Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
aptly described in the literary and artistic world
as a "hack," who having signally failed to reach
any distinction in the walk of life which he
invariably disgraces, turns his attention to do
the dirty work of those who lack the decency
and courage to express their own opinions.
Usually the pitiable figure to which we allude
EDWARD LYMAN BILL • Editor and Proprietor is to be found in bar rooms or at race tracks,
or worse, relying upon a certain amount of
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
natural smartness—the writer was about to use
J . HAYDEN-CLARENDON. E d i t o r
the word "ability"—to be the "brain fence" of an
Published Every Satnrdiy at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
employer who utilizes the hack at bargain rates
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and
until such time as his ends are served. The song
Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada, $3.50; all other coun-
writing and music publishing industry is no ex-
tries, $4.00.
ception to the rule which creates the "hanger on"
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramercy
and if the "hack" is more loathsome, more syco-
Connecting all Departments
phantic, and more degraded than his prototype
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 26, 1908 in other trades, it is because he comes in con-
tact with more loathsome, more sycophantic and
more degraded employers.
COMMENTS B Y -
For a few brief hours a report recently gained
currency that a belt of ten-cent stores which
have been doing a banner business in ten-cent
music had issued an ultimatum that music
would no longer be stocked in the various brancn
stores of the corporation. Ridiculous as it was,
the rumor received a certain amount of credence,
and for a time there was a panic 1 among that
part of the publishing fraternity who make a
living selling their music at cut rates. Of course
such a report was ridiculous on its face, for
whatever some of the publishers have suffered
in a pecuniary sense, the ten-cent-store gentle-
men have been doing a banner business in cheap
music, making a profit of from two to five cents
on each and every copy of music sold. It is
obvious therefore that the ten-cent people will
not relinquish their grip on sheet music, unless
forced to do so by the publishers themselves,
and this possibility seems very remote. For the
moment the publishers who strive to keep up
the prices of music may suffer, but in the long
run their publications will win out, for like
water, the cut-rate evil must eventually find its
own level.
The Literary "Hack."
It is unfortunately a fact that in every trade
and profession there is a class of "hanger on"
The Trail of the Serpent.
The man who makes a business of casting mud
at those of his own calling is always too low to
receive the least consideration at the hands of
his self-respecting fellow man. Jealousy will al-
ways exist in business as in everything else, but
there is such a thing as decent jealousy, and the
"brain fence" who uses his unprincipled hire-
ling to distort facts and to deliberately lie about
his fellows, most of whom do honor to the trade
which they represent, with no reason save to sat-
isfy the rottenness which is bred in the bone, this
is the man to be relegated to the cess-pool from
which he sprang and in which he must event-
ually return. And what about the "hack," who for
the miserable dollar—usually reduced by press-
ure to fifty cents—barters what little honor and
decency remains to him—the "hack" who will
sacrifice his best friend for the dollar of his bit-
terest enemy—the "hack" who one day will in-
vent the foulest insults to cast at the man from
whom he will borrow money on the day follow-
ing? What of him? For our own part we dare
not say.
The Dearth of Librettists.
the writer emphasized his belief that although we
had in America several really first class com-
posers, there is a decided dearth of good libret-
tists. While admitting the latter part of the
assertion Mr. Pixley took the view that com-
posers were equally scarce, and challenged the
writer to name six really first class musicians,
and strange as it may seem, the writer was un-
able to do so. All of which goes to prove that
we are not overrun with either composers or
librettists who can put together a comic opera
worthy of the name.
"KENTUCKY BABE" FOR PRESIDENT.
Hicksville Saengerbund Sing Well Known Plan-
tation Song at Oyster Bay Farewell on Presi-
dent's Return to Washington.
At the recent farewell reception given by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to the townspeople of Oyster Bay,
the Hicksville Saengerbund, standing on the piaz-
za, sang the well-known plantation melody "Ken-
tucky Babe," by Adam Geibel. An interesting as
well as a rather amusing episode was the Ger-
man accent given to the words, although the
singing of the number was done in superb style
and was applauded vigorously by the President.
"Kentucky Babe" is perhaps the best high class
plantation melody since Foster's "My Old Ken-
tucky Home." It is issued as a song, also for
male, mixed and women's voices, by White Smith
Music Publishing Co. if our memory serves us
right.
AND STILL/THEY COME.
Incorporations of the Week.
The latest music concern to be incorporated is
The Melrose Publishing Co. of New York, as
music printers, binders and publishers; capital,
$10,000. Incorporators: Thomas H. Barron and
Emry Harding, No. 41 Park Row; Thomas Gil-
leran, No. 55 East 93d street, all of New York.
C. L. Partee Music Co., New York, was also
recently incorporated with a capital of $25,000.
Directors—Clarence L. Partee and Eulalie O.
Partee, 23 East 20th street; Charles Francis, 30
West 13th street, New York.
An assertion made by the writer, who recently
spent a pleasant half hour in the company of
Frank Pixley and Gustav Luders, the writers of
"Marcelle" was so thoroughly discounted by facts
that it has relevance if only to prove how few
Will Rossiter, who recently opened New
composers we have in our midst who can really York offices at 1431 Broadway, has started in
be considered of the first grade. In speaking of famously. Jeff T. Brannen, the well-known song
a musical comedy recently produced in New York writer, is in charge.
C
M«KINLEY1O MUSIC
OUR LATEST ENGLISH
BALLAD SUCCESS
"ROSE IN THE BUD"
Music by
DOROTHY FORSTER
Four Keys, Kb, C, Dfc, Eb
CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd.
37 West 17th Street, New York
Writs To-Day for Simples and Spicial Offer
McKIHLEY MUSIC GO.
158 Harrison St., Chicago
WM. McKINLEY, Pros.
74 5th Ave., N. Y.
YES! WE ARE STILL ISSUING NEVS FOLIOS
THE LATEST IS
OME TIME AGO WE
TOLD YOU
" The Most Popular Selections
FROM THE
Moat Popular Operas"
(Arranged for Piano)
** THE MOST COMPLETE OPERATIC
FOLIO EVER PUBLISHED"
Write for Special Introductory Rates
Hinds, Noble & Eldredge,
AMALGAMATION
We beg to announce to the trade that the catalogs of the old established houses
T. B. HARMS CO. and FRANCIS, DAY & HUNTER
have been amalgamated and will in future be controlled by the T . B . H A R M S & F R A N C I S D A Y CO.
We beg to thank the trade for past favors and trust to be honored with a continuance of your
esteemed support.
The new company has also established connections with the famous German firms of N . SIMROCK,
a n d BOTE & BOCK, o f B e r l i n , to carry a full line of their publications. New price list on application.
T. B. HARMS & FRANCIS DAY CO.
1431-1433 BROADWAY
Costs You 3 Cents
NEW
YORK
Just Someone
99
WOULD BE THE BIG
SELLER! THIS PROPH-
ECY HAS COME TRUE.
IF THE DEMAND HAS
NOT REACHED YOU,
IT WILL! ORDER NOW
AND BE PREPARED.
M. WITMARK ® SONS
144 West 37th St.. NEW YORK CITY