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THE
42
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
In tKe World of Music Publishing
PUBLISHERS WELL PLEASED
With Trade Conditions in All Departments,
Notwithstanding Much Dissatisfaction in
Regard to Prices—Public Being Educated to
Low Prices Through Department Store Pub-
licity—Some Remedy Should Be Inaugurated
to End This Harmful Condition—A Little
Common Sense Should Enable the Offenders
to See What the End Will Be.
especially with dealers direct, and we are very
well satisfied with the results. The 'hold-up'
buyer of the price-cutting department store has
no standing with us. Some stores under this
heading keep right on selling sheet music at the
regular price, so this is convincing proof that the
only losers are the fool publishers. It makes me
tired to speak of the matter at all, so absurd is
the whole situation."
A PROMISING BARITONE DISCOVERED.
the audience. A banquet, at a leading hotel, ten-
dered the company by Mr. Jerome, was a closing
feature of a red-letter date in the routing of "The
Royal Chef." It was a regular Bohemian affair,
covers being laid for seventy-five, and here Mr.
Jerome, who was again warmly congratulated
and his ability highly praised, renewed his ex-
pressions of appreciation for the elegant gift
in a more elaborate speech. Among the bunch
of telegrams received extending felicitations to
the composer on the momentous occasion was a
particularly happy wire from the F B. Haviland
Publishing Co., New York, the exclusive pub-
lishers of this pleasing opera.
From now on until the close of the regular
Monday week the Ogden-Crane School of
season publishers count upon a business that Opera, under the direction of Mme. Ogden-
will not only be steady, but, in point of sales,
Crane, p r e s e n t e d the
exceed any previous period. This week every
"Chimes of Normandie" at
house "with the goods" has begun to feel the de-
Carnegie Lyceum, New
WILLIS WOODWARD & CO.
mand quicken, and good sellers are multiplying
York, in a manner that
in accordance with the pushing energy and
won the e n t h u s i a s t i c Again to the Front—Destined to Renew Old-
ginger back of them. The leading houses agree
plaudits of a crowded
time Pre-eminence.
that so long as trade is so demoralized in con-
house. Considering the
nection with prices, it is useless to speak of
personnel of the cast, the
In years gone by Willis Woodward & Co., New
music was fairly well han- York, were famous the world over for the all-
sales of satisfactory trade within a hundred or
dled; but one character, around excellence and success of their publica-
two miles of New York. This topic is worn
that of "Gaspard," as ren- tions. Now it seems they are again coming to
threadbare by endless arguments and frequent
dered by R. Gould Crane, the front, with the adoption of an aggressive and
mention in the trade papers, but the end is not
R. GOULD CBANK.
was the real "hit" of the progressive policy that bids fair to revive their
yet, nor will it be until some sort of an under-
standing is reached among the publishers in performance, receiving several curtain calls. Mr. past glories as publishers. The latest move is
Crane, though but nineteen years of age, has a the acquirement, as the-sole and exclusive sell-
interest.
One plan proposed involved an agreement that baritone voice that bears promise of a splendid ing agency, of the W. H. Anstead catalogue, com-
department stores chiefly responsible for the future when trained and developed. As it is, his prising forty-one important vocal and in-
ridiculously low retail prices should abstain voice is rich, full and musical in every note, and strumental compositions, on which they make
from advertising "offers" or "bargains" of any its range and tone expression is surprising in a special rate of 80 per cent, from list price for
kind or description whatsoever for at least sixty one so comparatively young. His conception and one order only until May 1. For titles and other
days. The purpose of this was to get the public enactment of this rather difficult role would have particulars consult the firm's announcement else-
away from the thought of cheap music altogether. done credit to a professional, for Mr. Crane pos- where, and do not overlook their latest issues—
Then at the expiration of the limitation the pub- sesses dramatic power of no mean quality, in ad- all good sellers, on merit.
lishers controlling stores, as well as the influen- dition to an excellent stage presence. Several
tial houses engaged in publishing exclusively, publishers present were desirous of meeting the NEW LYRIC WRITER WITH SOL BLOOM.
should get together and fix a minimum selling talented gentleman, and it is said they propose
figure, as well as establish a jobbing price, bind- attaching him to their singing staff at an early
A recent and valuable addition to the select
ing on all concerned. But the proposition was date, to feature special songs. Mr. Crane will be few writers who produce real lyrics in this coun-
heard
again
in
a
leading
character
in
"Billie
Tay-
not acceptable to one or two directly interested,
try is F. Clifford Harris, who wrote the best of
consequently the publisher and dealer are the lor," which will be produced at the Lyceum, un- the lyrics in the new Dillingham musical comedy
production, "Sergeant Brue." Mr. Harris comes
sufferers and the department store continues on der the same auspices, in the near future.
from England, and his new writings, placed with
top.
