorough as possible.
He was surprised that a violin con,
structed of such poor material could
possibly have such a beautiful tone, ana
especially noted the easy adaptahlilty
and The purity of the tone and Wlshed
| to try the violin in large hall SO as 20
/ better Judge the volume.
| DR.. Grossmann attaches the greatest
/ value to the items of easy adaptabliIty
and purity of tone of Prof. joachim $
| Endorsement as these are the two main
| qualities of violins which are supposed
| to be due to age and use. He holds
| that this test is proof that the man
| factor in violin construction IS the
,ro,,.,r a +funanoar+ IN each other OF the