Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
38
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
In tKe World of Music Publishing
BUSINESS PROSPECTS ARE QUOD
In All Departments of the Publishing World—
Newcomers in the Field—Prices Far From
Satisfactory—Department Store Competition
Much Criticized.
MODERNIZING MUSIC WRITING.
The Latest Plan For Bringing Music Up to
Date—C. C. Pillsbury Says the Plan Is to
Write Everything on the Treble Clef—Some
Crank's Fine Work.
Business in the publishing line is excellent,
When C. C. Pillsbury, of Minneapolis, was in
and with every prospect that each branch will
New York recently, he seemed to have made a
enjoy a harvest between now and the usual falling
discovery, for when returning home he gave out
off in December. Publishing houses are multiply-
the following interview, relative to what he
ing and each week two 01 three enter the lists,
called "modernizing music":
with well-known or successful writtrs to the
"but the thing lhat interested me most while
front. It is really astonishing how little real
I was there was a plan for putting the music
capital is back of some of these enterprises, their
language up to date, just as they are trying M
heaviest assets presumably being a couple oi'
modernize the dictionary and pronouncing vocab-
pieces lhat look well. Should lightning strike any
ulary. You know, music is written in two signs
of these concerns—as has been the case not a few
-treble and bass, with the bass line written
times—then they are classified as having arrived.
wo spaces removed from the treble. Now, it
It is a gamble and the "gay gamboliers" are will-
must be admitted that music is the only univer-
ing to take chances. Well, whatever the moving
cause, it seems to be a fascinating game, in : al language. Write music in America and it can
which business ability and capacity of the mer- 1 e played in India by an Australian musician
cantile brand is not always considered, hi nee the who talks Spanish. There never was any tower
of Babel in this music world history. But it is
peculiar conditions that prevail.
funny why they built it in those two cleffs.
Prices are far from being satisfactory and
"The plan is now to modernize music writing
the department store is still a menace. It is
I y putting everything on the treble sign, which
now readily understood, in view of recent dis-
would make music twice as easy to learn. You
coveries, why the market for popular music was
see. when the child first takes music lessons it is
apparently a wide-open proposition. The sell-
obliged to learn one lesson for its right hand
ing figure, even of goods moving right along,
and another for its left, and read both at once.
and from the best-known and most carefully
Now, the plan is to write the left and right hand
managed publishing houses, could not be relied
;^like, which will make playing much easier. It
upon as either rock bottom or the regular raie.
has already begun somewhat by printing band
Stories of the most scandalous nature were
and orchestra parts, that used to be in bass, in
spread abroad in the trade, and not a name or
treble, but that is only the beginning. Some fine
reputation was spared. The consequence was,
day your young lady pianist will go 1o the store
and probably is yet, that the basest charges and
to buy a popular song and she w.ill find it all
vilest accusations were lodged against firms of
written in the treble cleff.
the highest standing, when the question of
"I understand there is to be a meeting of th?
prices were under discussion. Perhaps this
may all be changed and a better tone now pre- cranks on this proposition in Boston at no dis-
t a n t date where the plan of issuing a set of
vail, but a spirit of unfair competition is still
music instruction books will be talked over with
manifest.
the new idea all included. It will certainly be
Dealers especially complain of this, for they
an easy system to learn, if they can only get
are the real sufferers after all. particularly when
piece music afterward written the same way.
they are called upon to meet department store
While everything else has progressed music has
competition. It is but fair to say that no small
renamed the same through all ages. It's abou.
part of these "sales" are faked, but nevertheless
time that there should be some improvement in
they have served their evil purpose. These are
that line, and I don't see why the new idea isn't
the views of a number of clever and progressive
a good one."
dealers in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Mil-
waukee. St. Louis, Cincinnati. Boston and else-
where. One of them, talking to The Review
STERN & CO.'S BUDGET.
this week, said: "With publishers I believe busi-
ness is fine and will be better, but with dealers
Frank Moulan has introduced a new song in
trade is not so bright. The publishers are not 'Humpty Dumpty" for the ensuing season, en
doing the proper thing with us. We are sell- tit'ed "Welcome"! The words and music ar'>
ing more music, to be sure, but the margin hard- the work of Benjamin Hapgood Burt; pub-
ly pays us to handle it. Just think of selling lished by Jos. W. Stern & Co.
sheet music at a profit of one cent, because we
The only song that George H. Primrose sings
must keep up with the department store or lose personally in his "Mammoth Minstrels," is "Liz,"
our trade. It is a shame and reputable publish- I y Jean Lenox and Harry O. Sutton. authors of
ers should take the matter m hand."
