The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-08
GERMAN INVENTS- 'HYBRD' PIANO
 TO MAKE JAZZ
Quarter-TOne Instrument Described As Bizarre
 Affair


 Press. ),-New fine points for jazz music will be made possible by the invention by Grotian Steinweg of Brunswick, Germany, of a quarter tone piano which produces sounds described as a cross between the gliding airs of ukelele and a banjo and the exotic intervals Of Chinese string piano.
 Two pianos. one of which is tuned I to standard pitch and the other of which is tuned a quarter tone higher, are connected with a keyboard QN which red and brown keys are inserted between the ordinary black and white koys. The playing of this new com ~posite instrument is said to have fas- cinating effect. according to persons who have heard concerts given by the inventor.
 Alois Haba. composer of quarter tone music, who has been at work on scores of this kind for some time, sees far reaching future in quarter tone music and regards Herr Steinweg's invention as epoch-making.
 At the musical festival in Frankfort on-Main in June which will be at- tended by Germany's best known musi- clans as we'll as by musicians from va rious other countries of Europe the quarter tone keyboard will be given a place on the program. If it finds favor it is expected 1t will draw in its wake revolution in piano making.
 Not only will the ear have to be- come accustomed to differentiating be- tween intervals of only quarter of tone but the whole technique of piano playing will be changed Women with small hands will be eliminated as / pianists since the new octave will re- quire a greater hand span. -.-
 The entire mechanism of playing will also become greately complicated since there will be one-third more keys.
 Musical critics who have heard Herr Steinwegs instrument have reserved judgment on it. They appear to fear being classed as old timers if they do not fall in with the modern tendency toward the unusual yet at the same time they admit their ears are not yet educated up to the new invention.
 Schwab Attracts Attention
 Much interest is shown in Germany in the stories printed in newspapers of the activities of Charles M. Schwab. Americal steel magnate. recalling that Loretto, Pa. where Mir. Schwab:s father was born and died was founded
 
 Princess GaliZyn, was one of the lead CTS of the literary set in Prussia when Goethe was in his prime.
 The princess who was a daughter of a Prussian field marshall married a Russian nobleman, diplomat at St. Petersburg. Their son, the prince, went to America at an early age, cast aside his title and took up his studies for the priesthood It is recalled that it was Father Galizyn, who baptized Mir. Schwab's father some years after the priest gave Loretto its start to fame.
 Princess Galzyn made her home at Munster, where there were promi- nent religious and philosophical circles, keeping open house for the literary lights. She often entertained 'Goethe, Count Frederick Tolberg and other prominent authors of the day. s
 Every time the announcement is made that some former member of -the Ger man nobility has entered the com mercial or industrial world there is much rejoicing by the German com munistic newspapers which heartily ap- prove such steps. The communists aver they do not favor the presence of drones in the national life and therefore Prince Sigismund of Prussia, son of Prince Henry and nephew of the for mer Kaiser, is given much publicity in the communist press as a result of the discovery that he is working with a coffee company in Brazil
 The prince has written home that he likes his task immensely and that he is more contented and happy than at any other period of his life. Known as the coffee prince, his job takes him to- various South American countries and every year he will make trips to Germany.
 During the war Prince Sigismund commanded submarine and when the revolution started at Kiel, he escaped dressed as working man and reached Berlin where he was taken into the home of some friends