Aug - AmericanRadioHistory.Com

ANCIENT CHINA
Continued from page 34
moo and 70o B. C. Thus, the object of
the Chinese musicologists and sound
technicians had been triumphantly
achieved: they had preserved the nation's
sacred pitch standards and scale
systems in stone for 3000 years! It also
shows that the "Pythagorean" system
of intervals was known and used in
China 300 or 40o years before the
Greek philosopher, after whom our
own Western system was to be named,
was ever born.
In the subsequent centuries, when
the scientists and lapidaries became
more and more assured in their growing
technical skill,'they set out for ever
increasing ornamentation and began
to incorporate the nation's music -
cosmology into the sonorous material.
They also turned to a precious material
found to have superior sonorous qualities:
jade. For probably more than 700
years the Chinese acoustical laboratories
studied the possibilities of flat
circular jade disks with a central perforation,
measuring between 5 and 18
inches in diameter. Hundreds cf
them, originating from the ninth w
the third century B.C., were studied by
this writer and found to show unmistakable
traces of a tuning process. The
techniques were similar to those found
in bronze bells, and aimed at sharping
as well as flatting tones. I also
identified five different methods of
drilling the central perforation to improve
the tone qualities, and silk -
thread suspension techniques. The
objective was to curb the sidewise -
sway of the suspended disks when
they were played in scale sets. Their
Chinese name, incidentally, is Pi.
Some of the most perfect specimens
were created between the sixth
and fourth centuries B.C. They are
completely covered with beautiful ornamentations
carved or incised into
the large surfaces, and show no more
traces of a tuning process. The artists,
consequently, calculated and knew in
advance all dimensions of the disks,
all physical properties of the jade material
and all pitch- changing influences
of the ornamental carving. A
few of the finest specimens will produce,
on one gentle stroke, a tone of
crystal -clear beauty, gently undulating
around a tonal pitch center, swelling
and fading slightly in volume and intensity
and lasting up to one minute
Continued on next page
AUGUST 1955
a new HIGH FOR HI -FI !
Now ... enjoy Hi -Fi
outdoors with ... the
UNIVERSITY BLC FULL
RANGE WEATHERPROOF
SPEAKER
COAXIAL
The BIC is the only speaker for extending o hi -fi music
system to lawn, terrace, porches, gardens.
No other speaker offers such fidelity of response as well as
weatherproof construction -all at a low price you can afford.
Self contained . . . requires no enclosure -full 2 -way speaker
system- compact ... only 22'/2" in diameter and 9" deep -Wide
range .. . 70- 15,000 cps. -handles 25 watts.
For more information zee your dealer ... write for brochure HF30.
virile oerI, 9 5
!lvfs r4s4 la
,ate
8 0 S O U T H K E N S I C O A V E N U E W H I T E PLAINS, NEW YORK
Take any one of these glorious
Li enlcç 13i¿it
CARMEN
Carmer ..Cora Canne Meyer
Don Jose
Leo Larsen
Escamillo ..Gerard Holthaus
Micaela ..Corry van Beckum
and other outstanding artists
A breathtaking performance
by one of Europe's outstanding
mezzo- sopranos.
W. A. Nfozart
THE MARRIAGE OF
FIIiARO
Figaro ..Siemer' Jongsma
Susanna Anneke van der Graaf
II Conte ....Henk Driessen
La Contessa.Margit Opawsky
and other outstanding artists
A superb new rendition of
Mozart's most f amour opera
pupa!
An amazing Demon-
L
stration of longplaying
(33ih RPM) High Fi delity Recordings.
Select ANY ONE of these magnificent opera
performances. Audition it FREE in your own
home, and if you decide to keep it pay ONLY
sl. no strings attached.
You'll hear every famous aria. duet, chorus and
overture brilliantly re- created by world reknowned
artists...approximately one hour of glorious
music from the opera of your choice. We make
this special offer to introduce you to the superb
high -fidelity recordings available to members of
The Opera Society at tremendous savings.
With your selection you also obtain Trial
Membership with full privileges. These include:
advance description of all future releases; right to
audition any of these free, with no obligation to
buy. For those you keep pay the Member's low
price of only $2.95 per 12" long -playing record;
a saving of almost 40 %1 Mail the coupon NOW!
PERASFOR
ONLY
NO STRINGS
ATTACHED!
Cuiusch!tc A'etili
O
SEND
NO
MONEY:
LA TRAVIATA
Violetta Margit 3pawsky
Alfred
Leo Larsen
Germont Henk Driessen
and other outstanding artists
Brimming with immortal
music and high drama. here
is a production which is
pure gold!
FE OPERA SOCIETY, Dept. 111.14F
Columbus A , New York 23, N. Y.
Send me for FREE audition the recording checked
below and enroll me as a Trial Member.
CARMEN Cl FIGARO TRAVIATA
After 5 days I will return it or send only SI (plus
shipping). Prieileees: No purchase obligation ever!
Monthly advance notice of releases. 5 day free trial on
any discs. I may reject any records before or after I
receipt; may cancel membership at any time. For
future 12' l.p. discs I keep. I'll pay only 22.85 each
plus shipping.
LIMIT: Only one sample package to a customer '
Name
Address
City Zone State ... 1
In Canada address 105 Bond St., Toronto 2, Ont.
óI