The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

The Talking Machine World Vol. 4. No. 9, APPRECIATION OF GRAND OPERA To be Stimulated by an Educational Campaign in Which the Talking Machine Will be Utilized — Metropolitan Co.'s Good Work. A meeting in Carlsbad, Austria, recently, attended bj' Julio Gatti-Casazza, Andreas Dippel and Otto H. Kahn of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, had for its object the consideration of means to create a universal interest in operatic chorus singing in the United States. It is planned to encourage local musical clubs to study operas suggested by competent authorities. As far as possible the Metropolitan Opera will, whenever requested, lend its cooperation by sending efficient soloists and furnishing whatever else may be requisite to enable a satisfactory performance. Communities that are favorably situated may want a whole cast, including scenery, the visiting cast comprising a small stock chorus of experts to act as leaders of the local chorus with which it is combined. A national league of Metropolitan Opera clubs will carry the plan into operation. Lectures, in which phonographic records hold a prominent place with stereopticon slides picturing scenes from the operas, will be supplied to promote the organization of local clubs for the study and performance of the opera. BRYAN LISTENS TO HIMSELF. Hears His Own Phonograph Record, Then Calls for Taft's. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Sioux City, la., September 3, 1908. William Jennings Bryan, while in St. Paul yesterday, spied a picture of himself in a music store window, announcing the sale of the records of his ten famous "canned" speeches. He darted inside and asked for a "can" of his remarks on the guarantee of bank deposits. "I never heard myself speak," he said, "and I want to see what the American people have to endure." Clerks and customers gathered around and listened, but none more eagerly than Mr. Bryan. When the speech was over he applauded and cried: "I am absolutely convinced. Now let us have Mr. Taft." Taft on "Jury Trials in Injunction Cases" was the record put on by the clerk and not a dozen words had been spoken before Mr. Bryan said: "Why, that does not sound like him." That was all he would say. UNREGENERATE MAY PROFIT By the Canned Sermon Crusade if Their "Better Halves" Get the Habit — How the Jaded Man May Get Religious Truths. The use of the talking machine by the Chicago ministers as a means of supplying sermons during their absence on vacation has led to many suggestions for a broader use of the "talker." One caustic individual believes that the canned sermon innovation could be carried still further with much profit to the unregenerate who do not go to church except when dragged there by the more pious members of the family. Think of what a boon it would be to the woman whose husband is so busy during the week that he is in a state of collapse at church time Sunday morning! It would take from her conscience the strain of responsibility for his spiritual welfare. She could borrow a cylinder and start the phonograph before she and the children leave for church. Thus it would be possible to administer religious truths to a jaded man while he is imbibing information and mental strength from the morning paper and his pipe. The man who New York, September J 5, 1908. is forced, despite his conscientious scruples and the traditions of his early training, "to go to the office" on the Sabbath morning could mitigate the offense by putting a cylinder in his pocket. In fact there are hundreds of ways in which the canned sermon might be utilized particularly during the pastor's vacation. While the minister is away, by all means let the phonograph play. PATENT NEED NOT RE WORKED But Patentee Is Still Protected Against Infringement— An Important Decision by Justice McKenna of Interest to Inventors. The right of a patentee or assignee to let the patent lie dormant in a pigeon-hole during its life and at the same time protect it against infringement was upheld recently in a decision handed down by Justice McKenna, in the Supreme Court of the United States, in the suit of the Eastern Paper Bag Co. against the Continental Paper Bag Co. According to the decision, an inventor receives nothing from the law that he did not already possess. A patent operates merely to restrain others from making and using for a limited period what he has invented. If he so chooses, an inventor may keep his discovery to himself. He is given a monopoly by patent in order that he may be induced to disclose it. The franchise which a patent grants consists altogether in the right to exclude everyone from making, using, or vending the thing patented without the permission of the patentee. If the patentee sees fit not to use his device, he has but suppressed his own. His title is exclusive. He is no more compelled to work his patent than the owner of a piece of real estate is compelled to build a house upon it. "THE BIOGRAPHER OF THE FUTURE." Such Is the Talking Machine for All Great Events