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40
THE MUSIC TRADE
land to America; but it is safe to say that New
York will never see "The Orchid" in the form in
which it is now pleasing London. Some of the
acts are atrociously dull, the sprightly parts be-
ing a succession of turns straight from American
musical plays and music halls. If "Weber and
Fields were somewhat without honor in their
own city last winter, they certainly have it in
London, for they are the chief contributors to
the second act of "The Orchid.'
Of course,, somebody sings "Bedelia," and it is
so new to the English audience that it demands
it three times. Then there is a variation of
"Sammy" next the inevitable song with boys—
this time they are Pierrots instead of pickanin-
nies, and, to cap the climax, a dance for girls in
pajamas, such as was seen three years ago in
"The Liberty Belles."
The music meanders along in rum-ti-tum-ti-dee
ripples, and you can't remember a measure of it
except "Bedelia." The talk and rhymes are natter
still.
All English musical plays come to America
labeled London successes, and no distinction is
made in their origin. In fact, in their native seat
there are two well-defined sorts of them that ap-
peal to very different publics. There is the com-
mon and rather coarse musical play that aims
only at turns, pretty girls, and rude fun-making
of which "The Orchid" is a type. Its predeces-
sors in America are "The Girl From Kay's" and
"The Runaway Girl."
There is also the musical play that seeks a
daintier and more refined prettmess, that has
bits of fancy in it, tells a continuous story and
keeps its personages in character, shows senti-
ment in its verses, humor in its speeches, light-
ness and charm in its music, that would please
by its color, grace, and animation. To these be-
long "The Geisha," the best of the kind; "San
Toy," and "A Country Girl," and the present
piece at Daly's, "The Cingalee," which, a year
hence, will be seen in America. In "The Cinga-
lee" the music is well enough made to deserve
the name. Some of it is gay. More of it is pretty
in a simple way. None of it rattles and bangs.
Little of it is quite commonplace. You like its
patter and sparkle. Everything is lightly done
with an air of skill.
Another and welcome sort of musical play has
unexpectedly regained its footing in London—
adaptations of French operetta. Two months ago
"Ve"ronique" was a dubious experiment. Now it
i& likely to run until Christmas, with eager in-
quiry for the American rights. Five or six years
ago Messager, who is now the director of Covent
Garden, and two French librettists, concocted it,
but Paris did not like it over well, because it
lacked tang. American audiences also might
think it too sweet, but for that very reason the
London audiences like it the better. "Veronique"
is all sentiment and sugar, but the sentiment is
of the prettiest, and Messager's music a whole
bon-bon box of musical confectionery. Operetta
tunes could hardly be more graceful, fluent, ele-
gant, and light fingered. The melodies have real
freshness and piquancy within their sugary
bounds. They flow along in charming little con-
ceits and turns.
THE
HOWLEY - DRESSER
FILED.
SCHEDULES
Saturday last the schedules were filed in the
bankruptcy proceedings of the Howley, Dresser
Co., New York. They show liabilities, $94,132;
SEASON'S SIGNAL SONG SUCCESSES THAT
ENJOY PERENNIAL POPULARITY
EGYPT
GARDEN OF DREAMS
PLAIN MAMIE O'HOOLEY
PEGGY BRADY
LOVERS A. B. C.
FISHING
SWEET LOVE LAND
SLY MUSETTE
POLLY PRIM
FALL IN LINE
AFRICANA
WONG TING SING
\
7
T
BIG INDIAN CHIEF
PILLOWS OF DESPAIR
KITTY RAY
TURN THOSE EYES AWAY
Published by
JOS. W. STERN 6 CO.,
34 East 21st St., New York
CHICAGO
LONDON
SAN FRANCISCO
REVIEW
nominal assets, $38,765, consisting of stock, $5,-
0U0; fixtures, $2,000; accounts, $11,095; copy-
rights, $20,000; cash, $20; postage stamps, $75;
books, $25; horse and wagon, $250; claim for roy-
alties, $300. Among the creditors are Charles B.
Lauler, $30,000, claim for royalties disputed;
Gansevoort Bank, $4,122; Charles Francis Press,
$5,120, secured; James J. Curtin, $5,000, secured;
A. H. Goetting, $5,500, and R. Teller, Sons &
Dorner, $4,112. Paul Dresser has individual lia-
bilities of $25,745, of which $25,000 is a claim by
the heirs of Martin White for royalties, which is
disputed, and suit is pending.
Referee Seaman will name a date for a meeting
of the creditors within the next ten days. The
leading creditors between tne dividends will be
small if not nil; and the wonder was expressed
how a house possessing such a valuable cata-
logue and a business that has taken years to es-
tablish, could go so completely to pieces. Re-
ports were also current that Paul Dresser was
endeavoring to form a company to acquire the
assets and resume the business.
DOWN THE PUBLISHING LINE.
As yet American composers are wanting who
have made the Philippines the subject of their
melodies. With the exception of the "Sultan of
Sulu," the fame and merit of which depended
almost wholly upon George Ade's book, the mu-
sic not being especially characterstic of the peo-
ple or the atmosphere of Uncle Sam's posses-
sions in the Orient. More expressive for a single
number is "La Bella Tagala," intermezzo, de-
scribed as a "Souvenir of the Philippine Islands."
A land so rich in romance and local color will
not remain long neglected by composers here, a
majority of whom never stray far from the in-
spiring precincts of Broadway, no matter what
their theme or its connectiing story.
The. latest musical comedy success of the sum-
mer season is "The Maid and the Mummy" at the
New York Theatre, where business has been con-
stantly on the increase since the opening night.
