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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
lOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
In tKe World of Music Publishing
WHAT OF THE NEW YEAR?
While Business Is Slow, the Outlook Is Fairly
Satisfactory—The Question of Prices Not to
the Liking of Anyone.
out this country, and also in Europe are playing
selections from Mr. Luders' operas, as well as
his special instrumental numbers. M. Witmark
& Sons are the exclusive publishers of all of this
very successful composer's works, both instru-
mental and vocal, and they report that the de-
mands for them are constantly increasing.
Publishers were glad when the year closed—
especially for the last month. Sales during the
past thirty days have been poor, and in talking
DEPARTMENT STORE METHODS
of the good things possible for the new year
there was a constraint of expression altogether
Discussed from Various Viewpoints—Jobbers
due to the business in hand. At that the buying
Will Meet and Seek Some Remedy.
was not so slow, yet publishers have a fashion of
feeling in an indigo way at the close of the year
Whether department store methods or some-
not at all in comport with a fair view of the sit-
thing equally demoralizing has affected the job-
uation. Looking at things from a purely com-
bers, certain it is there is a great deal of dissat-
mercial standpoint it is right to say business
isfaction with the way trade is, or ratner the
is and has been slow; musically, however, the
prices at which they are compelled to do busi-
success has been great from every point of view.
ness. It is barely possible, according to excellent
Never has purely light music occupied so high
authority, the jobbing contingent were originally
a place in the minds of the public as now.
responsible in no small measure, for the compe-
Never have the compositions of American com-
tition of the dry goods and general notion peo-
posers been so greatly appreciated, not only here
ple. At any rate, jobbers had been in a habit of
GTJSTAV LTJDERS.
but abroad. Never have the writers been more
dictating terms not altogether to the liking of
prolific—alas, too much so, in some respects—or
One of the most prominent comic opera com- publishers; and therefore when the department
ambitious as now. It is really remarkable what posers now before the public is Gustav Luders, store buyer appeared on the scene there was a
has been accomplished in the lines of purely pop- author of "King Dodo," "The Prince of Pilsen," chance to even up things, and the job was done
ular music, and this year promises yet more. "Mile. Napoleon," "The Burgomaster," "The so completely that everybody—publisher, jobber
The same energy and drive so characteristic of Sho-Gun" and "Woodland." Bach one of these and dealer—became the victims of the rapacious
other lines of business is also true of music pub- six comic operas is a gem in itself, and each dictator who is more concerned in attracting cus-
lishing, and the censorship has never been so in- work contains an individuality of its own; and tomers to his establishment, for obvious reasons,
exorably exercised. There seems to be a de- yet there is that peculiarity and charm of orig- than in the profits of the sheet music department.
termination that only the very best is none too inality that marks all of his compositions. Mr. Now, the worm has turned, and an effort will
good for the public, and mediocre manuscripts Luders is reputed as never repeating himself, be made to get the jobbers together to talk over
receive short shrift.
but anyone who is acquainted with his style can- the situation and endeavor to formulate a scale
On the question of prices the situation is not not but distinguish that well defined vein of of minimum prices.
at all to the liking of anyone concerned—either rhythm and melodious flow that is noticeable in
At least this was foreshadowed by a jobber of
publishers, jobbers or regular dealers. To be the compositions of few other writers, never standing and influence in this following revela-
sure, the department stores are enjoying "graft"; puzzled for an idea, all of his numbers give evi- tion to The Review: "December was a poor
that is a disturbing element in the legitimate dence of a fertile originality and most exquisite month and we are all glad it is over. Something
conduct of business. It is true the jobbers are imagination. He is not a mere theorist and me- must now be done with the price question. The
responsible for this unfortunate state of affairs chanical worker, for his most beautiful works jobbers are cutting each other's throats and the
to a certain extent, as their grinding methods have been inspired by close observation of first thing we know there will be nothing left.
have furnished the handle to the club with nature, which has always been an open book Of course, the deplorable condition is directly
which the unconscionable "dry goods"—that's all with him and which he loves and reveres as only traceable to the bushwhacking department stores.
they are—buyers have pounded the trade. The a true artist can. He is also a careful student They don't care a snap whether they make a
disturbance does not trouble these people not of human nature and enters enthusiastically in- cent off their sheet music so long as they can
even a little bit, for what they pretend to sacri- to all the gradations of feelings and impulses get a customer in hand, who will surely pur-
fice on sheet music is made up elsewhere, and that move and influence men and women; hence chase enough other truck to more than overbal-
the publishers contributing to the success of this his success at writing music that appeals to the ance the possible loss on music. We jobbers,
game are remembered in the orisons of the heart and sympathies.
however, have only music as our stock In trade,
dealer—we don't think. There certainly must be
While he is thoroughly competent to picture and when the price is cut a cent or two, it is a
an end to these bushwhacking methods, and the
in
melody the darker shades of life, he seems to serious matter. Now you can figure it out for
sooner the better.
prefer to devote his talents to the depicting of yourself, as four cents is about the average roy-
that which is bright and cheery, as in the cases alty and there is the printing, etc., and where
of "The Sho-Gun" and "Woodland," his two lat- do we get off? The proper move for us is to
"THE NAZARENE" CANTATA.
est operas, which are now being played to have a meeting and take the bull by the horns,
An admirable sacred cantata, entitled "The crowded houses in New York City, the first at and notices to that effect will probably be sent
Nazarene," by C. B. Rutenber has been issued by Wallack's Theatre and the latter at the Herald between now and the 15th.
the Oliver Ditson Co. The text of this cantata Square Theatre, whence it was transferred from
"The firms controlling the market practically
is taken from the Scriptures, and deals with cer- the New York Theatre on Christmas day. At in a jobbing way are Oliver Ditson Co., Boston
tain events in the life of Christ, such as the the present time bands and orchestras through- and New York; Lyon & Healy and Foster & Co.,
miracles of restoring sight to the blind, and
hearing to the deaf. It is of such a character
that it may be appropriately given at any season
SUCCESS
THE
of the year. The whole work is imbued with the
spirit of devotion; it is serious, but not sombre,
an admirable interpretation of the text. The
solo voices required are soprano and bass, to
each of which are given moving and expressive
Music by VICTOR HERBERT
Book and Lyrics by GLEN MacDONOUGH
measures. The work is divided into nine num-
Absinthe Frappe
50 I Brought Them Home to Mother
50
bers, among which may be specified a trio for
The Matinee Maid
50 The Coon Banshee
women's voices, a soprano solo, "The Consumma-
50
A Knot of Blue • • • • • •
50
tion," remarkably pure in feeling, and the bril-
50
Beatrice Barefacts • •
50 The Jack O'Lantern Girl
liant closing chorus, with its spirited antiphonal
passages, broad unisons, and well-wrought
Waltzes
75
Selection
1.00
climaxes.
Landers
• • 50
March
50
50
Al Fresco-Intermezzo-
There is no doubt that Stern & Co. have three
song hits which stand out in the "Humpty-
Dumpty" production, namely. "On Lalawanna's
Shore," "Mexico" and "Sambo and Dinah," all
LONDON
written by the famous trio of composers, John-
CHICAGO
son, Cole and Johnson.
"IT HAPPENED IN NORDLAND."
M. WITMARK & SONS, New Yotk