It will be seen by examination that all of the practical problems which are to be considered by the scale draughtsmen have been fairly treated in this volume and yet the desire of the author has been throughout to avoid tiresome details. Condensation is one of the recognized laws of our day, and in producing this technical work the author has labored to create a volume of convenient size which shall be of service to the student, and to the advanced thinker as well, on account of the accuracy with which the subjects are treated.
This book is not in the remotest sense a history of piano building or development, and it should not be so considered; in fact it has been deemed wise to dip into historical matters only to the extent of showing the application of an enduring principle rather than to give credit to a number of deserving inventors who have worked along special lines. A treatment of worthy inventions would require a much larger volume than this; and while there are many inventors who have given to the world special devices of value, it has not been considered timely to describe them in this volume or to enter into an exposé of their merits or demerits. We may say that this is not a critical work but rather one which we trust may be eminently practical in its mission as an instructive and an educational force.
We may add in closing that the “Theory and Practice of Pianoforte Building” is the only work of its kind ever put forth in the English language, and we have every confidence that it will find a growing demand among music trade people everywhere.
EDWARD LYMAN BILL.
Editorial Rooms,
The Music Trade Review,
New York, May, 1906.
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PIANOFORTE BUILDING.