Richard Carle, of "Tenderfoot" fame, is respon-
sible for the book, while Robert Hood Bowers
composed the music. The keynof of the piece
seems to be sounded in their wildly hilarious
so lg entitled "It's Great to be Crazy" and succes-
sive audiences enter into the spirit of the occa-
sion and enjoy the sensation. Other popular num-
bers, all of which are published by the Witmarks,
are "My Gasoline Automobile," "Flo," "My
Egyptian Queen," "I Fell in Love With Polly,"
"Peculiar Julia" and "Letters"—the last a very
clever vaudeville duet and dance.
Mme. Schumann-Heink says she has taken
thought of her appearance in comic opera affect-
ing her standing as a grand opera singer, and she
has come to the conclusion that no injury will
result. With admirable candor she admits it is
dollars that direct her actions. Last season Herr
Conried thought the singer's demand of $1,200 a
night was excessive, and she went on a concert
tour through the country. Her return from
ninety concerts was $60,000, and she expects to
exceed this sum in comic opera.
vinced him that it will rival in popularity the
famous "Violets," for it is a song that is appro-
priate for any occasion and any act. It is said
to be already selling better than anything else of
its kind on the market.
At Eastman College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., the
students are entertained every Saturday morning
with a lecture or concert of specially selected
music. Victor Herbert's "Babette" waltzes and
several other Witmark publications were pro-
grammed at the 120th concert by Schofield's
Orchestra, which was assisted by Miss Virginia
C. Gildersleeve.
"The music at Mount Morris Park is a dis-
grace to the city of New York," writes a corre-
spondent. "When the band plays selections from
popular comic operas, airs known to nearly every
man, woman and child, people on all sides ask
each other 'What in the world are they trying to
play?' When it comes to selections from grand
operas—thank the Lord that the great compos-
ers are dead. My vocabulary is entirely inade-
quate to tell you how absolutely vile the music at
Mount Morris Park is." Who is the wretched
leader, and is he responsible for the alleged
"vile" music rendered by his organization?
Oscar Hammerstein is more than pleased with
the way his songs have been published and
handled this season, says his publisher. Among
his big song successes, sung this season at the
Victoria Roof Garden, by Josephine Sabel, Elean-
ore Falk, and Rena Aubrey, are: "Susie Sue,"
"Lizzie O'Connor," "When You Said 'Yes'," "Leap
Year in Midnight Town," "Squirrel Song," "Brid-
getta" and "The Firemen's March."
In reply to the complaint of the Louisiana Con-
federate Veterans that "The Star Spangled Ban-
ner," as taught in the Louisiana public schools in
the music primer—edited by Frederick H. Ripley,
of Boston, is in part a forgery, containing lines
not in the original poem and intended to reflect
on the South, the New Orleans School Board re-
plied on the 6th inst. that the attention of the
publishers of the book had been called to the mat-
ter and that a new edition had been issued by
the publishers for use in the South, restoring the
original text of Francis Scott Key. Now, who
has been tampering with the sacred anthem?
My! but the Southerner, with a tenacious and
often lurid memory, is as touchy about his songs
as a morbid woman.
C. D. Bingham, the popular Canadian composer
and author of "Cradled on the Mighty Deep" and
"The Only Girl on Earth," has just issued a new
ballad entitled "Mary Loney," which promises to
complete a trio of successes. Mr. Bingham han-
dles his own catalogue throughout the Dominion
and Provinces from Toronto, but the Witmarks
do all his publishing.
Oliver Ditson Co. have re-entered the appended
list of musical works before the expiration of
their first term, and certificates have been given
by the Librarian of Congress: "Bellak's Method
for the Organ," "Male Voice Glee Book," "The
Glide," "Marche de Nuit," "Emerson's Chorus
Book,"
"Pronouncing
Musical
Dictionary,"
"Whippoorwill," "Maria Immaculate," "Whisp-
When The Review mentioned the fact, in a ering Wind," "Last Hope," "Must We Then
recent issue, of the conceded leading jobbers in Meet as Strangers," "March of the 600,-
the country entering the publishing field under 000," "High School Choir," "Rose of Killarney,"
cover, the statement rather hurt. The. gentleman "Old Oaken Bucket," "Come Back to Erin," "Cen-
was taken to task by publishers for trying to tennial March," "French Polka/' "Gracieuse La
ride two horses traveling on opposite roads, and Merceau, pour le Piano," "Tender and True,"
disaster was bound to ensue. Therefore the ac- "Little Beauty," "Black Hawk Waltz," "Thou'rt
cused denied the soft impeachment point blank, Like a Flower."
at the same time cautioning his New York repre-
sentative to "keep the matter quiet, and not to
Argument was heard Friday week before
stir things up, as it is likely to cause an un- Judge Bischoff, Supreme Court, Special Term,
pleasant feeling." The foxy jobber about wants Part II., in the case of Chas. K. Harris against
it all his way.
M. Witmark & Sons, over the Hubbell contract
concerning the publishing rights of the musical
Among recent additions to Sol Bloom's cata- comedy "Fantania."
Tuesday, affidavits and
logue are two tuneful coon songs by James R. briefs were submitted. An early decision is ex-
Europe, "My Blue Eyed Sue" and "My Heart pected. Counsel for the Messrs. Witmark stated
Goes Thumpin' and Bumpin' For You." In the preliminary injunction issued was pro forna
"Roses at Twilight," too, Mr. Bloom has secured and in ex parte proceedings,- and therefore was of
an exceptional vocal gem. Already it has con- no pertinent significance.