ANNIVERSARY OF "THE ROYAL CHEF.'
Sol Bloom, indicate that he also has an inimita-
Talk of arriving a.t a solution of the "problem"
Is nonsense; for problem it is not, only a need-
March 28 "The Royal Chef" was one year old, ble gift of rhyme with reason. And besides, he
less sacrifice of legitimate profit that requires, and the anniversary of this successful (except- is a jolly good chap all 'round.
not any special ability or shrewdness to settle, ing in New York) musical comedy, published by
Among the many tributes to the merit of the
only a modicum of common sense and tact in F. B. Haviland Pub. Co., was properly celebrated song "Easy Street" is this recent letter to Sol
handling as obstinate a bunch of men as any at Lebanon, Pa. At the close of the third act Ben Bloom, the publisher, from G. De V. O'Hara,
line of business can possibly scare up. To be M. Jerome, who wrote the music, was presented manager of Havez & Youngson's Spook Minstrels:
sure, publishers who refuse to sell their publica- with a silver loving cup by E. L. Don, the prin- "We have given your 'Easy Street' a good try-
tions only at normal prices are not disturbed by cipal comedian, on behalf of the company. The out, and are very successful with it. We have
the slashers; and they are calmly directing their happy and surprised recipient responded in a sung it now for the twenty-fifth time, and it has
energies in consummating sales in which the few appropriate words. With the final chorus never missed hitting the mark, and hitting it
an elaborate distribution of paper ribbons all hard, and that on top of twenty-two minutes, it
margin is not altogether infinitesimal.
"Aside from this upset," remarked a publisher over the theatre made a pretty ending. The being our seventh number." This is very gratify-
to The Review, "business is all right. We are members gathered it up in bunches and buried ing to the publisher, but is only one of dozens of
concentrating our efforts on outside trade, and the composer in it, and he was also cheered by similar testimonials to the success of this song.
WILLIS
WOODWARD
&
CO.
Beg to announce that they have acquired the sole and exclusive selling agency of the well known cata-
logue published by W. H. ANSTEAD, comprising forty-one Important vocal and instrumental compositions.
We will make a SPECIAL RATE of 80 from list price to the trade. For one order only—Time Limit expir-
ing May 1st, 1905. THIS SPECIAL OFFER includes the following numbers:
VOCAL
VOCAL
INSTRUMENTAL
DON'T FORGET ME, ANNIE DEAR.
RING DOWN THE CURTAIN.
DOWN IN THE DEPTHS.
DEAR LENORE.
SEEIN'S BELIEVEN*.
MY DEAR OLD SOUTHERN HOME.
MESSENGER BOY.
Y. M. C. A. MARCH.
DANCING SUNRAYS.
INTERMISSION WALTZES.
MONKEY SHINES.
KANGAROO PARADE.
LATEST
TARGET PRACTICE. Inscriptive Two-Step.
WHEN THE SUN SINKS IN THE GOLDEN WEST.
Pastoral Rnllnd with a wonderfully beau-
tiful melody.
WILLIS
I WANT MY MAMA.
THERE'LL BE NOTHING BUT SWEET DREAMS.
HYMN THAT TOUCHED MY HEART.
THE GIRL WHO HAS WON MY HEART.
IN THE CATHEDRAL.
FAITHFUL.
ISSUES
DREAMING WHEN YOU TALK THAT WAY.
Characteristic song by James T. P.rymn.
IT'S THE SAME OLD TENNESSEE.
A Southern Itallad of striking merit.
WOODWARD fit CO
48
WEST
28th
NEW
YORK,
STREET
IV. Y.