The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-11

At dinner party in distant city not % very long ago certain orchestral con ductor of some note sat next to a hand some and brilliant young lady who is noted for saying what she likes and also for saying it whenever and wherever she may feel disposed so to do.
 h When the champagne had begun to flow rather freely the lady suddenly turned to yhet musical partner, and said;
 ' s'Thes sofean is played with the feet. Ssn't it2''
 Partly the gentleman of the baton. whose ears turned very red on the in- stant. replied
 I'm surprised then that you didn't become an organist rather than an or chestral leader" i, Now. the young lady's "bon mot was repeated and then again repeated. and it was quite worth it, still when one comes | to sift the question right down to solid facts, when music Is made with the feet 1t can't be real music" unless the head plays an important part in 1t too. It's the same old question of mind over matteri-and the person who essays to be the man behind the gun" in mechan- Ycal effects is bound to have tempera- ment as well as brains and education.
 Of course, you run across people who sit at a piano (which Is equipped with some sort of mechanical effect') and they grind out music by the hour. Don't lyou remember how Laura Murdock' in "The Easiest Way thundered away on the pianola that morning and poor Brock lton sat rubbing his head-looking like he lwould die if he heard another note?
 Well. that was "grinding'-and there S as vast difference between grinding and Interpreting "canned music (speaking in common parlance) as there is between Iplaying the piano well--like Mrs. Aldrich Ipiays4and-wel!, just playing!
 Mechanical music, has come to be such an important factor in modern times that the producer of it must make it q study to make 1t effective. NN
 Mir. Charles Edouard Howe of Chicago, who Is visitor to the city at present. is perhaps better known as a demonstra tor of the possibilities of mechanical music than any other person who has made ths subject study.
 I was talking to him yesterday about the programme which he will present at the premiere this afternoon of a num- lber of recitals at Cable hall which MT. lB. B. Burton, the afrable and agree &abIe manager of the Cable Piano com pany. has instituted for the pleasure of music lovers here, and I heard some rather interesting phases of mechanical music. For instance. said Mir. Howe, 'you take the Inner Player Piano which I shall luseat my recital this afternoon. It stops short-point blank-with the mere notes. That's an end to its mission. The rest lies entirely with the performer. If one has temperament-musica temperament tLgere is no reason why he shouldn't bring out the most beautiful effects. The tempo, the rhythm. the phrasing-everything Is at his command, just as when the pianist has mastered technique-then he must supply the rest''
 x ntDo you find that people generally take to mechanical music?' asked.
 "The value of 1t from an educational standpoint Is responsible largely for its vogue,' replied MT. Howe. ITO quote an instance, up in Chicago there Is little s-year-oid tot who Is a friend of mine His mother bought an Inner Player Piano. Every evening the family enjoyed con- ceft given by her-she was quite musical end played delightfully."- herself. The lit- t. boy became very much interested r nally he begged to play 1t himself. His little feet scarcely reached the pedals, but he at last accomplished 1t. One aft ernoon some little. piaymates came to visit him and after they had been at his ho'ue a few minutes he asked them if they wanted to hear some music. They replied in the affirmative and the little fellow played a Chopin nocturne for them. Imagine tot of years knowing .that there was such . thing as Chopin -nocturne! To make long story short. .she young man entertained his little