AUTOMATIC VIOLIN.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 292, 6 August 1908, Page 2

AUTOMATIC VIOLIN.

0 The piano-player, owing to its having been brought to a high standard of perfection, has developed into an almost indispensable equipment to the drawing-room. Owing to its success, attempts have been made to apply in a similar manner the mechanical operation to the violin This, after many years’ patient experiment, has been accomplished, and a remarkable musical instrument, constituting a marvel of mechanical ingenuity, has been evolved. There is the orthodox violin with the usual strings ; but instean of the bow and fingers there is a series of revolving discs for the former, and an elaborate array of stops which, acting as fingers, depress the string at the desired points to give the requisite musical tone, operated by electricity, the necessary energy being furnished by a small motor. All the peculiar effects incidental to the instrument are perfectly produced, including those which tax the skilled player to the utmost, and in perfect purity and tone. Thirds, fourths, octaves, and tenths, are produced as easily as single notes, and every phase of expression is faithfully rendered. The most intricate works of our leading exponents of violin playing and composers are given with ease and unerring l accuracy, while many-

accomplishments beyond the possibilities of the virtuoso arh secured, such as the playing of four chords simultaneously, giving the vraisemblance of a quartette. A fashionable saloon is to be estab-lished-in the West End of Loudon where lovers of this instrument will be able to repair and enjoy the choice compositions of Wieniawski, Paderewski, Paganini, played by a master hand whose dramatic and delicate touch, conbined with fidelity, cannot be excelled by the most finished human exponents of the violin.