tenuto_ effect therefore
offers the most promising outlook for the improvement of the modern
piano in the direction indicated. By directing a blast of air from a
very thin nozzle on to the vibrating wire of a piano, the sound
emitted may be very greatly intensified; and although naturally the
decreasing amplitude of the vibration may in itself tend to create a
_diminuendo_, yet it is possible to make up for this in some degree
by causing the air-blast to increase in force, through the use of any
suitable means, modified by an extra pedal as may be desired.

Delicate _pianissimo_ effects, somewhat resembling those of the Eolian
lyre, are produced by playing the notes with the air-blast alone,
without the aid of percussion. But the louder _sostenuto_ notes depend
upon the added atmospheric resistance offered by a strong current of
air to those movements of the wire which have been originally set up
by percussion, and the fact that this resistance gives rise to a
corresponding continuance of the motion. The prolongation of a note in
this way is analogous to the continual swinging of an elastic switch
in a stream of water, the current by its force producing a rhythmic
movement.

When these Eolian effects, as applied to the pianoforte, have been
carefully studied, many devices for controlling them will be brought
forward. The main purpose, however, must be to connect the air-blast
with the percussion apparatus in such a manner that, as soon as a key
is depressed, the nozzle of that particular note in the air-blast is
opened exactly at the same time that the wire is struck by the hammer,
and it remains open as long as the note is held down. The movement of
an extra pedal, however, has the effect of throwing the whole of the
air-blast apparatus out of gear and reducing the piano to a percussion
instrument, pure and simple.

It will be on the concert platform, no doubt, that this kind of
improvement will find its first field of usefulness. Performers will
require, in addition to their grand pianos, reservoirs of compressed
air attachable by tubes to their instruments. In private houses
hydraulic air-compressors will be found more convenient. When the
piano has by some such means acquired the faculty of _singing_ its
notes, as well as of _ringing_ them, its ascendency, as the finest
instrument adapted to solo instrumentalism, will be assured.

The common domestic piano is rightly regarded by many people as being
little bett