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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
" Laurel Winners.'
A TIMELY BOOK. OF I 2O PAGES JUST ISSUED
BY THE JOHN CHURCH CO.—BRINGS TO
PUBLIC ATTENTION THE CLAIMS OF
THE AMERICAN COMPOSER.
Under the title which heads this article
the John Church Co. have just issued a
highly creditable art production, contain-
ing biographical sketches of leading Amer-
ican composers, which is convenient in
size and a perfect example of good taste,
good editorship and useful literary effort.
The volume is designed to acquaint the
American public with the personality of
native composers and to emphasize their
very creditable labors in the field of com-
position which, unfortunately, has been
largely overlooked by the artists of this
country. Valid claims are presented for
the praise bestowed, and readers are made
acquainted not only with the portraits of
thirty of America's famous composers, but
by the presentation of interesting editorial
matter, the reader is enabled to estimate
how great have been their achievements.
" Laurel Winners " will form a valuable
volume of reference for the editors of our
daily papers, for managers and musicians
interested in the furtherance of American
composition, and the music dealer desirous
of bringing to the attention of the general
public the best compositions of leading
Americans.
There is unquestionably a pressing need
for a work of this kind, and it is fitting,
too, that that distinguished corporation,
the John Church Co., who for many years
have been most prominently identified with
the best American composers, should pro-
duce this work which will be the means of
disseminating a greater knowledge of na-
tive musicians and their works throughout
America.
In issuing this work the John Church
Co. not only emphasize their position as
American publishers of American compo-
sitions, but they remind American artists
in a forceful way of the ample resources
now within reach for the more frequent
rendering of attractive American musical
works in preference to the works of foreign
composers.
" Such rapid strides have been made in
composition by the American composer,"
say the publishers of this work, " that to-
day he is recognized as a master-creator in
every form of composition, from the song
or piano piece to the oratorio or symphony.
"Though America boasts not of a Beetho-
ven, Schumann or Wagner, nor has she a
distinctive national school or kind of com-
position, she can glory in the composer
who, as the interpreter of all schools, has
become the truest exponent of an universal
art.
" The pages of the Book of Fame will,
at a day not distant, be emblazoned with
names of American composers who will be
the peers of any now there enrolled."
The composers treated of in "Laurel
Winners" are: Homer N. Bartlett, James
Carroll Bartlett, Dr. J. W. Bischoff, W. L.
Blumenschein, George W. Chadwick,
Whitney C. Coombs, Robert Coverley,
Walter Damrosch, Reginald De Koven,
William Wallace Gilchrist, A. J. Goodrich,
Henry K. Hadley, C. B. Hawley, Albert
I. Holden, Clayton Johns, Jules Jordan,
Emil Liebling, Isidore Luckstone, George
W. Marston, Eduardo Marzo, Dr. Wm.
Mason, W. S. B. Mathews, Ethelbert Ne-
vin, Homer A. Norris, George L. Osgood,
Howard Forrer Peirce, Frank E. Sawyer,
William H. Sherwood, Wilson G. Smith,
and John Philip Sousa.
Arrested for Embezzlement.
[Special to The Review.]
Philadelphia, Nov. 12, 1898.
Late yesterday afternoon Howard Bruce,
of 2935 Girard avenue, until recently a
collector for the F. A. North Piano Co., of
1308 Chestnut street, was arrested, charged
with embezzling $395 of the firm's money.
The warrant was sworn out by George
Miller, manager for the firm, who stated
that Bruce had made a full confession. The
American Surety Company are on the
prisoner's bond for $1,000. Bruce has
been held in $600 bail.
August Hemme Insolvent.
[Special to The Review.]
Oakland, Cal., Nov. 10, 1898.
August Hemme, the erstwhile million-
aire of Contra Costa county, who owned a
large piano factory in San Francisco, has
filed a petition in bankruptcy in the United
States District Court. His assets are $2,990
against $138,851.86 liabilities. At one
time Mr. Hemme owned 2,000 acres of San
Ramon Valley. He was reported to be
worth $2,000,000. Depreciation in land
values has wrought his financial ruin.
