THE Publishing Offtce8 : 25, Newman Street,

London, W.l.

GRAMOPHONE

Edited by

COMPTON MACKENZIE

TELEPHONE: Museum 353

Vol. 1.

DECEMBER, 1923

No.7

EDITORIAL

SEVERAL correspondents have written to express a hope that we shall not have anything to do with wireless in the columns of this paper. I take this opportunity of repeating what I said in the first number: we shall have nothing whatever to do with wireless. But I am most anxious to devote some space to the player-piano as soon as possible in the New Year. This new feature will not rob the gramophone of a single page; but i t will mean a slight increase in our size. At the present moment the devotees of the player-piano and the gramophone are apt, each of them, to regard the other's instrument as hostile to his own. As one who is primarily a devotee of the gramophone I am a l i t t le jealous, when I read through the catalogues of the player-piano rolls, of the methodical way in which their makers have set to work to reproduce the masterpieces of music. However, although I am inclined to think that in the last hundred years music has suffered from the tyranny of the pianoforte, I cannot help recognising that for many people the path of appreciation has been cut by the player-piano, and for the b enefit of music I am eager to secure the support of player-pianists for the gramophone. In other words, my main reason for adding this section to our paper is to make proselytes and enlist the support of a potentially large body of enthusiastic converts. I have no doubt that some of the bigoted and exclusive upholders of the gramophone will reproach me for making overtures instead of playing them; but I have thought i t over very carefully, and I believe that an alliance between th e gramophone and the player-piano is essential to the security of music.

I want to emphasise very strongly the complete independence of THE GRAMOPHONE. I have heard rumours that we are subsidised by this or that large firm. I can assure my readers that the only person who subsidises this paper is myself. And I should like to emphasise once more the complet e dissociation of the editorial staff from the advertisement staff. As critics we are not less fallible than all critics. We are apt to praise too highly and condemn too severely; but at any rate our praise and our blame are completely independent of our advertising. columns. We are not a paper tor the Trade. We are a paper for the Public; and I have myself been a servant of the public too long not to b e aware by now of my responsibilities. At the same t ime I am in no danger of forgetting my very deep obligations to the Trade, and if in the future our paper can continue to be what I v enture to hope that i t is now, a real l ink between the Trade and the Public, I shall count i t a success.

In wishing both our readers and our advertisers a very merry and musical Christmas, I should like to add my persqnal thanks for the kindness and generosity of both, because, indeed, they have touched me very deeply. Nor must I (nor you, readers) forget to thank the staff and the contributors, who nave given their services for nothing, or n ext door to nothing, and thus enabled me to preserve my ind ependence of any financial help. I f each reader .will get us one new subscriber during next year, I shall be able to pay both staff and contributors and myself. And at the same t ime, what is much more important, our influence will be q'uadrupled. You know what that will mean.