New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-11

reputation and many celebrated DAM
men use and recommend them'
Tho "hrass band fever caused NUN
ter Of entcrprising men to 20 mo WV
business Of manufacturing military
land Instruments. The brass band IS
now regarded as an institution apS9.
Iu,olv necessary TO this country. ~
has probably done more than any o'nei
agency TO cultivate the musical taS'o
Of our people. Io
Shortly after the brass band crusade
the banjo, which had it's birth III
America, was developed. young man
in Philadelphia, by the name OF D. D.
Stcw. RI. became a skilful banjo player
on one Of the crude old instruments
which were manufactured about IoTV
wears ago Fortunately for the DanJo,
this young man started TO make ana 70
improve these instruments. lie IS calico
the father of the modern banjo FOR
many wears the banjo became TAD IN
this country and in England. an
branches Of society, noblemen, Iad'e'
Of the court, opera singers, mihstreiS
and even beggars, played the Dahyo'
Numerous factories sprung up, ana IN
,nonufacture Of banjo5 in this country
and in ENGLAND became very pron'-
able business. -,
When the banjo was at the zenith 0,
its glory a band Of Spanish students
came 20 America with an orchestra,
composcd Of mandollns, guitars, ban
furrias and Other plectral Instruments
This Spanish organization was com
posed Of such fine musicians mat u
made a sensation in this country. Their
tour started "A craze for the mandolin
and the guitar in the United States.
At that time there were hardly any
mandolin players IN the ChIted ota'eS'
However, in New YORK there were
foy Italians who played the instrument.
One cnterprising Neapoltan conceived
the idea that Italians looked very much
ike Spaniards, so he at once organized
a mandolin, guitar and bandurrla or
obestra. similar to the Spanish Stu
dang Orchestra For business reasons
he named his band "Thc Spanish Stu
dents from Madrid.' This organization
ccncertiZed America from one end 10
the other They were dressed IN span
ish costume and were supposed TO De
Castilian noblemen. All went very well
ith our Italian friends, who were ex-
collcnt musicians, until they ran across
the original Spanish Students IN
some city in the Far West. Naturally,
very animated argument ensued Inc
Spanish Students" popularity IN TINS
country was lost, but the seed when
they had sown broadcast had us re-
suits. Never before in the history OF
music had there been such a craze Tor
mandolins and for guitars.
The ideal instrument for "tanso mu.
sic" and for the music fer number OF
other modern dances is produced on an
instrument known as the mandolin
banjo. This instrument has the head OF
banjo and the lingering OF mando-
lin. IL is played with a pick, or plec-
trum. the same as is the mandolin.
Thousands Of violin players IN TINS
country who derive their CHIEF source
of income from the dance business have
found il necessary to forsake their Vlo-
Inns and learn the mandolin-DahJo. >.
As we mentioned above, the violin
was the pioneer of music in this coun-
trv. It has had steady growth IN this
coI,ntrv and it will continue to grow
Every year produces excellent violin
plavers. and there are more TINS year
than last. The violin is studied by all
branches of society. The development
during the last twenty years has been
phenomenal This country IS destined
70 be one Of the greatest countries IN
the world for advancing the violin
family. There are competent teachers
everywhere. and the country possesses
any amount Of native talent.
The harp, which is frequently called
"the queen Of musical instruments, IS
rapidly coming to the front IN THIS
country. A great many splendid harp
concerts we're given last year. One
prominent harpst in Philadelphla gave
concert with seventeen pupils III
which there were 1900 worth OF harpS
,,.od 4 similar concert was given by
prominent harp teacher IT chicago
A musical manager IN one o. oui
large cities. who has had abundant OPP
portunity to judge. says that the de-
mand for harp players Is much greater
than the supply. There are not enough
harpists in New York City during
Easter. Christmas and similar speclal
seasons to meet the demand. The same
is also true of Boston and Chicago.
During the fall and winter, there are
not enough harpiSts 10 supply the Ge-
mand in the theatrical and vaudeville
circuits. No orchestra to-day Is con-
sidered complete without harp
Theatres in New York City pay $40 per
week for harpists; on the road per-
formers receive $40 and as hlgh as sou
in some Instances. Ordinary engage
ments in the smaller city churches pay
about SO; in the case of wealthy
churches the fee has reached $50. II
a harpist is engaged By the year the
stipend i'm New York City is about the
same a. that of the average tenor or
soprano.
Tho harm Is pre-cmiuently the in