NOW IN SYDNEY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4960, 25 February 1937, Page 2

NOW IN SYDNEY

ANCIENT PIANO The piano which Robert Louis Stevenson imported to Samoa and helped him to spend many pleasant hours at Vailima, is in Sydney. It will shortly go to a new Vailima —the house which its owner, Mr It. Harold Court, representative of British pianos in Australia, is building at Church Point. Made by F. Doerner and Sohn Stuttgart, Germany, the piano is an upright trichord, in ebony case, decorated with gold filigree. It. will be the central feature of an exhibition of historic and native musical instruments, in connection with Music Week, to be held next week at David Jones’s George Street store. Inside the lid of the instrument is a certificate that the piano was sold by auction at Apia, Samoa, after Robert Louis Stevenson died. “I bought it for £18,” Mr Court said, “but I would not sell it for £5000.” The piano is mentioned in one, at least, of the biographies of Stevenson. Also in the exhibition will be a Broadway Square grand piano, 120 years old, exactly similar in type to the instruments upon which Chopin composed. This instrument is also owned by Mr Court. The exhibition will include au interesting collection of violins lent by Mr A. E. Smith, and an ancient harp. The purpose of the display is to stimulate musical appreciation in Sydney.