The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-16

Writing in the May issue Of the Piano
Magazine and Music Industry, G. A.
Daniel, a former resident of this city.
has the following to say regarding the
placing of music rolls for player pia-
nos in the Morrisson-Reeves library
for distribution by the Starr Piano
company:
1t is now too late to discuss the in
fiuence OF the modern player piano
upon the rehnements of the people
The growth of deeper, fuller and
more real love for music is one of the
certain results of the perfect facili-
ties for hearing such music, and espe-
cially of becoming familiar with its
proper Interpretation. And, however
much we may talk about "mechanicar
music. il still remains true that the
player piano, in it's better development
may easily afford vastly better perfor-
possible to the flesh and blood perfor-
mers with the very few exceptions of
really great pianists. And how many
really great pianists are there today?
But it is not to discuss either the de-
velopment of musical possibilities or
the approximate perfection of the mod
ern player piano that this article is
written. 1t is rather to draw attention
to the latter phase of music for the
people which has been brought about
by the introduction of the player
piano. 1t is the fact, perhaps, not gen
orally understood. that the player
piano rolls, or records of master
pieces of music are beginning to find
a place alongside the permanent rec
ords of genius in other departments Of
intellectual creation designed for free
distribution. For the player piano
rolls have now been given a place in
the public library of one of the most
progressive and wealthy cities of the
middle west. Who can doubt that
nothing more is required than the sug-
gestion. or better the example, of the
city alluded to to start a movement
which shall end in establishing player
piano roll departments in every public
library in the country?
Music Like Literature.
Certainly there is every reason why
the music of the masters should be
thus made accessible to the people.
The libraries are for the enlighten-
ment and entertainment of all of the
people in the intellectual realm. Music
is as much a written language as liter
ature. 1t is now. by the means of the
player piano, as easily interpreted as
the typewriter page. And there is no
denying that in music there is none of
the shadowy possibilities which are
often found in literature, however
great the genius, or whatever the por-
tentious purpose of the most powerful
writer's. There will be no need of a
censor in the player piano roll depart.
ment of the libraries. There will be
no casting out of the works of any
master of music because of some in.
terpollation, some suggestion of evil.
or some ill-natured stab at character
or distortion of historical facts. Music,
even the "rag-time," is free from the
soil and the smut that too often sticks
to the works of even literary inspira.
ton.
The time is near when the player
piano will be of such general use as to
cause a demand, even in the smaller
cities, that the public libraries contain
complete lists of the more important
records, just as they do of the books
that endure. 1t will then be possible
for the family of most moderate means