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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
45
REVIEW
ness. With the popular firms everybody seems
"THE MAN ONJTHE STREET."
to be at sea at regular intervals, and charges of
Not Boasting About Phenomenal Activity in tne breaches of confidence and other hurtful prac-
That Understanding Between Remick and Stern
East, But the Far West Is Sending in En- tices are common talk. The jobbers seem to be
Denied—Chas. K. Harris Establishes Agency
couraging Statements—In New England and pursuing their regular routine, getting marginal
—Bettini Co. Handling Sheet Music—Len
the Middle States Trade Is Fair—Price Cut-
Spencer Removes—Raymond Hitchcock a
prices and are the least d : sturbed people in the
ting the Predominant Evil—Publishers of
Natural Born Comedian—Other Items of In-
world."
REVIEW OF TRADE CONDITIONS.
Folios and High Class Editions Are Well
Pleased With the General Situation.
terest.
'TAKE ME WITH YOU IN YOUR DREAMS."
Publishers are not boasting of the activity of'
After composers have worked together for ten
business, but here and there reports of a strong years it is easy for a discriminating public to
trade are backed up by indisputable evidence. In pass judgment on their productions. With Fay
the Middle West sales are keeping up, and in the and Oliver each year brings them into closer
Coast territory the most encouraging statements touch with music lovers through their delightful
are heard. Through the Middle States and New lyrics and song harmonies. Their latest produc-
England trade is fair, with a total average quite tion, "Take Me With You in Your Dreams," is
satisfactory for the time of year. In the metro- one of their best efforts, and just what might be
politan district, where affairs were seemingly expected, judging from their former work. The
working 1 around to a stage where the publishers lyric is persuasive and sweet, and the music ex-
of popular music were arriving at a better un- presses the sentiment of the words to a high de-
derstanding, a price-cutting scrimmage ma- gree. It is one of the songs that will never grow
terialized far from creditable to any of the par-
ticipants, whether publishers or guerillas.
Charges and counter-charges are made as to
where the responsibility should be placed for
this disgraceful exhibition, and, as usual, every
one pleads ignorance or innocence.
Very little in the line of novelty or newness is
floating about relative to the condition of trade
among publishers of folios and the higher class
of editions or general musical compositions.
Houses in this classification aver sales are up to
the standard, prices are fairly well preserved,
and there is not the slightest indication of any
"bad breaks." The regular dealers aiming to
keep an assortment of better grade music are
making more of an effort to increase sales, and
thereby be enabled to carry creditable stocks.
Publishers handling goods of this kind are more
disposed to meet the trade on this point than
ever before, only specifying that price slashing
FAY AND OLIVER.
shall be sufficient grounds to cut off either the
old, for it has the spirit of youth and is fresh,
offending dealer or jobber.
In dilating upon the market a publisher re- bright and catchy. It will doubtless retain its long-
marked to The Review as follows: "General busi- evity equal to their other song successes, "Good-
ness is only fair, and in a measure disappointing; night, Beloved, Good-night," which singers have
but it must be remembered the publishers have never tired of using, and which is still called for
had no easy row to hoe. The so-called 'com- as greatly as when it was first issued, and
bines' seem to be moving very slowly, despite pub- "Awake, Beloved, Awake," its sister song, which,
lic announcements to the contrary. As a matter while it ranks high, has never caused the former
of fact, I do not look for developments along this song to pale before it.
Fay and Oliver, it may be said, do their best
line to amount to anything before the fall. Pub-
lishing houses handling standard and high class work as a team. The understanding between
music are doing a steady and a profitable busi- them is so perfect that it is doubtful if either
would feel the inspirational spirit in collabora-
tion with any one else. A new song by these com-
posers is seized upon with avidity by singers, who
know full well what its reception will be by
their audiences. Their style is always pleasing
and delightful, and they have never fallen into a
rut or worked in one direction alone. In fact,
their versatility is a matter of comment among
other composers and the public. M. Witmark &
By the waiters of
Sons publish all of Fay and Oliver's productions.
