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THE:
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Pianoforte Trade of Great Britain Is Stagnant—Expected Revival of Business Has Not Material-
ized—Sales of Pianos in the United Kingdom Estimated at 100,000 for the Year—Recent
Musical Publications of Merit—Sad Ending of the German Opera Co.—Comments Upon the
Musical Likings of the Public—Music Books for Soldiers—Working for Cheaper Railway
Freights—The Music Trade Dinner—Cheaper Postage Between Great Britain and the United
States Not Just Now—Mark Hambourg Married—Status of the Tuner and the Workman's
Compensation Act—Passing of Maurice Grau and Sir August Manns.
(Special to The Review.)
Review Office, 69 Basinghall Street,
London, Eng., March 26, 1907.
Since writing my last report there were signs
that the pianoforte trade would see a general re-
vival throughout the country. Unfortunately
those good signs are now prominent only by their
absence. This last week and at the time of writ-
ing, broadly speaking, the English pianoforte
trade is stagnant, if not on the ebb tide. Several
of the leading manufacturers tell me that they
consider the season is practically over, there is
little trade about and dealers are simply await-
ing a change in the money market, which is at
present on the verge of a slump, attributable by
some to the active competition of Wall street.
The Output of English Pianos.
The output of English pianos in point of num-
bers is far and away behind the gigantic trade
prevailing in American circles. According to
the best available information which I have ob-
tained, last year's sales in the United Kingdom
totaled well under 100,000. There are no definite
statistics upon the subject at present, but I com-
pute the actual manufacturers' sales at 90,000,
while the dealers may have fallen short of this
number by 10,000. This is perhaps accountable
in part to the enormous quantity of second-hand
instruments now on the market; in fact, the
English field is so overrun that it is sure to have
a bad effect on trade for some considerable time
ahead.
Trade Is Not Satisfactory.
A round of visits to the various houses is pro-
ductive of little in the nature of interesting do-
ings. J. & J. Hopkinson, Orchestrelle Co., Archi-
bald Ramsden, Ltd., and many others, all admit
that business conditions are unsatisfactory. The
general tenor of their remarks amount to the
fact that trade comes now in fits and starts.
There is no stability just now, and it is to be
hoped that the dark cloud will soon be split by
that silver streak. Let it be a gold one!
Some Good Publications of Cramers.
The recent productions issued by Messrs. J. B.
Cramer & Co. include some very fine songs and
pianoforte solos; some of the descriptive pieces
being particularly good. A tribute to the excel-
lence of these songs is found in the fact that
Mme. Clara Butt has selected a few, which she
will sing on Good Friday at the Crystal Palace
and Queen's Hall. Some of the most successful
music published of late include the following:
"At Rest," words by F. A. N., music, Elizabeth
E. Needham; "God Sent Me You," words by Clif-
ton Bingham, music, Eileen Quayle; "Apples in
the Orchard," words by Ed. Teschemacher, mu-
sic, Ernest Newton; "When All the World Is
Young, Lad," words by Charles Kingsley, music,
Mabel Lowe; "Thoughts and Fancies," song,
words and music by Harold Chevalier; "The
House of the Presence," with organ obligato,
words by R. H. Robson, music, Adolph Mann;
"In Your Dear Eyes," words by Clifton Bingham,
music, H. Trotere; "Sunshine and Roses," words
by Ambrose Dawson, music, Lawrence Hannay;
"Within Your Heart," waltz, on the immensely
popular song by H. Trotere; "Apprassionata,"
waltz by Aigrette (dedicated by special permis-
sion to Mrs. Beerbohm Tree); Les Contes D'Hoff-
mann, pianoforte selection, from the Grand
Opera, by Offenbach, and arranged by Charles
Godfrey, Jr.; "Valse Lente," composed by Noel
Johnson; "Raggio di Luna," by Mariano Mar-
zano, etc. The foregoing list is of a pleasing va-
riety, most of which dealers will order for stock,
as these are selections that are in public demand
at all times.
Winding Up of the Winter German Opera Co.
An order for the compulsory winding up of the
Winter German Opera, Ltd., several members of
which were drowned in the wreck of the "Ber-
lin," was made on March 12, others being unable
to leave England, it was alleged, through the
non-payment of part of their salaries. The pe-
titioner was Herr Wilhelm Herold, court singer
to the King of Denmark. Mr. Eve, K. C, stated
that Mr. Herold was one of the artists brought
over to London to sing at the German opera, and
had unfortunately not been able to obtain his
fees. Mr. Martelli, for the company, said he
could not oppose the petition, and a compulsory
order was accordingly granted.
Dealers Not Increasing Stock.