Among the heaviest creditors are I. S.
Mensinger, Mrs. Arthur Rodgers, Bank of
California, J. G. Hilzinger, John Watson,
and the Grangers' Banks.
The Waterloo Organ Co. Busy.
IN PIANO AND ORGAN DEPARTMENTS ACTIVITY
IS GREATER THAN FOR YEARS A WIDE
RECOGNITION OF THE MALCOLM LOVE
PIANOS AND WATERLOO ORGANS.
In these improving times there are few
busier factories anywhere than those of the
Waterloo Organ Co., at Waterloo, N. Y.
In both piano and organ departments this
Sale of Old flusic.
agreeable condition of things is quite evi-
Messrs. Bangs & Co. concluded their dent. The business transacted for October
series of sales of rare books last week at has been the best in many years and the
the auction rooms, 91 Fifth avenue. The orders to hand so far in November indicate
sales included a valuable collection of old that the record for last month will be ex-
music, comprising in particular some ex- ceeded by this.
Anyone acquainted with the sterling
ceptionally valuable old Scotch music.
merits
of the Malcolm Love pianos—their
Among the many interesting items were:
artistic
casings and excellent musical at-
Eighty volumes of general music, con-
tributes—can
hardly be surprised at the
taining rare pieces and valuable first edi-
popularity
of
these instruments. It is a
tions of the great masters, 80 volumes, with
tribute
to
the
intelligence of the dealer
many extra pieces, $44; 86 bound volumes,
and
the
purchasing
public that they are so
of miscellaneous music, $43 ; thirty Scotch
largely
in
demand.
songs by Robert Bremner, words by Allen
The big output of Waterloo organs
Ramsey, 1790-1800, $15; J. Elouis's "Se-
proves
how false was the statement that
lections of Favorite Scotch Songs," two
the
organ
trade in this country is a thing
volumes, $12; Niel Gow's "Complete Re-
of
the
past.
The fact is, Waterloo organs
pertory of Original Scotch Slow Tunes,
are
at
present
being shipped in large quan-
vStrathspeys and Dances," third edition,
tities
to
all
sections
of this country, while
$19; W. M. McGibbon's "Collection of
great
numbers
are
being forwarded to
Scotch Songs for the Violin," dating from
the early part of the eighteenth century, foreign countries.
Malcolm Love recently made a personal
$21; Napier's selections of the most favor-
ite Scotch songs, 1790-1800, $16; a volume visit to the many agents of the house with
of Scotch music, bearing the label of Lady splendid success. Modest but energetic,
Forbes, the wife of the eminent Scotch he is holding aloft the Waterloo banner
banker, 1802, $17 ; George Thomson's " Se- with credit and with success. His friends,
lect Collection of Original Scotch Airs," and they are legion, are glad to note that
containing the first publication of Robert he is receiving a fair slice of the prosper-
Burns's immortal songs, as well as the ori- ity pudding.
ginal compositions of Hayden and others,
Death of Josef Scheina.
four volumes, $20; White's "Collection of
Scottish Airs," containing the original
Josef Scheina, who dealt in veneers at 115
issue of two of Sir Walter Scott's songs, East Thirteenth street, this city, died sud-
$26; original issue of Moore's "Irish Mel- denly Friday of last week. He had been
odies," 1807-18, $20.90.
suffering with a tumor in the ear for some
Small Fire in Elizabeth, N. J.
Fire and water damaged the stock and
fixtures of B. W. Craig's music store at 86
Broad street, Elizabeth, N. J., on Monday
last. The fire originated from an oil stove
and evidently smouldered since Sunday.
The loss is nominal and is covered by in-
surance.
time and this eventually caused his death
by penetrating to the brain.
Mr. Scheina was born in Vienna, Austria,
56 years ago, coming to this country
while the Civil War was in progress. He
was selling out his business to retire when
the end came.
Mr. Scheina is survived by a widow and
two sons, who are occupied in other call-
ings than that their father had chosen.