"The World Goes on." It makes a distinct im-
pression on all that go to see the big show. Two
clher song strikes in the same show are, "Plain
FEATURING SOL. BLOOM'S SONGS.
Little Soldier Man." a stirring march song u.v
The perennial "Bunch of Keys," which is now Horwitz and Bowers, and the ballad. "The Even-
in its fifteenth season, comes out again this year ing Breeze is Sighing Home, Sweet Home."
to delight the theatregoers of the road, and it Franklyn Batie, one of the best singers in min-
will have prominently featured the songs of Sol strelsy, renders both songs to perfection. They
Bloom, "I Wants a Man to Love Me" and "Get are published by the "House of Hits."
Happy," by Raymond A. Browne; "Come Back,"
by Henry Clay Smith and Raymond A. Browne,
and "Easy Street" and "Good Bye, Dixie. Dear."
TESTIMONY FOR REMICK & CO.
by Wm. H. Penn.
The "Beauty and the Beast," which is known
Van Brothers' musical act. Kite and Barton's
for the beauty of its scenes and magnificenee of
musical extravaganza, are iising the following
its production will use Sol Bloom's songs, "The numbers: "Sweet Little Caraboo," "In Dear Old
Clock Upon the Mantel" and "Roses at Twilight." Georgia,' 1 "Bright Eyes, Goodbye."
respectively sung by Miss Edith Arnold and Miss
Leon and Bertie Allen are featuring "Bright
Rose Sartelle.
Eyes. Goodbye" over the Western Circuit of
Geo. Snyder is making a special feature of the vaudeville houses, and pronounce it a big hit.
pongs "A Good Time" and "Mandy Lou."
Rader Bros., at Delmar Garden, ave singing
"Sombrero," "On a Summer Night" and "Moon-
light."
Josephine (Jassman and "Picks" have added
"iVly Hindoo Man" to her repertoire, and claims
it a bigger hit for her than "Back to Baltimore."
All are published by J. H. Remick & Co.
ORATORIO SOCIETY CONCERTS.
The Oratorio Society announces the following
programme for the coming season: First con-
cert, Dec. 5, Beethoven Mass in I); second con-
cert, Dec. 28, "The Messiah," with rehearsal
Dec. 27 (afternoon). Third concert, Feb. 20.
1906, "Judas Maccabbseus"; fourth concert, April
3, 1906, "Samson and Delilah."
HAVHAND'S "COSY CORNER" GOING BIG.
Mamie Remington and "Picks" are featuring
"Keep a Little Cosy Corner in Your Heart For
Me" and "The Leader of the German Band."
Theodore Morse is in Chicago pushing his big
song hit, "Keep a Little Cosy Corner in Your
Heart For Me."
Barney Reilly and Finnegan's friend, Tom Gil-
len, are using "My Yankee Irish Girl," by Dris-
lane and Morse.
John J. Nestor was the hit of the bill Sunday
night at the Grand Opera House, singing "Keep
a Little Cosy Corner in Your Heart For Me"
and "Starlight."
Flossie Allen continues to use "Keep a Little
Cosy Corner in Your Heart For Me" to great
advantage. Published by F. B. Haviland Pub-
lishing Co.
Among the incorporations tiled at Albany on
\Yedn:sday was that of Sol Bloom, of New York,
the well-known music publishers, with a capital
of $50,000. Directors: Sol Bloom, Jacob Mayer
and J. P. McGovern, of New York.
Edwinna Mercier writes that she is doing well
at Henderson's Theatre, Coney Island, with "He's
Me Pal" and "My Merry Oldsmobile," two recent
publications of M. Witmark & Sons.
Miss Floye Redledge, the soprano, is featuring
with success "In Dreamland, In Dreamland," and
"Happy Jappy Soldier Man." Miss Redledge.
who is late of the "Belle of New York" and "Red
Feather" companies, is now singing in vaudeville.
MISSES \ KISSES
A Novelette by Philip
THIS
IS
IT!
IT
WILL
SELL!
Krause.
SELL
BIC
TOO!
ORDER
IT
NOW!
SONG3 YOU CAN SELL
"Sweethearts Forever."
Sample Copies at New Issue Rate.
"Alice Darling."
Send for Subscription Blank
The Moore Music Co., Inc.
Frank B. Perry, Mgr.
1345 Broadway.
NEW YORK.
JEROME H. REHICK & CO.
ANNOUNCE
"MY
IRISH MOLLY O"
BY JEROriE & SCHWARTZ
The terrific hit in "Sergeant Brue," sung
by Blanche Ring, and other big hits by Je-
rome & Schwartz.
JEROriE H. REHICK & CO.
DETROIT and CHICAGO.
45 West 28th Street,
-
NEW YORK