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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
V5IC rV5LISHIN8
REVIEW OF TRADE CONDITIONS.
Business Continues Quiet But Improving—The
Situation in the Domain of High Class Pub-
lishing.
numbers already rendering a good account of
themselves. So many times have the publishers
discussed the futility of publishing so many
things, but the exchange of opinions and expe-
rience has proven of no avail. From what can
be gathered the market will be glutted as never
before this fall."
Following the Fourth of July business has been
more or less torpid, and has dragged along in
a half-hearted way, in no manner dissimilar from
MUSICAL CLAPTRAP IN THEATRES.
that of previous years at this time. Possibly, ow-
ing to the demoralization of. prices that has pre-
A correspondent of the New York Sun caus-
vailed for some time, the situation is a trifle tically criticises the orchestra music as played in
more acute in this respect. However, there is no the theatres, as follows: "To ask the real music
such word as fail with the publishers of popular lover for an opinion of the music that is played
music, with whom hope springs eternal on the nowadays by the average theatre orchestra is to
slightest provocation. Jobbers are also quite san- invite comment on such selections as 'The Grand
guine, and are planning for a business of un- Old Rag,' 'Caught in the Storm,' 'George Wash-
wonted briskness with the close of summer. As ington, Esquire,' a potpourri from 'Maggie Mur-
usual, sales outside of the larger cities are not phy's Home/ and the like. Much of the musical
languishing, and on some songs trade is quite claptrap that we hear in the theatre is the result
active.
of phrase stealing from the works of the old mas-
With publishers in the better grades of music ters. The modern musical (unmusical) pirates
the customary quiet trade is reported. This unblushingly redress, or rather denude, the old
branch also is figuring on heavy sales and not motifs and phrases and fit (misfit) them to a sort
a few interesting works are now being consid- of modern doggerel in order to gain the ear of
ered for early publication. Publishers in this the public.
class are speculating as to the ultimate influence
"I once heard a hurdy gurdy grinding out a
the so-called "stores" proposition will have on jerky piece of ragtime with a strain from Men-
the regular retail trade. They are not inclined delssohn's wedding march jumbled in at the end,
to take a serious view of the question, and are and was led to wonder with what emotions the
prone to criticise the wisdom of the separate un- dear old formalist and composer of the 'Scotch
dertakings caustically than otherwise. Both con- Symphony' would have listened to it. The mu-
cerns, however, are going right ahead acquiring sical visitor to the modern theatre should carry
representation wherever it is deemed advisable, corks with him for ear stoppers. Why is it that
and are enthusiastic over the prospects. Infor- we never hear such bright, sparkling overtures
mation regarding the activities of these enter- as Mendelssohn's 'Melusina,' or Massenet's
prises is not furnished in liberal quantity, this 'Phgdre,' or Goldmark's 'Spring'? After attending
action being prompted by reasons known only to one or two theatrical performances, the music
themselves. No great movement may be ex- lover might be led to ask these questions:
pected before September, according to their own
"Is the theatre music inferior or superior to
statements, and then perhaps the trade will wit- the modern plays, and is it typical of them? If
ness the development of what they themselves typical, what of the quality of the plays? Does
describe as "big things."
not this everlasting reign and riot of ragtime and
In a spiritless sort of fashion a publisher re- musical vulgarity give evidence of a crude pub-
marked to The Review this week: "No one ex- lic taste? Who is to blame, and what is the rem-
pects to set the world afire in July. The popu- edy?"
lar houses are busy rehearsing the professional
corps, and bringing out few new issues. The
WHERE THE STERN SONGS COUNT.
catalogs of every leading house have a number
of good sellers that would cut something of a
Herbert Cyril is keeping up his good work on
figure if persistently promoted, but as the demand
the
Keith & Proctor circuit, one of his songs in
is for still more new airs—songs especially—they
keep a grinding them out, knowing full well particular, "The Same Girl on Sunday," always
their appearance will serve to interfere with the being good for from 5 to 8 recalls.
The International Four have added "Let Me
Hear the Band Play the Girl I Left Behind" and
"Southern Girl" to their list as feature songs,
and have made good with them.
Belle Earle is featuring "Southern Girl," "She
Was a Grand Old Lady," "With You in Eternity"
and "Hymns of the Old Church Choir," all from
the "House of Hits," with gratifying results.
Mildred Hanson in "Fun at the Seashore" is
By the writers of
making a big hit with "June Moon," a dainty
"WAITING AT THE CHURCH"
coon serenade from Jos. W. Stern & Co.
Bert Morphy, "The Man Who Sings to Beat the
Band," is keeping up the good work with S. R.
Henry's great march song, "She Was a Grand
15 West 30th Street
Old Lady." Bert says it's the best song he ever
NEW YORK
had, and he's a pretty good judge.
Vesta Victoria's New Hit
POOR
JOHN!
FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER
OUR "NEW ISSUE"
PROPOSITION
Is of Interest to all dealers—we furnish
you with any quantity ot our new
thematic catalogues without charge.
We publish "The Good Old U. S. A.,**
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Just a Little Rocking Chair and You,"
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Let us get In touch with you—write us.
F. B. HavUand Pub. Co.
125 W. 37th Street, New York
"THE MAN ON THE STREET."
The Song Plugger Pushing His Way—Victor
Herbert Entertains—J. W . Casey's Composi-
tions—W. T . Eastman Returns—A Good Col-
lege Song.—A. F. Adams' Vacation—A Waltz
Song That Is Destined to Catch America—
Other Comments.
The "song plugger" is' pushing his way this
summer into what have hitherto been regarded
as rather exclusive places, especially at. the sea-
shore. It is a welcomed innovation, also, and if
not overdone will prove a good thing all around.
Victor Herbert, the celebrated composer, whose
successes this past season in light opera have
been widely commented upon, recently enter-
tained Nathan Burkan, counsel for the Music Pub-
lishers' Association of the United States, at his
summer home in the Adirondack Mountains.
Doubtless a few conferences were held over copy-
right matters, in which Mr. Herbert is intensely
interested.
James W. Casey, who is not only retaining his
reputation as a composer, but has been quite the
lion of the hour, when on a visit to his old home
in Virginia. Mr. Casey, after much persuasion,
was induced to demonstrate some of his latest
compositions at the music department of one o
the largest stores in Norfolk, and his new march,
"The Glory of Jamestown" and "Virginia, the
Pride of My Heart," "caught on" at once.
W. T. Eastman, manager of Chappell & Co.'s
American branch house, who has been in England
for a few weeks, returned to New York Wednes-
day on the "Carmania." He enjoyed the visit to
his home greatly, and is in the best of health,
having a very pleasant voyage on his way back.
It is the opinion that "On the Banks of the Old
Raritan," the favorite of Rutgers College, New
Brunswick, N. J., is the best song of its kind ex-
tant. A collegian, referring to this well-known
composition, said: "I believe in my heart that
for genuine go, martial swing, a real soul stirrer,
one that gingerizes the student anatomy from
head to heel, there is no other college song equal
to the Rutgers 'On the Banks of the Old Raritan.'
When it comes to the making of a decision as to
which is the best college song, I think the col-
lege boys themselves, who sing the songs in col-
lege and out of college, are the better judges."
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.
T i p 1 A l r D C should subscribe to M. Witmark & Sons vocal and instru-
mJM-ir%.M-iMJMK& 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.
M. WITMARK & SONS, 144 W. 37th St., New York.
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