Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06

installing brand-new ex-
hibit which is both imposing
and unique. as it is less
than a large and varied col
lection of odd and antique pianos The
museum has collections of every kind
and description. curios and antiquities
from all parts of the globe. as well as
endless assortments of historical and
mechanical exhibits which portray the
patient skill and inventive genius of
man from prehistoric times. but never
in all of the many displays of arts and
pianos.
Now it is preparing to show the mag
nificent collection of eighty pianos
loaned by Hugo Worch of this city. and
a. present half of the collection may be
seen in the circular corridor on the
third floor of the building. where it is
temporarily arranged on platforms and
against the wall So imposing is this
array of ancient instruments that the
visitor thinks he has stumbled into
piano warehouse.
Mr. Worch has spent over twenty-five
years in gathering and arranging his
collection of early American and for
eign pianos, which now numbers two
hundred. Most of these were more or
less dilapidated, some almost entirely
ruined, and ALL or nearly all, were dis
carded by their owners. to be sold as
junk or used in the purchase of modern
instruments. Many required many
months of work to get back some
semblance of their original appearance.
Though Mr.. Worch is loaning less
n TO he
scum. the exhibit there has been plan
ned with great care and will express
definite idea. showing the evolution of
the American piano When the exhibit
is completed and all eighty instruments
are displayed every maker of note both
native and foreign, whose labors were
spent during the period from 1866 to
1s3" will be represented bJ a specimen
there will also be twelve uprights of
the period from 1903 to 1880. showing
the progress and development in this
now most popular style of piano.
At hrst glance some of these queer
old upright pianos look more like fold
ing beds, bookcases. secretaries, organs
or even chests for the family linen.
rather than pianos. for they plainly ex-
press the uncertainty of style and de-
sign of their makers Some are appall-
ingly tall and thin. with secretiye-
looking silk or leather panels or pleat-
fngs; others are thick and dumpy.
while the first style of upright to come
out Is nothing more than a type of
large square grand. turned up on the
broad end.
In recent interview Mr. Worch ex-
planned the origin of the piano. or
pianoforte, as 1t should be called. the
name expressing the difference he
tween 1t and the various keyed strinsed
instruments which preceded it in in
vention.
The square piano." said Mr.. Worch
was first introduced in England In
1906, by German named Johann
Zumpe. at the time in the employ of a
London harpsichord maker 1t was
directly evolved from the clavichord
and harpsichord, and differs from these
instruments chiefly in the introduction
of hammers with which to put the
strings in vibration, connected with the
keys by mechanism that enables the
player to modify the sound at will
This popularity gives it it's name
piano. being the Italian for soft" and
forte for loud"
so there were no pianos in existence
before 1862" Mr.. Worch was asked
NO. the pianoforte came into use
just ten years before the Declaration
of Independence. and was the latest
development in keyed stringed instru-
ments. These, however had their origin