Vizcaya’s Main House was designed with music in mind. From the acoustics of the structure to the sound quality of the instruments, every detail was considered. James Deering took care to fill his collection of piano and organ rolls with styles of music that he felt set an ideal atmosphere for potential guests. To achieve this, he hired experts to examine instruments and give an opinion on the sound. What does Deering’s approach to the selection and sound quality of music at Vizcaya tell you about whether he might have been an audiophile?
“DANGER WOULD BE UNNATURAL SOUND WHICH WOULD BE FATAL”
Deering telegrams Paul Chalfin about have expert sound analysis done on one of Vizcaya’s instruments.
Telegram: January 24, 1916
From: James Deering, Vizcaya’s Owner, New York
To: Paul Chalfin, Vizcaya’s Artistic Director, Miami
Reveal Transcript
Paul Chalfin
432 4 Ave NY
Your welte scheme excelsior if feasible danger would be unnatural sound which would would be fatal welte people in New York would perhaps have opinion their expert in miami last week perhaps still tried give opinion on spot
JD
545PM
“FOR THE BOAT WE SHALL HAVE TO HAVE SOME LIGHT MUSIC, AND ESPECIALLY DANCE MUSIC”
Deering specifies the musical style for his boat, and intent to select rolls for the player organ
Telegram: August 28, 1916
From: James Deering, Vizcaya’s Owner, New York
To: Paul Chalfin, Vizcaya’s Artistic Director, Miami
Reveal Transcript
Dear Chalfin:–
I do not know whether you wish to order the records for the Welte Mignon piano or whether you wish me to do so directly from Mr. Burnham. I will send him a copy of this letter, and you can take as much or as little trouble about it as you please. Choosing those that please me best from the records that I now have, I wish to have the following:
357 8 415 1296 1183 1281 1259 3534 182 39 3519 1248 1256 188 662 1249 3620 38 213 935 3503 914 225 3565 2336 660 1627 1263 3501 1196 1253 266
In these there is none of the lighter music and there is no dance music. For the boat we shall have to have some light music, and especially dance music. Having two pianos in the house, we will probably have to have a larger selection of rolls than we would have if there were only one. When I return from Europe I will pick out with your help, if you wish to give it, and that of Mr. Burnham a further supply of rolls.
It also occurs to me that at this time, which will be, no doubt, the only time that I shall be in New York before going to Florida, we ought to select the rolls for the organ. I hope as far as you can you will keep in touch with progress of the organ, to the end that we may get it as early as possible. The earlier we have it the better it will be for all concerned.
Yours sincerely,
[signed] JD
Mr. Paul Chalfin
432 Fourth Avenue
New York, N.Y.
Play recordings of James Deering's music roll collection
Reveal an image of the piano rolls selected by James Deering for Vizcaya
Reveal to explore a 360 tour of the Living Room below
Download original letters from Wikimedia Commons