"WAITING AT THE CHURCH*'
Hinds, Noble & Eldredge, the New York pub-
lishers, are reported as having 4,000 accounts
with the regular music and book dealers through-
15 West 30th Street
out the country handling their sheet music and
NEW YORK
folios.
Vesta Victoria's New Hit
JOHN!
FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER
Recently Judge Bischoff, New York Supreme
Court, special term, part 2, second department,
entered the following order: "Grunewald against
Gotham-Attucks Music Co.—The bond was filed in
accordance with an order of the court imposing
the duty, and the act of the guardian was not
an affirmative step in the litigation aggressively
taken, hence there was no violation of the stay.
Motion denied, with $10 costs."
The report that a trading understanding had
been established between Jerome H. Remick &
Co. and Jos. W. Stern & Co., publishers, New
York, as a set-off to the American Music Stores
and the United Music Stores Co., was emphatical-
ly denied by Fred E. Belcher. Mr. Belcher de-
clared the publication of such a statement was
as absurd as the announcement that Mr. Remick
had gone to Europe last Wednesday with Mose
Gumble. In other words, they were unmitigated
falsehoods.
Charles K. Harris last week established a book-
ing agency for professional singers, recommend-
ing only those artists whose voices have been
tested in his studios. Naturally, his own pub-
lications are to be programmed with the other
numbers, a stipulation the warblers—male and
female—do not always observe with studious ex-
actitude. Mr. Harris left New York for a fort-
night's trip West Tuesday. Joseph Harris, man-
ager of the Chicago branch, who came East on
special business, accompanied his brother back
home.
A sheet music department, in charge of Mrs.
S. W. Crosby, has been installed in the store of
the Bettini Phonograph Co., New York. A num-
ber of talking machine dealers have seen the
wisdom of this step and done likewise.
The "Kilties," the famous military band and
orchestra, of Canada, who open their summer
season on May 26, in Cincinnati, O., will feature
the "Kilties' Serenade," a medley of Scotch airs
cleverly interwoven. The piece was tried out
Friday evening'of last week at the Waldorf-As-
VICTOR KREMER CO.
CHICAGO
59 Dearborn St.
NEW YORK
1431 Broadway
PUBLISHERS
"Under the Tropical Moon," "Won't You
Let Me Put My Arms Around Y o u , "
"Cinderella," Inst. and Song. "Not Be-
cause Your Hair Is Curly," " W i l l the
Angels Let Me Play," "Paddy," "Can You
Keep a Secret," "Vanity Fair," " I Never
Can Forget You Dear," Kremer's Mandolin
Folio, No. 1 , etc., etc.
1YF A I F D d should subscribe to M. Witmark & Sons vocal and instru-
OUR "NEW ISSUE"
PROPOSITION
**••-""**-'*-*J*»J mental " N e w Issues" so as to keep their patrons and them-
selves in touch with the latest successes. Five cents the copy is all that is charged. Fill
in and forward attached blank.
Is of Interest to all dealers—we fnralsM
yon with any quantity of oar new
thematic catalogues
without charge.
We publish M The Good Old U. S. A.,"
"Just a Little Rocking Chair and You,"
"Keep On the Sunny Side,** and other
big hits.
Let us get In touch with you—write us.
M. WITMARK & SONS, 144 W. 37th St., New York,
Hereby agree to take one each of your "NEW" Vocal and Instru-
mental Publications as soon as issued at 5 CENTS PER COPY. This to begin
with your next shipment of same and to continue until notified to the contrary.
Name
,
Street Number
-
Town or City
Reference (New York if possible)
F. B. HavUand Pub. Co.
125 W. 37th Street, New York
Note—The "New Issues" are sent out monthly and no less than the COMPLETE SET
can be subscribed for.
Those with whom we have no business relations will please send reference with Brst order.