ANCIENT INSTRUMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 958, 29 April 1930, Page 10

ANCIENT INSTRUMENTS

FORERUNNERS OF MODERN PIANOFORTE ADDRESS BY MR. A. EADY Before the pianoforte was invented musicians produced melodies from queer old instruments—first the dulcimer, which was played by being struck with a small hammer, then the spinet, the clavichord and the harpsichord. Descriptions of these quaint forerunners of the modern instrument were given last evening by Mr. Alfred Eady, who addressed members of the Auckland Piano Students’ Association in the Lewis Eady rooms. Miss Joyce Parker, president, introduced the speaker, also Mr. A. Don who, during the evening, played several solos. Mr. Eady dealt with the evolution of percussion instruments, stringed instruments and wind instruments. Describing the latter, he said that their origin came from the celebrated pipes of Pan, out of which had grown the modern organ. During the evening Mr. Eady played a number of illustrative gramophone records, illustrated. his lecture with lantern slides, and, at the piano, accompanied Mr. Don, who played solos on an oboe, a saxophone, a clarinet, and a bassoon. At the conclusion of the address Miss Parker thanked the speaker on behalf of the members.