Messrs. E. Hirsch & Co. report business as
very slow. Our usual trade for this time of the
year," said the manager, "is much below the
average. The public are not buying and conse-
quently dealers are not increasing stock. The
season is slowly dying out, and I may say that
this bad condition prevails everywhere, and with
the majority of pianoforte manufacturers and im-
porters. The firms of Kemmler, Bluthner, Fred-
rich Ehrbar, Chappell & Co., and many others
report much on similar lines, and while trade
some weeks may be classed as good, generally
things are in a most unstable condition.
Chase & Baker Co.
At the Chase & Baker Co. complaints are made
that consignments are not up to orders for the
interior player-piano.
Does a Nation's Songs Represent Its Character?
"The taste of the English unmusical public is
more vulgar than that of other nations," said
Mr. Landon Ronald at a recent O. P. Club dis-
cussion. "We assuredly must be a very im-
moral nation if it were true that a nation's songs
represented its character, for our music hall
songs are about drink, wife-beating, etc. Is there
anything printed abroad which could equal the
average commonplace maudlin English ballad?
Mme. Liza Lehmann held that the musical out-
look of England was a most hopeful one, and
said that perhaps the reproach of being an un-
musical nation was to be lifted from us at no dis-
tant date, and for all time."
Song Book for Soldiers.
The Army Council have issued to officers com-
manding units of regular troops specimen pages
of a soldiers' song book, which has been compiled
with a view to encourage singing throughout the
British Army.
Should the book meet with approval, it is pro-
posed that it should be sold in the various regi-
mental institutions at about three pence a copy.
The book will give a selection of a hundred songs
(music as well as words), under three headings:
Songs for use on the march, songs for barrack,
camp or bivouac, and territorial (old country)
songs, etc.
Automatic Music-Turnover.
A pretty recent invention here is the auto-
matic music-turnover. I t is an ingenious yet
simple device for turning over the music pages
instantaneously, by a slight pressure of the foot
upon the pedal. Long wanted, it has proved a
boon to many, as with its aid those awkward
pauses in turning over which often disconcert a
player, are avoided. Dealers are finding this a
most popular and profitable line to handle. The
Bell Piano & Organ Co., of London, are respon-
sible for its introduction to the trade.
Karn Organs for the Orient.
Manager Heath, of the D. W. Karn Co., says
general trade is fair. Two large organs were
shipped a few days previous to my call to Egypt
and Syria, respectively. The freightage to the
latter place would be about £ 6 , and what with
the excessively heavy import duty, it would be
highly interesting t o know exactly what price
the organ was sold at in that far-away land. It
is a noteworthy fact that only organs and cabi-
net piano players were in sight in this firm's
capacious showrooms. "We are not handling
pianos this side now," said Mr. Heath, "as we
find there is not sufficient profit to justify us in
stocking.
Manager Billinghurst on a Trip.
Manager Billinghurst, of John Brinsmead &
Sons, was away on an extensive midlands trip at
the time of my call. He was reported to be
doing good business, and is not expected back
for a few days. He will no doubt have much to
say upon his return.
Cheaper Rail Freights in Sight.
The English pianoforte trade has long agitated
for cheaper rail freights, and at a recent meet-
ing between several railway corporations and
trade representatives, held under the Board of
Trade wing, it was resolved to give special at-
tention to this important matter. It is just a
step in the right direction which the pianoforte
trade expect will consummate very shortly in
an appreciable reduction of carrying charges by
the English railway companies.
Speaker at Music Trade Dinner.
The Musical Instrument Trades' Protective As-
sociation held their annual dinner, March 7.
Among the speakers were many influential and
prominent members of the pianoforte trade, in-
cluding the Right Hon. Sir Joseph C. Dimsdale,
Bart., P.C., K.C.V.O., Mr. George Rose, president
of the association; Mr. G. F. Assinder, M.A.,
B.C.L., Mr. John C. Collard, Mr. Frank Challen,
etc. A good musical programme was provided,
and altogether the evening was an undoubted
success.
Letter Postage to Great Britain.
v
Charles Nevers Holmes, of Copley Square, Bos-
ton, Mass., writes to a London daily as follows:
"The inconsistency of paying a higher postage
rate from London to the United States than from
London to Canada is most apparent in a city
like this. Between all points in England, Scot-
land and Ireland, and the United States a post-
age of one penny (2 cents) per each ounce
should be charged. It was thirty-three years ago
when the present international letter rate was
established, and it needs no more than a glance
"DISTINCTIVELY HIGH GRADE"
6/>e CHRISTMAN
STUDIO GRAND
is the greatest success of the day.
It possesses a scale of rare even-
ness, a tone of remarkable sonority
and richness, with a quality that
is highly orchestral. Our latest
styles of Grands and Uprights
mark a decided advance in the art
of piano-making. We court inves-
tigation. Some territory still open.
CHRISTMAN SONS, Manufacturer.
FACTORY AND OFFICE:
869-873 East 137th St.
NEW YOR.K
WAREBOOM9:
35 West 14th St.