Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
In the World of Music Publishing
with high-class ballad singers and one that mu-
sic-lovers will heartily welcome. While these
two songs are very similar in literary style and
musical treatment, each possesses an individual-
ity distinctively its own, demonstrating the ver-
satility of these talented writers. "Good Night,
Beloved, Good Night" has been before the public
for several years, during which time it has been
constantly winning its fame and popularity, and
now it is considered one of the standard ballads.
While it is essentially a classic ballad, it con-
tains all the elements of a popular number. That
"Awake, My Beloved, Awake" will arouse even
more interest than its predecessor there is not
the slightest doubt, for it is a fact that "Good
Night, Beloved, Good Night" not only gained a
firm footing for itself, but it paved the way, as
it were, for its sister song, opening up avenues
for its speedy recognition and gaining for itself
added lustre and fame. Already ballad singers
from all over the country are asking for it and
the publishers are more than enthusiastic about
it.
PUBLISHERS NOTE IMPROVEMENT
Which Has Now Assumed a Gratifying Aspect
—Catalogues Being Expanded—Losses Sus-
tained in Shipment—Interesting Discussion
of the Situation.
Every week witnesses an improvement in the
sheet music market. Jobbers are laying in sub-
stantial stocks and the demand from, dealers is
steadily growing better, stronger and more uni-
form. Publishers are feeling the impetus and
their reports of current trade are bright and
promising, with a line of business in prospect
that keeps their respective working forces busy
and all departments engaged filling orders. It is
possible the advent of the Lenten season may
have a slight effect on the push and drive now
so much in evidence on all sides, but that de-
pends very much on the class of publications
handled. Perhaps publishers of the lighter and
gayer melodies may anticipate a falling off, but
it is doubtful. Then, with houses devoted to the
higher grade of music it is expected that busi-
ness will be even better, as the penitential period
is lightened by entertainments and diversions
almost wholly musical.
Publishers are expanding their respective cata-
logues at a rapid rate, notwithstanding a ten-
dency heretofore referred to as a contrary course
about to be inaugurated. Only a single firm have
nailed their policy in this respect to the mast,
but how closely it may be adhered to remains to
be seen. Possibly music publishing differs little
if any,, from the more strictly mercantile lines,
wherein if certain goods are slow sellers or fall
flat, there is precious little time lost in produc-
ing something else that does appeal more effec-
tively to the buyer. Ergo, with houses not hav-
ing publications sufficiently attractive to receive
the endorsement of the distributers and in turn
hypnotize the dealer, then new issues are brought
out hotfoot. At least these are the views of an
influential factor in the business, who should
know, from his experience, what he is talking
about. Then of another little "fly in the oint-
ment," he discussed as follows to The Review:
"You would be surprised to know how much
music never reaches its destination in the ordin-
ary course of shipping. The loss in growing
larger and more annoying, and it seems as if a
regular course of pillage is being carried on both
in the transit of mail and express matter. Only
this morning I received over a half dozen letters
making complaints that goods sent within the
past week are missing. These parties are all
straightforward, honorable dealers whom I have
known for years, and are incapable of sharp
practice or shenanigan of any kind. Both the
mail and express service are to blame for the
delinquencies, and I am about taking the matter
up to see what can be done to stop the thievery.
The temptation to take three or four pieces of
music and often a dozen or more from a pack-
age is apparently yielded to, and the publishers
and jobbers are the sufferers, for I am not the
only one who has complaints to file. This has
been growing for the past year, and unless the
leak is stopped the ultimate results may be dam-
aging to a degree."
DICK TEMPLE TO WRITE FOR STERN.
Dick Temple, the well-known English song
composer and comedian, has been engaged by the
Shubert Bros, for one of the principal parts in
the "Earl and the Girl," an English musical
comedy, which will shortly be produced at the
Casino, New York City. Mr. Temple is also writ-
ing several songs which will be introduced in
the production to be published exclusively by
Jos. W. Stern & Co.
FAY AND OLIVER.
It is only about eight years ago since Fay and
Oliver joined hands, as it were, in the writing of
songs, and during that comparatively short time
they have succeeded in producing some beautiful
songs that have become famous in this country
and across the Atlantic. "Good Night, Beloved,
Good Night" and "My Dream of Paradise" have
probably become better known than any other
work they have gotten out, which may be ac-
counted for by the fact that both these ballads
possess unusual merit and are of a lasting qual-
ity. They are both far above the ordinary popu-
lar song in both words and music, and are what
is known as "come-to-stay" ballads. This is
proven by the eagerness with which they are
still being sung by the leading vocalists. Take,
for instance, Miss Doris Wilson, she has been
singing "Good Night, Beloved, Good Night" for
the past five years in the United States and in
Europe, and not once, so she states, has she tired
of singing it. These composers may well con-
gratulate themselves on their success in their
special line of work. Some of their other songs,
all of which are published by M. Witmark &
Sons, are as follows: "We want Our Mother,
Dear," "Dearest Mine," "She is so Good to the
Old Folks," "Teach Me How to Love," "Forever
and a Day," "Only a Dream," "Lindy," "Place
a Light to Guide Me Home," "That Coon is Just
as Happy as Though He Had His Right Mind,"
"Just a Love of the Long Ago" and "Though I
Gave All For You."
The admirers of Fay and Oliver's songs will
be pleased to learn that they have recently writ-
ten a new ballad, entitled "Awake, My Beloved,
Awake," which is intended to be a companion to
their famous "Good Night, Beloved, Good Night."'
This song is destined to become a great favorite
REVIEWOGRAPHS.
At one time, and not long ago at that, a few
popular writers with established reputations and
a considerable accumulation of this world's goods,
prided themselves on bringing out one piece
only every year. A change has evidently been
wrought, for now each and all in this distinc-
tive class are working industriously and turning
out stuff at a rapid rate. Perhaps competition
may have a bearing on this new order of things,
as it has brought many changes in publishing
observances within a comparatively short period.
Charles Smith, song writer, has brought an
action in the supreme court to recover $2,000
from Chas. H. Hattersley, music dealer, of New
Brunswick, N. J., who published Smith's song,
"Love's Eclipse."
Brief mention was made in last week's Review
of the intention of Maurice Shapiro, late of Sha-
piro, Remick & Co., to go to London, Eng., within
the ensuing week, and establish a house for ex-
ploiting Harry von Tilzer's music exclusively.
This is interesting from the fact that when Mr.
Shapiro disposed of his interest in the above
firm to Jerome H. Remick in December he de-
clared his purpose to eschew the music business
absolutely. Probably he suffered a change of
mind on his trip abroad immediately after the
consummation of the deal. Mr. von Tilzer will
depart for England about the middle of next
month to assist in floating the scheme, and this
is also a surprise, as the two gentlemen—for-
merly partners— for several years never spoke
as they passed by. With the possibility of the
venture being mutually profitable the hatchet
Xlie Latest Musical Production Success
"IT HAPPENED IN NORDLAND"
By GLEN MACDONOUGH and VICTOR HERBERT.
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Absinthe Frappe
The Matinee Maid
A Knot of Blue
50
Beatrice Barefacts
50
50
I Brought Them Home to Mother... 50
50
The Goon Banshee.
50
The Jack 0'Lantern Girl
50
Selection
March
1 00
I
50
|
Al Fresco-Intermezzo
Waltzes
Lanciers
75
50
50
1VI. WITMARK & SONS
NEW
YORK
CHICAGO
LONDON