Will be Recorded — Records of Both Presidential Candidates Ensure Buyers Having the Voice of the Future President for All Time. As pointed out by the National Co. in their recent advertising those who purchase records made by Presidential candidates may possess souvenirs of high value after election if they happen to have those records made by the fortunate candidate. Many men have purchased the full series of records made by both men, so no matter what the result, they will possess examples of the President's oratory to hand down to posterity as a valued heirloom. Those who have bought only the records of their favorite candidate naturally have their personal opinion of the future high value of the records and may or may not have their dreams shattered in November. If President Roosevelt persists in his determination to refrain from having his voice recorded, the next President, taking it for granted, of course, that it will be either Taft or Bryan, will be the first executive to enjoy that distinction. And how much it means. How many Democrats and, even members of the political parties, would value records bearing some of the sentiments of the late President Cleveland, or how many Americans of all political beliefs would delight in possessing the speech of Lincoln in the actual tones of that most wonderful character in American history. Truly, it would seem that the talking machine will be the biographer of the future. AUXETOPHONE IN RECITAL. A Victor Auxetophone was recently installed in the Hotel Schenley, Pittsburg, Pa., in order to take part in the last summer festival orches Price Ten Cents tral concert given in the hotel. An orchestra of eight pieces under the direction of Eugene Lignante. accompanied each number. The entertainment took place on the large porch of the hotel during the dinner and supper hour and during the intermission of the Pittsburg Festival orchestra. It is the intention of the management to enclose the porch in glass, so that it can be used, through the fall and winter months. Concerts will be given on the porch from 6.30 until 11.45 every evening. Mr. Riley, the proprietor, was in New York recently at the Waldorf-Astoria, where one of these machines was performing. The applause was so enthusiastic after each number that he decided to introduce it in Pittsburg and judging from the way it was received the first time It will be a tremendous drawing card. THE MAKING OF RECORDS. Great Artists Are Invariably Nervous When Engaged in This Work — Thought and Preparation Necessary to Secure Results. "There is a great difference of temperament which is manifested when a record is to be made. Generally speaking, the great artists are nervous lest they should not do themselves justice when making a record. Every precaution is taken against failure, and a song will sometimes be sung a dozen times before a satisfactory result is attained. The question of the time taken in singing is all-important, because the whole record has to be completed in about four minutes and sometimes a singer has not gauged the length of the solo accurately, with the result that before the song is finished the record is ended. Mme. Melba makes wonderful records immediately, for there seems to be in her case no thought of failure of the very highest results. Her singing, when making records, is superb. "The making of orchestral music records involves a good deal of thought and preparation; instrumental music can easily be too over-powering to be effective, says Cassell's magazine. The violin solos by Mischa Elman are so perfect that it has been difficult to convince people that the wonderful young player was not performing himself. Some of his records were lately played at Liverpool, and the boy violinist was listening in a box with all the absorption that some one who had never heard his playing would show. The fact is for a performer to hear his own voice or his own playing comes as a startling surprise. Mme. Melba, listening to her own voice three years ago, exclaimed, 'Heavens! but it's me,' and Mme. Patti's astonishment at the perfect reproduction of her singing was equally great. Some artists shiver with apprehension before they hear the reproduction of their voices. The harp is one of the most difficult instruments to record; the piano and violin come out very easily, and the organ is also rendered efffectively." TALKING MACHINE FOR NIGHT SCHOOL. In connection with resolution of the Educational Committee of the London (Eng.) City Council that a musical advisor and inspector be appointed to superintend the teaching of music in the day and evening schools and other education institutions of the city, it has been strongly suggested that the talking machine be adopted to demonstrate the various lectures on music. HOSPE'S SALES OF AUXETOPHONES. A. Hospe & Co., Omaha, Neb., hold a record of having sold three Victor Auxetophones since July 1. One went to a local theater, another to Iowa, and the third has just been delivered to a moving picture theater in Guernsey, Wyo. The sales were certainly well distributed.